Southern California vs Notre Dame - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The more international environment is at Southern California (13.2% international students) than Notre Dame (7.5%).
Average aid for an international student is $62,803 (Notre Dame) and $25,384 (Southern California).
Students admitted to both more often choose Notre Dame (61.7% enrol, against 43.3%).
These admissions operate at different scales: Southern California reads 82,027 applications a year, its rival 29,942.
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
Southern California is the more selective of the two (9.81% vs 11.3% acceptance). Southern California ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#62 vs #301-400). Notre Dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $92K). Notre Dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,607 vs $68,687 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 Southern California for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a larger aid package.
Choose Notre Dame for: higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate, higher retention.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Southern California is more selective (9.81% vs 11.3% acceptance); Notre Dame has a higher median SAT (1510 vs 1495).
Notre Dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $92K); Notre Dame has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95% vs 91.8%).
Notre Dame has lower sticker-price tuition ($67,607 vs $68,687); Southern California offers a larger average aid package ($71,169 vs $67,855).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Southern California | Notre Dame |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #62 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | #72 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 9.81% | 11.3% |
| Yield rate | 43.3% | 61.7% |
| Median SAT | 1495 | 1510 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.80 | - |
| Number of applications | 82,027 | 29,942 |
| International students | 13.2% | 7.5% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $92K | $100K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $59K | $68K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $141K | $141K |
| Graduation rate | 91.8% | 95% |
| Retention rate | 95.6% | 99% |
| Median debt | $18,000 | $19,000 |
| Tuition · year | $68,687 | $67,607 |
| Avg. aid package | $71,169 | $67,855 |
| % of need met | 99.3% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $27,678 | $30,400 |
| Application fee | $85 | $85 |
| Enrollment | 46,566 | 13,042 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Southern California or Notre Dame?
It's harder to get into Southern California. Southern California accepts 9.81% of applicants, while Notre Dame accepts 11.3%.
Do Southern California or Notre Dame graduates earn more?
Notre Dame graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $100K vs $92K.
How much is tuition at Southern California vs Notre Dame?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,687 per year at Southern California and $67,607 per year at Notre Dame.
What SAT score do you need for Southern California or Notre Dame?
The median admitted SAT score is 1495 at Southern California and 1510 at Notre Dame; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Southern California or Notre Dame?
Southern California ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #62 for Southern California vs #301-400 for Notre Dame.
Which university offers more financial aid - Southern California or Notre Dame?
The average aid package is $71,169 at Southern California and $67,855 at Notre Dame.
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