Notre Dame vs. Harvard

Deciding between University of Notre Dame and Harvard University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Notre Dame
Harvard University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • Notre Dame Rural Fringe
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Notre Dame 13,042
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Type
  • Notre Dame Private 4 Year
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Notre Dame #27
  • Harvard #4
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Notre Dame Roman Catholic
  • Harvard -
  • Status
  • Notre Dame Non-profit
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Notre Dame
  • Harvard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Notre Dame $65,025
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Notre Dame $65,025
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Room & Board
  • Notre Dame $17,900
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Average Net Price
  • Notre Dame $29,300
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Notre Dame $53,971
  • Harvard $68,015
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Notre Dame 61%
  • Harvard 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Notre Dame 29,942
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Admitted
  • Notre Dame 3,374
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Notre Dame 11.3%
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Notre Dame 61.7%
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Notre Dame 1510
  • Harvard 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Notre Dame 34
  • Harvard 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • Notre Dame 3.91
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Notre Dame A
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Notre Dame Elite
  • Harvard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Notre Dame Very High
  • Harvard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Notre Dame 33/35
  • Harvard 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • Notre Dame 1455/1560
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Notre Dame Test optional
  • Harvard Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Notre Dame Jan 1, 2027
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Notre Dame 8:1
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Notre Dame
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Notre Dame 96%
  • Harvard 97%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Notre Dame $89,800
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Notre Dame 92%
  • Harvard 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Notre Dame $21,500
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Notre Dame $222
  • Harvard $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Notre Dame 52%
  • Harvard 46%
  • % Women
  • Notre Dame 48%
  • Harvard 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Notre Dame Medium
  • Harvard Very High
  • HBCU
  • Notre Dame No
  • Harvard No
  • % White
  • Notre Dame 69%
  • Harvard 44%
  • % Asian
  • Notre Dame 6%
  • Harvard 19%
  • % Black
  • Notre Dame 4%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Notre Dame 11%
  • Harvard 10%
  • % Native American
  • Notre Dame 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Notre Dame 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Notre Dame 4%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % International
  • Notre Dame 6%
  • Harvard 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Notre Dame 1%
  • Harvard 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Notre Dame 8%
  • Harvard 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Notre Dame 82%
  • Harvard 68%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Notre Dame Yes
  • Harvard Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Notre Dame No
  • Harvard Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Notre Dame Yes
  • Harvard Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Notre Dame No
  • Harvard No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Notre Dame No
  • Harvard Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, IN with Harvard University in Cambridge, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than Notre Dame based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 13,042 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Notre Dame is located in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting); Harvard University is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Notre Dame is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Notre Dame 8:1; Harvard University 7:1.

Notre Dame vs. Harvard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Notre Dame or Harvard? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harvard University than Notre Dame ($17,525 vs. $29,300).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Notre Dame are 15.5% lower than at Harvard University ($17,900 vs. $21,190).
  • University of Notre Dame is 5.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $3,349 more per year; $65,025.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.4% higher at Notre Dame than at Harvard University (about $3,349 more per year; $65,025.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Notre Dame than at Harvard University (61% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 26% larger than aid received by University of Notre Dame students ($68,015 vs. $53,971).

Notre Dame vs. Harvard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Notre Dame or Harvard? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Harvard and Notre Dame .

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 40 points higher than at Notre Dame (1510).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Notre Dame ).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Notre Dame 1455/1560; Harvard University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Notre Dame 33/35; Harvard University 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Notre Dame - Test optional; Harvard - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Notre Dame Jan 1, 2027; Harvard Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Notre Dame (3.91).
  • Notre Dame has a higher acceptance rate (11.3%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 61.7% at Notre Dame vs. 83.6% at Harvard.

Notre Dame vs. Harvard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Notre Dame and Harvard? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than University of Notre Dame's (96%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $46,900 more per year than Notre Dame graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $89,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $15,000 lower median loan debt than Notre Dame graduates ($6,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $155 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Notre Dame graduates ($67 vs. $222).
  • More Notre Dame graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.