Notre Dame vs. Saint Louis University

Deciding between University of Notre Dame and Saint Louis 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
Saint Louis University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN
  • Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MO
  • Setting
  • Notre Dame Rural Fringe
  • Saint Louis University Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Notre Dame 13,042
  • Saint Louis University 17,059
  • Type
  • Notre Dame Private 4 Year
  • Saint Louis University Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Notre Dame #27
  • Saint Louis University #166
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Notre Dame Roman Catholic
  • Saint Louis University Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Notre Dame Non-profit
  • Saint Louis University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Notre Dame
  • Saint Louis University
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Notre Dame $65,025
  • Saint Louis University $55,760
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Notre Dame $65,025
  • Saint Louis University $55,760
  • Room & Board
  • Notre Dame $17,900
  • Saint Louis University $15,280
  • Average Net Price
  • Notre Dame $29,300
  • Saint Louis University $27,749
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Notre Dame $53,971
  • Saint Louis University $44,657
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Notre Dame 61%
  • Saint Louis University 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Notre Dame 29,942
  • Saint Louis University 15,533
  • Admitted
  • Notre Dame 3,374
  • Saint Louis University 11,656
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Notre Dame 11.3%
  • Saint Louis University 75%
  • Enrolled
  • Notre Dame 61.7%
  • Saint Louis University 13.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Notre Dame 1510
  • Saint Louis University 1310
  • Typical ACT score
  • Notre Dame 34
  • Saint Louis University 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Notre Dame 3.91
  • Saint Louis University 3.95
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Notre Dame A
  • Saint Louis University A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Notre Dame Elite
  • Saint Louis University Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Notre Dame Very High
  • Saint Louis University
  • ACT Range
  • Notre Dame 33/35
  • Saint Louis University 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • Notre Dame 1455/1560
  • Saint Louis University 1200/1410
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Notre Dame Test optional
  • Saint Louis University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Notre Dame Jan 1, 2027
  • Saint Louis University
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Notre Dame 8:1
  • Saint Louis University 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Notre Dame
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Saint Louis University
    • Business (24%)
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Notre Dame 96%
  • Saint Louis University 61%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Notre Dame $89,800
  • Saint Louis University $61,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Notre Dame 92%
  • Saint Louis University 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Notre Dame $21,500
  • Saint Louis University $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Notre Dame $222
  • Saint Louis University $268
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Notre Dame 52%
  • Saint Louis University 44%
  • % Women
  • Notre Dame 48%
  • Saint Louis University 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Notre Dame Medium
  • Saint Louis University Medium
  • HBCU
  • Notre Dame No
  • Saint Louis University No
  • % White
  • Notre Dame 69%
  • Saint Louis University 68%
  • % Asian
  • Notre Dame 6%
  • Saint Louis University 9%
  • % Black
  • Notre Dame 4%
  • Saint Louis University 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Notre Dame 11%
  • Saint Louis University 5%
  • % Native American
  • Notre Dame 0%
  • Saint Louis University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Notre Dame 0%
  • Saint Louis University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Notre Dame 4%
  • Saint Louis University 4%
  • % International
  • Notre Dame 6%
  • Saint Louis University 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Notre Dame 1%
  • Saint Louis University 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Notre Dame 8%
  • Saint Louis University 46%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Notre Dame 82%
  • Saint Louis University 47%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, IN with Saint Louis University in Saint Louis, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Saint Louis University is larger than Notre Dame based on total student enrollment (17,059 students vs. 13,042 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Notre Dame is located in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting); Saint Louis University is in Saint Louis, MO (Large City setting).
  • University of Notre Dame is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Louis University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Notre Dame 8:1; Saint Louis University 9:1.

Notre Dame vs. Saint Louis University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Notre Dame or Saint Louis University? 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 Saint Louis University than Notre Dame ($27,749 vs. $29,300).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Louis University are 14.6% lower than at University of Notre Dame ($15,280 vs. $17,900).
  • University of Notre Dame is 16.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saint Louis University (about $9,265 more per year; $65,025.00 vs. $55,760.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 16.6% higher at Notre Dame than at Saint Louis University (about $9,265 more per year; $65,025.00 vs. $55,760.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Louis University than at University of Notre Dame (100% vs. 61%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Notre Dame students is 20.9% larger than aid received by Saint Louis University students ($53,971 vs. $44,657).

Notre Dame vs. Saint Louis University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Notre Dame or Saint Louis University? 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 Saint Louis University and Notre Dame .

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Notre Dame (1510) is 200 points higher than at Saint Louis University (1310).
  • Incoming Notre Dame students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 28 at Saint Louis University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Notre Dame 1455/1560; Saint Louis University 1200/1410.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Notre Dame 33/35; Saint Louis University 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Notre Dame - Test optional; Saint Louis University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Notre Dame Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Saint Louis University students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Notre Dame (3.91).
  • Saint Louis University has a higher acceptance rate (75%) than Notre Dame (11.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 61.7% at Notre Dame vs. 13.9% at Saint Louis University.

Notre Dame vs. Saint Louis University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Notre Dame and Saint Louis University? 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 Saint Louis University's (61%).
  • Graduates from University of Notre Dame earn a median of about $28,000 more per year than Saint Louis University graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,800 vs. $61,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Notre Dame graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Saint Louis University graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Notre Dame graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Louis University graduates ($222 vs. $268).
  • More Notre Dame graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saint Louis University students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 74%)

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.