The University of Notre Dame announced March 18 that starting this fall, it will cover full tuition for undergraduate students from families whose annual income is less than $150,000.
The policy is part of the university’s “Pathways to Notre Dame” initiative, a financial aid program aimed at increasing the institution’s affordability.
Under the new policy, which takes effect in the 2026-27 academic year, families under that threshold will receive need-based financial aid covering the full cost of tuition. Families earning less than $200,000 will qualify for aid covering half of tuition costs. In addition, most students from families earning under $60,000 will receive aid covering tuition, fees, housing, and food, according to the university.
University President Father Robert Dowd, CSC, said the changes reflect Notre Dame’s commitment to ensuring cost does not prevent students from attending.
“In order to be the community of learning we are called to be, cost must never be a barrier,” Fr. Dowd said. “By expanding the Pathways to Notre Dame program with this announcement, we continue to make strides to make a Notre Dame education more affordable.”
Fr. Dowd added that the university aims to “welcome talented young people from a variety of backgrounds” and said students admitted through the program will “enrich our community in every way.”
The initiative builds on a pledge Fr. Dowd made during his 2024 inauguration, when he announced that Notre Dame would adopt a need-blind, loan-free admissions policy for all students, including international applicants.
Micki Kidder, the university’s vice president for undergraduate enrollment, said the expanded program is designed to provide families with clearer expectations about college costs.
“By implementing income-based scholarship thresholds, we are providing the clarity families need to see that a world-class education is within their reach,” Kidder said.
Notre Dame said it will continue to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students. The university has offered need-based aid for decades, but officials described the latest expansion as a significant increase in its commitment to affordability.
Over the next four years, the university expects its undergraduate financial aid investment to exceed $1 billion, supported in part by donor contributions.