West Virginia vs Notre Dame - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
West Virginia accepts most of the applications it receives (89%), while Notre Dame turns away the overwhelming majority (11.3%).
The larger international cohort belongs to Notre Dame: 7.5% of students against 1.7% (West Virginia).
Average aid for an international student is $62,803 (Notre Dame) and $21,636 (West Virginia).
The one that looks dearer ends up cheaper: Notre Dame lists $87,295 against $47,480 (West Virginia), but after average aid what remains is $19,440 against $30,750.
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 89% acceptance). Notre Dame ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #301-400). Notre Dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $56K). West Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,608 vs $67,607 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 West Virginia for: lower tuition.
Choose Notre Dame for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Notre Dame is more selective (11.3% vs 89% acceptance); Notre Dame has a higher median SAT (1510 vs 1110).
Notre Dame graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($100K vs $56K); Notre Dame has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95% vs 64.7%).
West Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,608 vs $67,607); Notre Dame offers a larger average aid package ($67,855 vs $16,730).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | West Virginia | Notre Dame |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 89% | 11.3% |
| Yield rate | 26.5% | 61.7% |
| Median SAT | 1110 | 1510 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.70 | - |
| Number of applications | 20,150 | 29,942 |
| International students | 1.7% | 7.5% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $56K | $100K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $36K | $68K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $84K | $141K |
| Graduation rate | 64.7% | 95% |
| Retention rate | 83.4% | 99% |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $19,000 |
| Tuition · year | $28,608 | $67,607 |
| Avg. aid package | $16,730 | $67,855 |
| % of need met | 63% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $36,010 | $30,400 |
| Application fee | $65 | $85 |
| Enrollment | 23,643 | 13,042 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into West Virginia or Notre Dame?
It's harder to get into Notre Dame. West Virginia accepts 89% of applicants, while Notre Dame accepts 11.3%.
Do West Virginia or Notre Dame graduates earn more?
Notre Dame graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $100K vs $56K.
How much is tuition at West Virginia vs Notre Dame?
Sticker-price tuition is $28,608 per year at West Virginia and $67,607 per year at Notre Dame.
What SAT score do you need for West Virginia or Notre Dame?
The median admitted SAT score is 1110 at West Virginia and 1510 at Notre Dame; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - West Virginia or Notre Dame?
Notre Dame ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for West Virginia vs #301-400 for Notre Dame.
Which university offers more financial aid - West Virginia or Notre Dame?
The average aid package is $16,730 at West Virginia and $67,855 at Notre Dame.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern