The University of Notre Dame has published the Common Data Set (CDS) for the 2024-25 admissions cycle. This cycle saw the applications and acceptance of the Notre Dame Class of 2028, the first after the Supreme Court ruled against affirmative action in 2023.
The CDS report features information on the enrolled classes’ demographics, academic statistics and the school’s criteria for admission.
There are 56 fewer Black students in the Class of 2028 compared to the Class of 2027, a roughly 44% decrease, the largest decrease of any group.
The only two demographic groups to see an increase in enrollment were white and Hispanic/Latino students.
The University enrolled seven more students in the 2024-25 cycle than the previous year.
The student body at Notre Dame has historically been predominantly white. According to admissions staff, the University has never considered race as a standalone factor in admissions, but did employ “race-conscious” admissions up until the ruling. The Supreme Court’s decision ruled it illegal to do so, forcing many colleges to change their policies.
According to the Common Data Set Initiative’s website, the purpose of publishing this information is to “improve the quality and accuracy of information provided to all involved in a student’s transition into higher education, as well as to reduce the reporting burden on data providers.”
“Institutional Research compiles data that originates from various offices, including Admissions, Financial Aid, and the Registrar,” Adrea Hernandez, executive director of institutional research, wrote in a statement to The Observer. “Our processes have not changed.”
“We publish the Common Data Set, as many institutions do, in an effort to be transparent about student enrollment, admissions, financial aid, and academic and extracurricular offerings,” Hernandez’s statement continued.
