Notre Dame vs. ONU

Deciding between University of Notre Dame and Ohio Northern University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Notre Dame
Ohio Northern University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN
  • ONU Ada, OH
  • Setting
  • Notre Dame Rural Fringe
  • ONU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Notre Dame 13,042
  • ONU 3,140
  • Type
  • Notre Dame Private 4 Year
  • ONU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Notre Dame #27
  • ONU #228
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Notre Dame Roman Catholic
  • ONU United Methodist
  • Status
  • Notre Dame Non-profit
  • ONU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Notre Dame
  • ONU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Notre Dame $65,025
  • ONU $39,800
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Notre Dame $65,025
  • ONU $39,800
  • Room & Board
  • Notre Dame $17,900
  • ONU $14,604
  • Average Net Price
  • Notre Dame $29,300
  • ONU $25,941
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Notre Dame $53,971
  • ONU $27,696
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Notre Dame 61%
  • ONU 97%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Notre Dame 29,942
  • ONU 4,640
  • Admitted
  • Notre Dame 3,374
  • ONU 3,452
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Notre Dame 11.3%
  • ONU 74.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Notre Dame 61.7%
  • ONU 19.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Notre Dame 1510
  • ONU 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • Notre Dame 34
  • ONU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Notre Dame 3.91
  • ONU 3.78
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Notre Dame A
  • ONU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Notre Dame Elite
  • ONU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Notre Dame Very High
  • ONU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Notre Dame 33/35
  • ONU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Notre Dame 1455/1560
  • ONU 1175/1400
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Notre Dame Test optional
  • ONU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Notre Dame Jan 1, 2027
  • ONU Aug 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Notre Dame 8:1
  • ONU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Notre Dame
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • ONU
    • Business (19%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Notre Dame 96%
  • ONU 65%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Notre Dame $89,800
  • ONU $71,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Notre Dame 92%
  • ONU 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Notre Dame $21,500
  • ONU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Notre Dame $222
  • ONU $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Notre Dame 52%
  • ONU 53%
  • % Women
  • Notre Dame 48%
  • ONU 47%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Notre Dame Medium
  • ONU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Notre Dame No
  • ONU No
  • % White
  • Notre Dame 69%
  • ONU 84%
  • % Asian
  • Notre Dame 6%
  • ONU 1%
  • % Black
  • Notre Dame 4%
  • ONU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Notre Dame 11%
  • ONU 1%
  • % Native American
  • Notre Dame 0%
  • ONU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Notre Dame 0%
  • ONU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Notre Dame 4%
  • ONU 4%
  • % International
  • Notre Dame 6%
  • ONU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Notre Dame 1%
  • ONU 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Notre Dame 8%
  • ONU 85%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Notre Dame 82%
  • ONU 13%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Notre Dame Yes
  • ONU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Notre Dame No
  • ONU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Notre Dame Yes
  • ONU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Notre Dame No
  • ONU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Notre Dame No
  • ONU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, IN with Ohio Northern University in Ada, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Notre Dame is larger than ONU based on total student enrollment (13,042 students vs. 3,140 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Notre Dame is located in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting); Ohio Northern University is in Ada, OH (Distant Town setting).
  • University of Notre Dame is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio Northern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Notre Dame 8:1; Ohio Northern University 13:1.

Notre Dame vs. ONU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Notre Dame or ONU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ohio Northern University than Notre Dame ($25,941 vs. $29,300).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio Northern University are 18.4% lower than at University of Notre Dame ($14,604 vs. $17,900).
  • University of Notre Dame is 63.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than ONU (about $25,225 more per year; $65,025.00 vs. $39,800.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 63.4% higher at Notre Dame than at Ohio Northern University (about $25,225 more per year; $65,025.00 vs. $39,800.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio Northern University than at University of Notre Dame (97% vs. 61%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Notre Dame students is 94.9% larger than aid received by Ohio Northern University students ($53,971 vs. $27,696).

Notre Dame vs. ONU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Notre Dame or ONU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between ONU and Notre Dame .

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Notre Dame (1510) is 220 points higher than at ONU (1290).
  • Incoming Notre Dame students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 26 at ONU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Notre Dame 1455/1560; Ohio Northern University 1175/1400.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Notre Dame 33/35; Ohio Northern University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Notre Dame - Test optional; ONU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Notre Dame Jan 1, 2027; ONU Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Notre Dame students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at ONU (3.78).
  • ONU has a higher acceptance rate (74.4%) than Notre Dame (11.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 61.7% at Notre Dame vs. 19.9% at ONU.

Notre Dame vs. ONU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Notre Dame and ONU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Notre Dame's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Ohio Northern University's (65%).
  • Graduates from University of Notre Dame earn a median of about $18,600 more per year than ONU graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,800 vs. $71,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Notre Dame graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than ONU graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Notre Dame graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ONU graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More Notre Dame graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ONU students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 82%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.