Notre Dame accepted just 11.8% of restrictive early action applicants, a record low and a decline from 12.9% last year. Prospective students for the class of 2030 were notified of their admissions decisions on Dec. 16 at 6:42 p.m., a time which, on a 24-hour time table, corresponds with the University’s founding in 1842.
Early applications to the University rose by 6% from last year to 13,711. Of that number, 1,617 students were admitted and 2,608 were deferred. The applications of deferred students will be reconsidered for admission with the regular decision pool this spring. Vice president for undergraduate enrollment Micki Kidder has previously saidthe University typically admits half of its incoming freshmen from the REA pool.
The increase in selectivity comes as the University continues to expand financial aid for undergraduate students. This is the second class admitted following the implementation of University President Fr.Robert Dowd’s Pathways to Notre Dame initiative, which promises loan-free financial aid offers and need-blind application reviews for international students.The University has previously operated need-blind only for domestic students.
Applications were received from all 50 U.S. states, which was also the case in 2024. Students from 145 countries applied, a decline from 149 last year but still higher than the 109 countries represented in 2023.
The early action admissions rate has nearly halved in recent years, with early applicants for the class of 2025 accepted at a rate of 21.6% five years ago.
The REA deadline was Nov. 1. The program is not binding, and typically has an admissions rate double that of the regular decision window. Students who apply REA at Notre Dame must agree not to submit binding applications to other colleges.
The deadline for regular decision is Jan. 2. Decisions for those applicants will be released in late March.