How can I compare the admissions selectivity of Emory and Notre Dame?

Notre Dame is typically viewed as modestly more selective overall than Emory, but both belong in the highly selective category and neither should be treated as a likely admission. Notre Dame’s undergraduate applicant pool is especially large and self-selecting, with many applicants drawn by its distinctive Catholic identity, nationally visible campus culture, and traditional residential undergraduate experience. Emory also attracts an exceptionally strong pool, particularly from students interested in its Atlanta location and academic environment.

A meaningful comparison should look beyond a single acceptance rate because the schools structure admission differently. Emory offers binding Early Decision options and also enrolls students through both Emory College and Oxford College, so its overall rate combines applicants pursuing different entry paths. Notre Dame’s early program is nonbinding Restrictive Early Action, which creates a different mix of early applicants and makes a simple early-versus-regular comparison less useful.

Place Notre Dame in a slightly more difficult admissions tier when building an application list, while recognizing that the difference is not large enough to make Emory a safety. Compare each school using the same lens: recent class profile, your academic preparation relative to its applicants, and whether your interests align with the institution’s character and opportunities.