Is Yale generally more difficult to get into than Notre Dame?

Yes. Yale is generally considered more difficult to gain admission to than the University of Notre Dame. Yale draws an exceptionally broad international and national applicant pool, including many students with near-perfect academic preparation and unusually deep achievements.

Notre Dame is highly selective in its own right, and an applicant should not treat it as an easy alternative. It attracts many academically excellent students and places substantial value on evidence of intellectual engagement, character, service, and a genuine connection to its mission and community. Still, its applicant pool is somewhat more self-selecting around the Notre Dame experience, including its Catholic tradition and strong residential campus culture, whereas Yale competes for applicants across virtually every academic interest, region, and educational background.

The practical difference is that Yale admission often requires not only outstanding grades and rigorous coursework, but also a profile that stands out within an applicant group filled with other top academic performers. Notre Dame also expects very strong academics, but a compelling fit with its values, community orientation, and educational environment can play a particularly meaningful role in how an application is read.

Neither result can be predicted solely from credentials, since both schools use holistic review. As a broad admissions comparison, Yale belongs in the more difficult category, while Notre Dame remains a reach for most applicants with competitive records.