SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) - The University of Notre Dame announced it will start requiring standardized test scores again following a years-long policy making them optional for admissions.
The test score-optional policy started in 2020. Six years later, that policy is ending with the 2027-28 admissions cycle.
Notre Dame said requiring ACT or SAT test scores helps admissions specialists understand if the applicant is academically prepared for the classroom.
“Evaluated relative to the opportunities and norms of an applicant’s local high school and community, test scores give the admissions team additional information to better understand a student’s academic profile,” Notre Dame wrote.
The university added that researchers found students from first-generation, Pell-eligible, and rural populations are most likely to be overlooked during an admissions process without test scores.
Notre Dame emphasized it is still committed to accessibility and affordability.
“No single variable opens or closes a door at Notre Dame,” the university wrote. “Scores will continue to be evaluated contextually rather than against a fixed threshold.”
Notre Dame highlighted its Pathways to Notre Dame program, something available to all applicants. The program includes the following policies:
- For families earning < $60,000/year: Notre Dame will cover tuition, fees, housing and food.
- For families earning up to $150,000/year: Notre Dame will cover tuition.
- For families earning up to $200,000/year: Notre Dame will cover at least half of tuition.
- A family’s financial aid will not decrease over a student’s four years on campus, unless there is a significant change in family income
- Financial aid will increase if a family’s need grows
The university will offer free SAT preparation and admissions counseling. It has also added a dedicated college adviser position to work with rural students during the admissions process.
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