Answer first: The University of Notre Dame offers need-blind admission to international first-year applicants and commits to meeting the full demonstrated financial need of admitted undergraduates. For fall 2027 entry, apply by 1 November 2026 for Restrictive Early Action or 4 January 2027 for Regular Decision. International applicants requesting aid must submit the CSS Profile; the priority dates are 15 November 2026 and 15 January 2027. Notre Dame does not state a deadline time or time zone on the cited pages.

Notre Dame Financial Aid 2027 at a glance
- Study level: First-year undergraduate study
- Eligible applicants: US and international applicants; this guide focuses on international students
- Admission policy: Need-blind for undergraduate international applicants
- Funding: Need-based aid calculated from the family’s demonstrated financial need
- Admission deadlines: 1 November 2026 (Restrictive Early Action) and 4 January 2027 (Regular Decision)
- Aid priority dates: 15 November 2026 (REA) and 15 January 2027 (RD)
- Application fee: US$85, non-refundable
- SAT/ACT: Optional for the 2026–2027 application year, including fall 2027 entry
What the financial aid can cover
Notre Dame determines aid from the difference between its cost of attendance and the family contribution it calculates from financial information. The university states that it meets the full demonstrated financial need of undergraduate students. The final award is individual: applicants should not assume a fixed scholarship amount or automatic full ride.
Notre Dame’s international-admission page confirms that financial need is not considered when undergraduate international applications are evaluated. Applicants who want need-based assistance must indicate that request and complete the CSS Profile when it becomes available on 1 October.
Who is eligible?
You may apply as a first-year student if you are still in secondary school, or have graduated but have not attempted college coursework after graduation. International applicants from any country may apply. Admission is highly selective, and requesting aid does not guarantee admission or a particular award.
Academic and application requirements
- Common Application, Coalition Application on Scoir, or QuestBridge application
- Notre Dame Writing Supplement
- Official secondary-school transcript or academic record
- Teacher evaluation from a core academic subject
- Counselor evaluation, strongly recommended; another community recommender may be used if a counselor evaluation is unavailable
- CSS Profile for international applicants seeking need-based aid
Tests, English proficiency and fees
Notre Dame’s current application checklist says ACT or SAT results are optional through the 2026–2027 academic year. The university will reinstate required testing beginning with applicants seeking fall 2028 entry, so this change does not apply to fall 2027 applicants.
The cited 2026–2027 checklist and international-applicant page do not specify a separate mandatory English-proficiency test or score. Applicants should follow any individualized instructions in the application or applicant portal and should not assume a test waiver or requirement that Notre Dame has not stated on those pages.
The undergraduate application fee is US$85. Notre Dame labels it non-refundable; the cited page does not publish a separate scholarship application fee.
Deadlines for fall 2027 entry
- 1 November 2026: Restrictive Early Action application
- 15 November 2026: REA priority date for financial aid and supporting application documents
- 4 January 2027: Regular Decision application
- 15 January 2027: RD priority date for financial aid and supporting application documents
Notre Dame does not state a cutoff time or time zone on the official application overview. Submit early and use the applicant portal to confirm that every item has arrived.
How to apply for Notre Dame financial aid
- Choose an admission plan. Review the restrictions of Restrictive Early Action or use Regular Decision.
- Submit the admission application. Use the Common Application, Coalition Application on Scoir, or QuestBridge.
- Complete the Notre Dame supplement. Answer the required essay and selected short-answer prompts.
- Arrange academic documents. Ask your school to send the transcript and evaluations.
- Request financial aid. International applicants seeking need-based support must complete the CSS Profile, available from 1 October.
- Monitor the portal. Check for missing admission or financial-aid materials and respond only to official requests.
Important cautions
- Need-blind admission means ability to pay is not used in the admission decision; it does not mean every applicant automatically receives the full cost of attendance.
- “Full demonstrated need” is based on Notre Dame’s institutional calculation, not necessarily the amount a family estimates.
- Do not wait until the admission deadline to begin the CSS Profile or request school documents.
- Use only Notre Dame, Common App, Coalition/Scoir, QuestBridge and College Board systems linked from official pages.
Frequently asked questions
Is Notre Dame need-blind for international students?
Yes. Notre Dame’s official international-applicant page says the undergraduate international admission process is need-blind.
Does Notre Dame meet 100% of demonstrated need?
Notre Dame states that it meets the full demonstrated financial need of undergraduate students. The amount varies according to its review of each family’s finances.
Is there a separate scholarship application?
For need-based international aid, the key additional form identified by Notre Dame is the CSS Profile. Admission and financial-aid submissions have separate priority dates.
Are SAT or ACT scores required for fall 2027?
No. Notre Dame says testing is optional through the 2026–2027 application year and becomes required again for fall 2028 entry.
What is the exact deadline time?
The official pages give dates but do not state a cutoff time or time zone. Submit before the listed date in your own location to avoid ambiguity.
Official sources
- Notre Dame application overview, checklist, fee and deadlines
- International applicants and need-blind financial aid
- Notre Dame’s commitment to meet full demonstrated undergraduate need
- CSS Profile
Related opportunities
- Princeton Financial Aid 2027
- Brown University Financial Aid 2027
- Dartmouth Financial Aid 2027
- Harvard College Financial Aid 2027
ScholarshipHubNow independently verifies applicant facts against official sources. Requirements can change; recheck Notre Dame’s pages before submission.






