One of the most challenging aspects of my role as an admissions counselor is helping families navigate the complexities of financial aid. While the admissions process can be daunting, understanding financial aid—especially need-based aid—can often feel overwhelming.
At many colleges and universities, merit-based financial aid is prevalent. Students receive scholarships based on academic achievements, such as GPA and test scores, making the process relatively straightforward for families.
However, at the University of Notre Dame, our approach differs significantly. While we do offer some merit scholarships, our primary focus is on need-based financial aid, ensuring that the University is accessible to families regardless of their financial circumstances.
This fall, Notre Dame introduced a transformative initiative: Pathways to Notre Dame, announced by our new president, Fr. Robert Dowd.
This program marks a significant commitment to financial aid, starting with undergraduate applications for Fall 2025. Moving forward, we will be need-blind for all applicants—both domestic and international—and our need-based financial aid offers (FAOs) will not include loans!.
Why Pathways to Notre Dame Matters
Our mission at Notre Dame emphasizes the importance of diverse voices and backgrounds. Socioeconomic diversity is essential to enriching the educational experience, and our need-based financial aid plays a crucial role in attracting the brightest students, regardless of their financial means. This initiative represents a giant leap toward making Notre Dame an affordable option for families from all backgrounds.
To grasp the significance of this moment, it’s essential to understand a few key financial aid terms:
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Need-blind Admissions Review: This means our admissions committee evaluates applications without considering a family's financial situation. We’ve long been need-blind for domestic students and are thrilled to extend this policy to all applicants.
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No Loans in Financial Aid Offers: Our new policy ensures that initial financial aid offers do not include loans. Previously, some offers included federal student loans, which, while manageable for many families, can be intimidating. Starting with Fall 2025 applicants, these loans will be replaced by scholarships and grants that do not need to be repaid. Over four years at Notre Dame, this shift can provide families nearly $20,000 in additional need-based scholarships.
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Meeting 100% of Demonstrated Financial Need: Our commitment ensures that if a family is expected to contribute a certain amount toward education, Notre Dame will cover the difference through scholarships, grants, and possibly campus employment. This holistic approach considers both direct costs—like tuition and room and board—and indirect expenses such as books and transportation.
This foundational understanding sets the stage for a more in-depth look at how need-based financial aid actually functions at Notre Dame.
Zach Klonsinski is a senior assistant director with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
He is the regional counselor for Minnesota, Missouri (Kansas City), Wisconsin, Rwanda, Kenya, France, Portugal, Spain, Andorra, Monaco, and China - Beijing