What is the Notre Dame Summer Scholars acceptance rate? 2026 data + how to get in
Updated: 6th November, 2026
TL;DR
Notre Dame doesn't publish an acceptance rate for Summer Scholars, a two-week residential program where you take one college-level course. You can apply for 2027 if you're a current sophomore or junior who will be 16 by August 1, 2027. The deadline is February 17, 2027. Your best move is a clear, specific case for why you want your chosen course. If you want to lead your own project, look at the Lumiere Research Scholar Program. It pairs you 1-on-1 with a researcher from a top university.
What is Notre Dame Summer Scholars?
Notre Dame Summer Scholars is a two-week, residential program where you take one college-level course taught by Notre Dame faculty. You work with classmates on coursework outside class, and you may earn one transferable college credit by completing your course. The latest posted cycle is summer 2027, and Notre Dame's program page lists 29 courses across two sessions.
Application deadline: February 17, 2027.
Duration: Two weeks. Session I runs June 19 to July 3, 2027. Session II runs July 10 to July 24, 2027.
Location: Notre Dame's campus in Notre Dame, Indiana.
Eligibility: Current sophomores and juniors, who will be rising juniors and seniors. You must be at least 16 by August 1, 2027.
Cost: $5,200 for tuition, housing, and the enrollment fee, plus a $75 application fee.
Selectivity: Notre Dame doesn't publish an acceptance rate.
For a broader look at the experience, read Lumiere's Notre Dame Summer Scholars review.
What is the Notre Dame Summer Scholars acceptance rate?
Notre Dame doesn't publish an acceptance rate for Summer Scholars. We also couldn't find a reliable figure from the university, so any number you see online is a guess. We won't make one up here.
What you can say is that the program asks for more than a form. You need a transcript, a counselor report, and a teacher recommendation, and the university reviews your file once every piece arrives. That kind of review suggests Notre Dame is looking at fit, not just filling seats. Treat it as a program you have to earn a spot in, and plan to submit a complete, careful application.
It's always smart to check the official Summer Scholars page before you apply, since the university can update its details each cycle.
Who gets into Notre Dame Summer Scholars?
Notre Dame says it wants students with strong academic standing and solid extracurricular activities. It also wants you to be self-motivated, self-disciplined, and mature enough for a residential program. You also need to show a sincere desire to be part of the Notre Dame community during the program.
For 2027, you must be a current sophomore or junior. You must also be 16 by August 1, 2027, and the university says there are no exceptions to that age rule.
Notre Dame doesn't publish a typical admitted student's GPA, test scores, or activity list. So don't try to match an unofficial profile you found online. Focus on showing your own preparation and curiosity, using the details on the eligibility and application requirements page.
What does the Notre Dame Summer Scholars selection committee look for?
Notre Dame's published standards point to academic standing, extracurriculars, maturity, motivation, and self-discipline. They also point to a sincere interest in joining the Notre Dame community. The university doesn't share a scoring rubric, so these are the only criteria you can count on.
Your application has four required parts: the online application, your high school transcript, a counselor report, and a recommendation from a high school teacher. The $75 fee is also due.
SAT, ACT, or PSAT scores are optional but encouraged. If you send them, Notre Dame accepts scores through January 31, 2027. International applicants who don't attend an English-speaking high school must also submit a TOEFL, IELTS, DET, or PTE Academic result. The details are on the official requirements page.
How do you apply to Notre Dame Summer Scholars, and when is the deadline?
Your full application and all supporting documents are due February 17, 2027. Notre Dame reviews your file once all materials are received, so a missing letter can hold you up.
Your counselor and recommending teacher each get an automatic email from the program office. It's your job to follow up and confirm both were received. Get the teacher's okay before you list them.
If you need aid, fill out the Financial Aid Request Form for your session. Check the form for its deadline. If you're admitted, you'll pay a $300 enrollment fee by April 23, 2027, and the balance by May 14, 2027. See the tuition, fees, and financial aid page for the full schedule.
How can you strengthen your Notre Dame Summer Scholars application?
Make your academic fit easy to see. Pick a course that matches your interests, then back it up with real examples from your classes, projects, or reading.
Show you're ready. Point to times you took on a hard class or handled demanding work.
Be specific about your course. Name it, and explain what questions draw you to it.
Pick a recommender who knows your work. Ask a teacher who can describe your curiosity, effort, and maturity.
Follow up on supporting documents. Your application isn't complete until every piece arrives.
Send optional test scores on time. They're encouraged, not required, and the deadline is January 31, 2027.
Is Notre Dame Summer Scholars worth applying to?
It's worth applying if you want a demanding college course and a taste of residential life, and the cost works for your family. You study with Notre Dame faculty in small classes, and you may earn one transferable credit.
The $5,200 cost covers tuition, room and board, activities, and class field trips. Notre Dame offers need-based partial to full-tuition scholarships in limited numbers, but no merit aid, and aid isn't guaranteed. Summer Scholars also isn't a shortcut into undergraduate admission at Notre Dame.
Pros -
You take a college-level course from Notre Dame faculty in a small class.
You may earn one transferable college credit.
The $5,200 price covers tuition, housing, meals, activities, and field trips.
Need-based partial to full-tuition aid is available.
Cons -
The $5,200 price plus a $75 application fee is a lot for many families.
Notre Dame doesn't publish an acceptance rate, so you can't gauge your odds.
Aid is limited and isn't guaranteed.
You must be on campus for two weeks and at least 16 by August 1, 2027.
What can you do if you don't get into Notre Dame Summer Scholars?
You can still build a strong summer or school-year plan. Start an independent project in a subject you love, such as a research question, a coding project, or a community survey. Colleges like to see you follow a question over time.
You can also look at other Notre Dame options, like the Notre Dame Leadership Seminars. Or browse this list of competitive summer programs admissions officers love. Each one has its own deadline, so start early.
Frequently asked questions: Notre Dame Summer Scholars
Is Notre Dame Summer Scholars prestigious?
It's a faculty-taught, college-level program on a well-known campus, and that gives it real weight. You take a course with Notre Dame faculty and may earn one transferable credit. Notre Dame doesn't publish an acceptance rate, so you can't point to a number. Colleges will look at how you used the experience, not just the name.
How much does Notre Dame Summer Scholars cost?
The 2027 program costs $5,200. That covers tuition, housing, and the enrollment fee, and room and board, activities, and field trips are included. You also pay a $75 application fee, and a $300 enrollment fee is due after admission and counts toward the total. You can read the details on Notre Dame's cost page.
What tracks does Notre Dame Summer Scholars offer?
Notre Dame lists 29 courses for 2027, spread across two sessions. Examples include Accounting, Chemistry, Law, Psychology and the Self, Research Computing, Film Production, and Climate Change. Some courses run in one session only, and six run in both. Check the course list to see what fits your dates.
Does Summer Scholars help you get into Notre Dame?
Notre Dame doesn't say that attending improves your chances of undergraduate admission. You should apply for the course, the faculty, and the campus experience. Don't treat it as a promise of a spot later.
Does Notre Dame Summer Scholars offer financial aid?
Yes, but only in limited numbers. Notre Dame offers need-based partial to full-tuition scholarships and no merit aid. Grants that cover tuition, room, and board are also available for students accepted into Accounting, and for students living in Indiana or the Philadelphia area. Asking for aid doesn't guarantee an award, and decisions come with admission letters.
Not sure a fixed two-week residency and a $5,200 price tag fit your plans, or want a research option built around your own question? Look at the Lumiere Research Scholar Program. It pairs you 1-on-1 with a researcher from a top university to produce an independent research project. Apply here. If cost is the main barrier, also look at the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students.
Stephen Turban is the co-founder of Lumiere Education and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics before beginning a PhD at Harvard Business School. A former McKinsey & Company consultant and former researcher, his research has been covered by the Harvard Business Review, The Economist, BBC News, Freakonomics Radio, and the Washington Post. In his articles for Forbes, he writes on what students and professionals can learn from high school research, high school passion projects, critical thinking, and mentorship. At Lumiere, he leads a selective research program where students work one-on-one with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper. Connect with him on LinkedIn.