How should I compare the selectivity of Notre Dame and Northwestern?

Treat Notre Dame and Northwestern as similarly highly selective, and do not infer a meaningful difference from one headline acceptance rate. The fairest comparison uses each school’s Common Data Set and admissions release for the same entering class. Compare total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students together, because an admit rate alone does not show how many admitted applicants ultimately chose to enroll.

Early application policies are an especially important difference. Northwestern offers Early Decision, which is binding, while Notre Dame uses Restrictive Early Action, which is nonbinding. Their early-round admit rates therefore are not directly comparable: Northwestern’s early pool includes applicants prepared to make a binding commitment, whereas Notre Dame’s early admits retain more flexibility. For a clean comparison, focus primarily on each school’s overall results, then view early data as context rather than proof that one is easier.

Use academic-profile measures carefully. In the Common Data Set, compare the share of enrolled students reporting class rank, the distribution of high-school GPAs where provided, and SAT/ACT ranges for students who submitted scores. Test-score ranges are less definitive in a test-optional environment because submitters are a self-selected group, but they can still indicate the academic level of enrolled classes when read alongside grades and course rigor.

Also distinguish selectivity from fit. Both universities draw applicants with very strong academic records, but an applicant’s odds can shift based on intended college or major, institutional priorities, extracurricular depth, and how convincingly the application matches each institution’s values. The most reliable conclusion comes from several years of comparable official data, not a single metric or a single admission cycle.