Stanford vs Notre Dame
Stanford University and the University of Notre Dame, two prestigious institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Stanford, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, is renowned for its academic excellence in STEM fields and entrepreneurship, while Notre Dame, situated in the vibrant college town of South Bend, Indiana, is known for its strong liberal arts curriculum and Catholic identity. With acceptance rates of 4.7% and 18.6%, respectively, both universities are highly selective, attracting top students from around the world. While Stanford's student body is more diverse, with 51% female and 49% male students, Notre Dame's student body is predominantly male, with 43% female and 57% male students. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these two exceptional universities, including popular majors, graduation rates, and additional factors that may influence your decision in choosing the best fit for your academic and personal aspirations.
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![]() Stanford University |
![]() University of Notre Dame |
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Overview |
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Location | Stanford, California | Notre Dame, Indiana |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Quarter | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 98.0% | 98.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Catholic | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 3.9% | 15.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$90
Graduate:
$125
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Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$75
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SAT range | 1470 - 1570 | 1410 - 1550 |
ACT range | 34 - 35 | 32 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 15.0% | 33.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 11.0% | 36.0% |
Total number of applicants | 55,471 | 23,642 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,190 | 3,562 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,757 | 2,059 |
Yield rate | 80.2% | 57.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $78,898 | $78,347 |
Average net price | $14,402 | $30,513 |
Tuition | $55,473 | $58,336 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$11,166
Meal plan:
$6,694
|
$16,304 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
61.0%
Average amount $56,211 |
57.0%
Average amount $46,306 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
5.0%
Average amount $5,151 |
30.0%
Average amount $4,134 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $17,186 |
12.0%
Average amount $8,564 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
7,645
Men 49.4% Women 50.6% |
8,973
Men 51.6% Women 48.4% |
Graduate students |
10,035
Men 56.5% Women 43.5% |
4,166
Men 56.5% Women 43.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 58.5% | 93.1% |
International students | 24.4% | 12.1% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 14,621 | 6,919 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Texas Washington New York Illinois | Illinois California Texas Indiana New York |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 5:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 95.5% | 95.9% |
Dropout rate | 1.7% | 3.9% |
Transferred out | 0.6% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Business Administration, Management and Operations (First Professional Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (First Professional Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (First Professional Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics and Statistics, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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