Most private universities in the United States that offer generous aid to international applicants also make it harder for those same applicants to get in. Notre Dame is one of a small number of schools that separates the two decisions completely. Whether you can pay has no bearing on whether you are admitted, and the university backs that policy with real funding once you are in.
Notre Dame International Financial Aid at a Glance
- Sponsor: University of Notre Dame, Office of Financial Aid
- Level of Study: Undergraduate
- Study in: United States (Notre Dame, Indiana)
- Funding Type: Need based aid via CSS Profile, plus limited merit scholarships
- Admission Deadline: November 1, 2026 (Restrictive Early Action) or January 1, 2027 (Regular Decision)
- CSS Profile Deadline: November 15, 2026 (REA) or January 15, 2027 (RD)
- Admission Basis: Need blind for all international undergraduate applicants
What “need blind” actually means here
Notre Dame reviews undergraduate applications from international students without looking at ability to pay. Your file is evaluated the same way as a domestic applicant’s, on academics, activities, and fit. Aid decisions happen afterward, through a separate process, so a student who cannot afford the sticker price is not screened out at the admission stage.
How the need based aid process works
Aid at Notre Dame is not automatic. You have to apply for it, and the process runs through the College Board rather than Notre Dame’s own portal:
- Complete the CSS Profile for the 2027 to 28 academic year (Notre Dame’s school code is 1841). It opens October 1.
- Submit supporting paperwork through the College Board’s Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC), which typically requests a parent tax return or non filer statement and recent earnings documentation.
- Wait for Notre Dame to review your academic file, financial need, and available aid funds together before making an offer, which can include a mix of scholarship money and campus employment.
Note that need based summer session aid is described as extremely limited, so plan summer costs separately from the main academic year package.
Key dates by applicant type
| Applicant Type | Admission Deadline | CSS Profile Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Restrictive Early Action | November 1, 2026 | November 15, 2026 |
| Regular Decision | January 1, 2027 | January 15, 2027 |
| Transfer, Spring 2027 | October 1, 2026 | November 15, 2026 |
| Transfer, Fall 2027 | March 15, 2027 | May 1, 2027 |
| Currently enrolled, admitted Fall 2025 or later | No admission step | March 1, 2027 |
Missing a priority date does not always disqualify you, but it can cost you aid dollars, since funding is limited and awarded in order.
Merit scholarships
Separately from need based aid, Notre Dame offers a limited number of merit scholarships to admitted first year students, based on academic accomplishment, leadership, service, and intellectual promise rather than financial circumstances. If you are offered both merit and need based aid, federal rules and Notre Dame policy require the need based portion to shrink or disappear accordingly, so the two are not simply additive.
Common mistakes applicants make
- Assuming the CSS Profile is optional. Without it, need based consideration does not happen at all.
- Missing IDOC document submission after the CSS Profile is filed. The Profile alone is not the complete application.
- Applying for aid after the priority date and expecting the same result as on time applicants.
- Confusing the merit scholarship pool with need based aid. They are evaluated on different criteria and interact under federal stacking rules.
Frequently asked questions
Does financial need affect my admission chances at Notre Dame?
No. International undergraduate admission decisions are need blind.
What is Notre Dame’s CSS Profile school code?
1841
Can I get both merit and need based aid?
Yes, but the need based portion is reduced or eliminated once merit aid is applied, in line with federal regulation.
Related reading: if you are preparing your application materials, see our guide to writing a strong statement of purpose and our scholarship recommendation letter guide. For more United States funding options, browse our United States scholarships category.
Apply directly: CSS Profile – College Board
Official information: Notre Dame Office of Financial Aid – International Students
Kukual verifies scholarship details against official sponsor pages at the time of publication. Confirm current deadlines and documentation requirements on Notre Dame’s official site before applying.
