FAQs for Veterans

Yes! We thank you for your service, and we look forward to working with you. We are happy to help guide you through this next step of your educational journey.

We encourage you to reach out to our Veteran Liaison in Undergraduate Admissions, Montanna Kirven, to talk more about your educational goals and whether ND is a good fit for you academically. She can also answer any questions regarding the admissions process.

Additionally, please reach out to our Office of Military and Veterans Affairs for more information about how ND supports our Veteran community on campus. They can be reached at OMVA@nd.edu.

We partner with Service to School, as part of our commitment to increasing veteran enrollment at Notre Dame, and would encourage you to reach out to them for additional support on applying to colleges, too.

The University of Notre Dame has participated in the Post-9/11 GI Bill® and Yellow Ribbon Program since its inception in August, 2009. More information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) and Yellow Ribbon Program can be found on the Office of the Registrar’s website.

Yes! Veterans and Active Military applicants are eligible for application fee waivers through the Common App, Coalition Application, and the Notre Dame Transfer Application. By indicating your service on the application, the fee should be automatically waived. 

First-year admission is defined as appropriate for those individuals who are students in high school, or who have graduated from high school but have not attempted college coursework after high school graduation.

If you have graduated from high school and have attempted college work post-high school graduation, you are now considered a transfer applicant. Please see our transfer admission requirements. If you have attempted college coursework post-high school graduation, you must obtain a minimum of 24 credits, and complete one full year of academic coursework at an accredited four-year institution before applying as a transfer applicant.

If your college coursework consists only of Joint Service (JST) credits, which are typically not transferable, you may be eligible for first-year admission. Furthermore, if you have taken fewer than nine college credits at an accredited institution, you may also be eligible for first-year admission. Applicants who might qualify for these special exceptions made for those in military service should inquire with our Student Veteran Liaison, Montanna Kirven, regarding their eligibility.

Typically, JST credits are not transferable to Notre Dame. However, we will review all transcripts on a case-by-case basis and encourage you to submit your JST, if applicable, with your application. Please note that the final determination of a course's transferability rests with the corresponding academic colleges and departments here at the University.

In order for you to present the strongest application, we suggest focusing on academic preparation and required coursework when preparing to apply as a transfer student. It is imperative that you have the prerequisites needed for your intended course of study, so carefully review the required curriculum for your intended college and major. View the required coursework here.

We also recommend that you connect with our partner, Service to School, in order to submit a VetLink Addendum alongside your transfer application. The Vetlink Addendum acts as a supplement to detail your military history for the admissions committee.

Finally, we advise you​ to familiarize yourself with the mission of the University and to envision yourself as a part of this community. One thing that sets us apart as an institution is also what we look for in competitive applicants to the University—namely, our emphasis on finding and cultivating future leaders and community members who care about the common good and want to make a positive impact on society. Notre Dame seeks to educate both the heart and the mind through whole-person education and development.

First, review our Evaluation Criteria. Demonstrating evidence of your strong academic aptitude is an important part of a competitive application. The more evidence you can provide to the admissions committee of your ability to handle rigorous coursework, the better. We strongly recommend preparing to apply by strengthening any academic areas that were weaker for you in high school and/or are foundational for your intended area of study. For example, taking nine credits or fewer in relevant college coursework can help supplement your high school coursework while still allowing you to be eligible for first-year admission.

Our strongest applicants to Notre Dame with STEM, architecture, and business major intents should complete a unit of calculus or pre-calculus, as well as biology, chemistry, and physics.

We also recommend that you connect with our partner, Service to School, in order to submit a VetLink Addendum alongside your first-year application. The Vetlink Addendum acts as a supplement to detail your military history for the admissions committee.

Finally, we advise you​ to familiarize yourself with the mission of the University and to envision yourself as a part of this community. One thing that sets us apart as an institution is also what we look for in competitive applicants to the University—namely, our emphasis on finding and cultivating future leaders and community members who care about the common good and want to make a positive impact on society. Notre Dame seeks to educate both the heart and the mind through whole-person education and development.

Learn More: Check out our application overview and checklist for guidance on how to apply. Find tips and College Application Workshops here.

We first recommend connecting with Service to School and working with them to craft your VetLink Addendum to be submitted alongside your application. This addendum gives you space to share your military history with the admissions committee. Service to School ambassadors will also work alongside you as you apply to colleges and guide you through the transition from service to higher education.

If you are a first-year applicant, you can also begin to write your 650 word personal statement. The Common App Essay Prompts and Coalition by Scoir App Essay Prompts are available for the upcoming 2025-2026 application cycle. You can find essay writing guidance from our admissions team through our On-Demand Sessions and College Application Workshops.

Two strong letters of recommendation from individuals who know you well are a good way to round out your application. As you are a service member, the letter from a teacher may be replaced by a letter from a Commanding Officer. Reach out to your desired recommender early to give them plenty of time to finish the letter before the deadline.

Finally, we recommend preparing yourself academically for the rigor of Notre Dame’s curriculum. As you have likely been out of school for some time, think about ways you can demonstrate recent academic aptitude. Summer courses, online classes, standardized testing, and academic boot camps like the Warrior-Scholar Project are all examples of options you have at your disposal to provide evidence of academic potential.

Learn More: Find tips and College Application Workshops here.

Fully asynchronous online courses are ineligible for transfer credit. Courses that are offered online with synchronous components will be evaluated for transfer credit on a case-by-case basis. We recommend that students take courses in person as these courses are more likely to be eligible for credit and will better prepare you for the academic rigors of Notre Dame.

The final determination of a course's transferability rests with the corresponding academic colleges and departments here at the University.

Only courses earned at an accredited institution and completed with a grade of B or better will be considered. Courses that are offered online with synchronous components will be evaluated for transfer on a case-by-case basis. Fully asynchronous online courses are not eligible for transfer credit.

Admission to the college and major to which you apply is contingent upon your earlier enrollment in the proper curriculum.

All first-year students at Notre Dame take a writing and rhetoric course, which is also a requirement for transfer students. In addition, each college sets forth curriculum requirements to ensure that transferring students are adequately prepared as they transition to Notre Dame.

Please carefully review the required curriculum for your intended college and major.  Find the course requirements for each college here.

We do not pre-review transcripts as the final determination of course transferability rests with the different academic colleges and schools, not the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. However, we would be happy to discuss your academic preparedness and required coursework with you, as well as offer advice as you navigate the application process. Please reach out to us at 574-631-7505 or email our Veteran Liaison, Montanna Kirven, for general application guidance.

Please reach out to admissions@nd.edu if you have any remaining questions. You can also contact our office’s Student Veteran Liaison, Montanna Kirven at montanna.admissions@nd.edu.

At Notre Dame, we evaluate every application comprehensively and contextually. This means we are committed to a holistic and comprehensive review of every application, evaluating academic and non-academic components with equal consideration. It also means we take into consideration the context of each applicant’s lived experiences and the opportunities available to them.

Part of our role in admitting students is to ensure that they are set up for success and will be able to thrive in a rigorous academic environment like Notre Dame’s. While there's no minimum grade point average or class rank required, we do take academic performance, both in high school and college (for transfer applicants), into account.

We recognize that as a service member/veteran, a significant amount of time, as well as personal and professional growth, has transpired during your service and since you graduated from high school. As a result, your most recent evidence of demonstrated academic aptitude will be the most strongly considered.

A strong letter of recommendation from a teacher, or commanding officer, that demonstrates your work ethic, performance, and dedication in your military service can also be helpful in demonstrating your potential.

Notre Dame is test-optional for the 2025-2026 application cycles, meaning students may choose whether or not to submit a test score with their application. See our test-optional FAQs for further details.

Applicants may self-report their SAT and/or ACT scores via their application or applicant student portal. Once an admitted student confirms their enrollment to Notre Dame, they will then be required to submit official score reports from SAT and/or ACT before they enroll.

Please note that we will verify scores for all enrolling students and any discrepancies between official and self-reported scores may jeopardize a student's place in the class.

If you choose to submit multiple scores, we will superscore the tests for our evaluation. This means we will consider the highest composite score and highest scores on each section, regardless of test date. Note that we do not require the writing portion of the ACT or the SAT.

Please visit the ACT website and College Board website for testing dates.

For assistance with student services, please email our Office of Military and Veterans Affairs at omva@nd.edu or go to Pasquerilla Center Room 203 (2nd floor, Air Force side). Walk-ins are welcome from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. No appointment is necessary.
 
For assistance with VA educational benefits, please contact the Office of the Registrar at registrar.1@nd.edu or 574-631-7043.

Please reach out to admissions@nd.edu if you have any remaining questions. You can also contact our office’s Veteran Liaison, Montanna Kirven, at montanna.admissions@nd.edu.

If you are on-campus, you are welcome to stop by the front desk of McKenna Hall from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday, and speak with an available admissions counselor. No appointment is necessary.