Rochester vs Notre Dame - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Notre Dame: 11.3% against 40.1% (Rochester).
The more international environment is at Rochester (22.1% international students) than Notre Dame (7.5%).
Real money goes to international students at Notre Dame ($62,803 on average), while Rochester stops at $41,269.
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Notre Dame: $100K against $79K.
The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Notre Dame is the more selective of the two (11.3% vs 40.08% acceptance). Rochester ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #301-400). Notre Dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $79K). Notre Dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,607 vs $70,284 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Rochester for: a higher world ranking.
Choose Notre Dame for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Notre Dame is more selective (11.3% vs 40.08% acceptance); Notre Dame has a higher median SAT (1510 vs 1470).
Notre Dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $79K); Notre Dame has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95% vs 85.4%).
Notre Dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,607 vs $70,284); Notre Dame offers a larger average aid package ($67,855 vs $60,879).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Rochester | Notre Dame |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #151-200 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | #127 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 40.08% | 11.3% |
| Yield rate | 15.4% | 61.7% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1510 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.72 | - |
| Number of applications | 21,384 | 29,942 |
| International students | 22.1% | 7.5% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $79K | $100K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $50K | $68K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $117K | $141K |
| Graduation rate | 85.4% | 95% |
| Retention rate | 90.7% | 99% |
| Median debt | $21,000 | $19,000 |
| Tuition · year | $70,284 | $67,607 |
| Avg. aid package | $60,879 | $67,855 |
| % of need met | 96.1% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,304 | $30,400 |
| Application fee | $50 | $85 |
| Enrollment | 11,946 | 13,042 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Rochester or Notre Dame?
It's harder to get into Notre Dame. Rochester accepts 40.08% of applicants, while Notre Dame accepts 11.3%.
Do Rochester or Notre Dame graduates earn more?
Notre Dame graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $100K vs $79K.
How much is tuition at Rochester vs Notre Dame?
Sticker-price tuition is $70,284 per year at Rochester and $67,607 per year at Notre Dame.
What SAT score do you need for Rochester or Notre Dame?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Rochester and 1510 at Notre Dame; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Rochester or Notre Dame?
Rochester ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Rochester vs #301-400 for Notre Dame.
Which university offers more financial aid - Rochester or Notre Dame?
The average aid package is $60,879 at Rochester and $67,855 at Notre Dame.
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