At $27,823/yr net price, University of Notre Dame graduates earn $99,980/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $65,980/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $27,823 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $111,292 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $99,980/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$65,980/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 1.7 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 96.8% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $19,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $8,873/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $6,216/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,841/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,449/yr |
| $110,001+ | $46,879/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Doctoral | $123,601 | $48,563 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | Doctoral | $108,092 | $41,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $89,968 | $19,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Doctoral | $89,674 | $42,692 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Doctoral | $87,754 | |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Bachelor | $86,375 | $19,000 |
| Law. | Doctoral | $85,243 | $128,413 |
| Mathematics and Statistics, Other. | Bachelor | $80,273 | $19,000 |
| Computer Engineering. | Bachelor | $79,598 | |
| Chemical Engineering. | Bachelor | $76,460 | $16,750 |
The Risk Factor
96.8% of students at University of Notre Dame graduate within 6 years. Most students who start here finish their degree.
Analysis
Notre Dame gives you one of the strongest financial returns in private higher education. You graduate with a median debt of $19,000 and hit roughly $100,000 in median earnings ten years out. That gap between what you borrow and what you earn is the whole case for this school. A 96.8% graduation rate and 98.18% retention mean you almost certainly finish, so you rarely carry debt without a degree to show for it.
The highest-paying bachelor's paths are finance and the STEM cluster. Computer and information sciences, finance, computer engineering, and chemical engineering all land you in the high $70,000s to high $80,000s early on, and chemical engineering does it with the lowest debt of the group at $16,750. Notre Dame's finance pipeline into banking and consulting is the clearest payoff here. If you come for humanities or theology, expect the same $19,000 debt but no listed salary data to promise those returns, so plan accordingly.
The real risk at Notre Dame is the sticker price if your family earns over $110,000, where net price jumps to $46,879 per year. That is a large multiple of what lower-income families pay, and four years at that rate is a serious commitment even against strong earnings. If your family income falls under $48,000, you pay between $6,216 and $8,873 per year, which makes Notre Dame one of the better deals available to you. The middle tiers, $48,000 to $110,000, sit at $14,841 to $20,449 and still work if you target the finance or engineering programs.
This school fits you if you want a finance or STEM career and either qualify for strong aid or can absorb the full price. If you are paying near $47,000 a year for a low-earning major, look harder at the math.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is University of Notre Dame worth the high tuition cost?
Notre Dame graduates earn $99,980 after 10 years with relatively low debt at $19,000 median, making the investment worthwhile for most students. The strong alumni network and 97% graduation rate help justify the cost, especially for business and engineering majors.
What majors at University of Notre Dame have the best return on investment?
Business Administration leads with $123,601 median earnings, followed by Management Sciences at $108,092. Computer Science and Finance also pay well at around $90,000, while some liberal arts majors may struggle to justify the cost.
How much financial aid does University of Notre Dame actually give students?
The average net price is $27,823 per year, which means Notre Dame provides significant aid to bring costs down from the full sticker price. However, this still represents a substantial investment for most families.
Do University of Notre Dame graduates have high student loan debt?
Notre Dame graduates have a median debt of $19,000, which is lower than many private universities. The combination of strong earning potential and manageable debt makes the school financially viable for most graduates.