Notre Dame ACT: Average Scores, Ranges, and What You Need to Know

With an average composite score of 34 and a middle 50% range stretching from 33 to 35, University of Notre Dame sits among the most selective institutions in the country, where earning admission with a score falling below the 25th percentile would be significantly challenging. The school maintains an acceptance rate around 11% to 12%, which means the vast majority of admitted students have achieved these exceptionally high scores. Simply reaching or exceeding the average is not a ticket to acceptance at Notre Dame, as these numbers reflect only the academic component of an enormously selective applicant pool that includes thousands of high-achieving students competing for roughly 2,000 spots.

A good ACT score for Notre Dame typically means scoring in the range of 33 to 35, with 34 being the target that puts you in the middle of admitted students. However, it is crucial to understand that a high ACT score does not guarantee your admission to Notre Dame. Many applicants with scores of 35 or even perfect 36s are rejected each year because the school evaluates you as a whole person, not simply a test taker. Your essays, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, academic rigor, personal background, and demonstrated leadership all matter significantly in the decision.

While there is no official minimum ACT score required by the university, you should aim for at least a 32 to have a realistic chance of being considered for admission. Scoring below 32 would put you well below the 25th percentile, and an ACT score in the low 30s or below would make acceptance extremely unlikely unless you have truly exceptional qualities elsewhere in your application. That said, Notre Dame explicitly states they conduct a comprehensive review process and consider multiple factors beyond test scores, so if your ACT falls short but you have other significant strengths, do not rule out applying. Just be realistic about your odds if your score is notably below their typical range.

Notre Dame is test-optional for all applicants through the 2026-27 application cycle, meaning you are not required to submit either an ACT or SAT score when you apply. If you choose to submit test scores, you will be given full consideration in the admissions review process, and if you choose not to submit scores, you will still be given full consideration as well. This flexibility means you can make a strategic decision about whether to include your scores based on how they complement the rest of your application. However, if you are admitted and choose to enroll, official ACT scores (if you took the exam) must be submitted by the end of June.

Notre Dame employs a superscoring method for the ACT that works significantly to your advantage when taking the test multiple times. If you take the ACT more than once, the school considers your highest individual section scores across all test dates and combines them to calculate your best composite score. This means you can take the test multiple times, improve a weak English section on one attempt and a weak Math section on another, and Notre Dame will piece together your strongest possible composite. The Science section of the ACT is optional, and the writing sections are not required, further giving you flexibility in how you present your testing profile.

Understanding how Notre Dame evaluates your ACT score requires recognizing that standardized testing is just one component of a holistic admissions review that weighs many factors simultaneously. Notre Dame admissions officers examine your coursework rigor, grades, essays, recommendations, leadership, extracurricular activities, and personal qualities alongside your test score. Even applicants with a 35 or 36 ACT can be rejected because admissions officers are looking for students who will thrive intellectually and contribute meaningfully to campus life and the Notre Dame community. Your test score helps confirm that you can handle Notre Dame's academic demands, but it does not make the case for admission on its own.

At a school as highly selective as Notre Dame, having strong test scores actually narrows down the applicant pool but does not separate you from other high-scoring applicants who are also competing for spots. Instead, admissions officers focus on what makes you unique as a person and student, looking for evidence of leadership, service, and personal growth. Your ACT score signals that you have the intellectual capability to succeed at Notre Dame, but the rest of your application demonstrates whether you deserve one of the roughly 2,000 spots they offer each year to an applicant pool that exceeds 29,000. This is why students with a 33 ACT sometimes get accepted while students with a 35 ACT are denied, and it highlights the reality that test scores alone cannot predict admissions outcomes at institutions as selective as Notre Dame.

AdmitStudio users who have found success at top colleges often approach their applications as a single, cohesive story, not a checklist of impressive achievements. Rather than treating essays, activities, and recommendations as separate pieces, they focus on presenting themselves as a clear, memorable individual with defined values, motivations, and strengths. Their essays help admissions officers understand why they pursued certain activities, how their experiences shaped them, and what kind of person they would be on campus. This clarity makes it easier for readers to grasp who the applicant is within just a few minutes of review.

AdmitStudio users who are successful also tend to use their essays to connect and reinforce the rest of their application, not repeat it. The essay highlights a few core traits, such as curiosity, leadership, resilience, or initiative, while the activities list and recommendations quietly support those same traits with evidence. By aligning every part of the application around a consistent narrative, these students stand out not because they try to be extraordinary, but because they are specific, authentic, and intentional. Admissions officers come away with a strong sense of the applicant's identity and how they would uniquely contribute to the university community.