The University of Notre Dame today announced significant enhancements to its undergraduate financial aid program, marking a bold expansion of the Pathways to Notre Dame initiative.
Beginning in the 2026-27 academic year, Notre Dame will ensure that families with annual income below $150,000 will receive need-based financial aid that covers the cost of tuition. Families with income below $200,000 will receive need-based aid that covers half the cost of tuition. In addition, most students from families with annual income below $60,000 will receive need-based financial aid that covers tuition, fees, housing and food. This announcement reflects the University’s long-standing commitment to ensure a Notre Dame education is affordable and accessible to students from all socioeconomic backgrounds, and this expansion of Pathways to Notre Dame provides the clarity that families need during the admissions process.
University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., launched the Pathways to Notre Dame initiative in his September 2024 presidential inauguration speech, when he announced that Notre Dame would be need-blind and loan-free for all students, domestic and international. “In order to be the community of learning we are called to be, cost must never be a barrier. By expanding the Pathways to Notre Dame program with this announcement, we continue to make strides to make a Notre Dame education more affordable," Father Dowd said. "We are committed to making every effort to welcome talented young people from a variety of backgrounds to a Notre Dame community that will help them to develop their gifts. I have no doubt that the students who come to Notre Dame thanks to Pathways will enrich our community in every way.”
“I am grateful that Notre Dame is expanding the Pathways to Notre Dame program,” said Micki Kidder, vice president for undergraduate enrollment. “With this announcement, we reiterate our unwavering commitment to ensuring that cost will never be a barrier between a promising student and a Notre Dame education, and we are ensuring that families have greater clarity as they consider this important and formative step for young scholars. Navigating the financial aid process can often feel like the most daunting part of the college selection journey. By implementing income-based scholarship thresholds, we are providing the clarity families need to see that a world-class education is within their reach.”
As the preeminent global Catholic research university, Notre Dame remains dedicated to every member of its community. Notre Dame will continue to meet 100% of demonstrated need for all admitted students, both domestic and international. For the past three decades, Notre Dame has provided significant need-based scholarship support to meet families’ full financial need. However, the Pathways to Notre Dame program expands the University’s commitment to affordability in historic ways. In the next four years, supported by the generosity of many members of the Notre Dame family, the University’s undergraduate financial aid commitment will exceed $1 billion.
This story was originally published by University of Notre Dame on March 18, 2026.