Is Notre Dame a fun college?

Yes, Notre Dame University is considered a fun school, balancing strong academics with a vibrant social scene focused on spirited football, strong dorm traditions, over 500 clubs, and active weekend events, though some find the "work hard, party hard" culture intense. It's known for close-knit communities, lots of school spirit, and plenty of on-campus and off-campus social activities, though the parties can range from large events to smaller gatherings in residence halls.

Are students at Notre Dame happy?

#3: Student Life — Notre Dame is known for its lively social scene and strong student community. This is a place where it's easy to make friends, and the culture is very warm, friendly, and outgoing. Compare with this with other cut-throat universities where it's every student for him or herself.

Is there a lot of partying in Notre Dame?

At Notre Dame, students "study a lot, but on the weekends, everyone seems to make up for the lack of partying during the week." With over 500 student clubs and organizations, there's something for everyone.

Why do people like Notre Dame so much?

Campus: The campus is beautiful and well-maintained, featuring iconic landmarks such as the Golden Dome, Touchdown Jesus, and Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Students appreciate the sense of tradition and history on campus, which they feel creates a special atmosphere.

Is it worth going to Notre Dame?

Visiting Notre Dame is a must when exploring Paris. From its iconic façade to the intricate details inside, this cathedral is a treasure waiting to be discovered. For a deeper dive into Notre Dame and other Parisian landmarks, contact us today to create your perfect private tour.

The Truth about Notre Dame (parties, dating, hookups)

Is it harder to get into Duke or Notre Dame?

Duke is generally harder to get into than Notre Dame, consistently showing lower acceptance rates (around 5-11%) compared to Notre Dame (around 11-20%), though both are highly selective schools with strong academic profiles and competitive admissions. Duke often sees slightly higher average SAT/ACT scores and its admissions are considered more challenging overall, though admissions are complex and depend on many factors. 

Are Notre Dame students wealthy?

The median family income of a student from Notre Dame is $191,400, and 75% come from the top 20 percent. Less than 1% of students at Notre Dame came from a poor family but became a rich adult.

What kind of student goes to Notre Dame?

Notre Dame emphasizes admissions essays and values creativity and skill. It also seeks students with a narrower extracurricular focus—searching for those who demonstrate strengths in a particular area rather than a wide breadth of activities, but less depth.

What is the #1 hardest school to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it changes slightly by year and criteria, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top with extremely low acceptance rates (often 3-4%) and intense competition for spots, though other top global universities like Oxford and Tsinghua are also incredibly selective. Harvard is frequently cited as the hardest due to its high volume of applications and focus on global leadership potential, while Caltech is known for its extreme difficulty in STEM. 

Does Notre Dame still smell like smoke?

Yes, even after extensive restoration and cleaning, visitors and reports from early 2025 indicate that a faint, lingering smell of smoke and carbon can still be detected inside Notre Dame, serving as a poignant reminder of the 2019 fire, alongside the new brightness and incense. 

What is the #1 party university?

For 2026, the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) is widely ranked as the #1 party college in the U.S., according to Niche data, holding onto the top spot from the previous year, followed closely by institutions like Florida State University and Tulane University, with rankings based on student surveys and campus party scenes. Other strong contenders often mentioned include the University of Alabama, University of Wisconsin, and University of Southern California (USC). 

Is it safe to walk around Notre Dame at night?

Can I visit Notre-Dame at night? Yes, Notre-Dame can be admired at night, but interior access is limited to its operating hours.

What is the hardest college dance team to get into?

The hardest college dance teams to get into are often the most dominant competitive teams, like the University of Minnesota Dance Team, Ohio State University, and Towson University, known for intense work ethics, elite skills (acro, turns), and massive tryouts with hundreds of dancers vying for limited spots, making them extremely selective, alongside prestigious university programs like Juilliard or NYU Tisch for serious dancers.
 

Where do Notre Dame students hang out?

Corby's Irish Pub

Corby's has become synonymous with the spirit of camaraderie, good times, and, of course, Notre Dame pride. Immortalized in the bar scenes of the iconic movie Rudy, Corby's is a must-visit destination for Notre Dame students and fans.

What is the crime rate at Notre Dame?

The University of Notre Dame's crime rate varies by year but generally shows fluctuations, with figures like 11.77 offenses per 1,000 students reported in 2023 for criminal offenses and higher overall safety incidents (52.76/1000), driven by disciplinary actions and property crimes, while recent trends show spikes in motor vehicle theft but relatively low rates for violent offenses like rape, with official reports available via the Notre Dame Police Department. 

Is Notre Dame harder to get into than Harvard?

It is significantly harder to get into Harvard University than the University of Notre Dame, with Harvard's acceptance rate often below 4% compared to Notre Dame's, which has recently hovered around 9-11%. Harvard is consistently ranked among the most selective schools globally, requiring exceptional academic and extracurricular profiles, though Notre Dame is also extremely competitive and considered a top-tier university. 

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, referring to those from the highest income brackets, tend to attend elite universities like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, and Yale that consistently rank high in national and global lists, with some even having more students from the top 1% income bracket than the bottom 60% combined, according to The New York Times data. Top-ranked institutions like MIT, Princeton, Harvard, and Stanford are frequent top contenders in various 2026 rankings from U.S. News & World Report and Times Higher Education. 

Where do the 1% go to college?

The 1% of the wealthiest Americans disproportionately attend highly selective, elite universities, particularly Ivy League schools (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown, Penn, Columbia) and other top institutions like MIT, Stanford, Duke, and UChicago, where they make up a large percentage of the student body, often outnumbering students from the bottom 60% of income earners combined. Liberal arts colleges and prestigious public universities also attract many wealthy students, with specific examples including WashU St. Louis, UVA, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Vanderbilt, and Johns Hopkins.
 

What is the easiest ivy to get into?

While all Ivy League schools are highly selective, Cornell University is generally considered the "easiest" to get into due to having the highest acceptance rate (around 8-9%), partly because it's the largest Ivy with diverse colleges, like the less competitive Agriculture and Life Sciences, though its engineering programs are tough. Dartmouth College and Brown University often follow as the next most accessible Ivies, while Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia are typically the most difficult, with lower acceptance rates. 

Is Notre Dame stressful?

An Introduction to Notre Dame

I truly believe Notre Dame is the embodiment of the phrase “Work hard, play hard!” Although it is a very difficult school, it is possible to achieve a very healthy work-life balance at the university.

Is it harder to get into UCLA or Notre Dame?

UCLA is generally harder to get into than Notre Dame based on acceptance rates, with UCLA typically hovering around 9-10% compared to Notre Dame's roughly 11-19%, making UCLA one of the most selective public universities, though both are very competitive, and factors beyond stats, like your specific profile and the UC system's high volume of applications, heavily influence admissions. 

Is a degree from Notre Dame respected?

As one of the most highly regarded Catholic institutions in the US, Notre Dame is respected for producing well-rounded scholars and leaders and sending them out into the world with a vision for leadership, integrity, and community service.

Will I get financial aid if my parents make over $400,000?

Yes, you can still get financial aid even if your parents earn over $400k, as there's no strict income cutoff for the FAFSA, but need-based grants will likely be reduced; you may qualify for federal loans, institutional aid, merit scholarships, or other resources, so always apply to see what you're eligible for based on your family's specific situation (size, assets, other factors). 

What is the average salary after graduation at Notre Dame?

The four-year graduation rate is 89%. Six years after graduation, the median salary for graduates is $86,210. University of Notre Dame is a private institution that was founded in 1842.