Is Notre Dame considered more prestigious than Arizona State University for college admissions and job applications?

Yes. Notre Dame carries more prestige than Arizona State in both college admissions and most job application settings, largely because it has a stronger national brand and is more often treated as an elite private university name. Outside rankings, that translates into a school name that many admissions readers and employers immediately recognize as academically rigorous.

One clear difference is selectivity and signaling. Notre Dame is widely viewed as a highly selective national university, so its name can signal that you were admitted into a very competitive academic environment. Arizona State is well known and respected in many areas, but it is perceived more as a large public university with broad access rather than as a prestige-driven institution.

Another differentiator is alumni network and brand perception. Notre Dame has an unusually loyal and visible alumni network, and its name tends to carry weight across regions, especially in finance, consulting, law, politics, and other fields where school reputation is noticed quickly. ASU has a huge alumni base and strong reach, especially in the Southwest and in practical, career-focused programs, but its brand is not usually treated the same way as a standalone signal of elite status.

A third difference is how the name lands in admissions and hiring review. On graduate school, law school, or competitive job applications, Notre Dame often gets an initial bump in perception simply because readers associate it with strong students and a rigorous campus culture. ASU can still open doors, especially when paired with high grades, internships, research, or honors programs like Barrett, but the school name alone usually does less of that work.

That said, prestige is only one factor. At ASU, a student in Barrett, with top grades and strong experience, can be more compelling than an average Notre Dame student. But if the question is strictly which name carries more weight on paper, Notre Dame is the one most people would view as more prestigious.