University of Notre Dame Pre-College Programs

Notre Dame, United States

About University of Notre Dame Pre-College Programs

The Office of Pre-College Programs at the University of Notre Dame runs college-level programs for high school students. They take place on Notre Dame's campus in Indiana, abroad and online. The two main campus programs are Summer Scholars and Leadership Seminars. Summer Scholars is a two-week stay on campus built around one college-level course taught by Notre Dame faculty. Leadership Seminars is a competitive 10-day program for students who show leadership in their communities, and the University pays tuition, housing and meals for every student it admits. The office also runs two-week study abroad programs taught by Notre Dame professors. The 2027 programs are in Italy, London, Ireland and Mexico City. Pre-College Online offers courses taught by Notre Dame faculty on a separate site. There are two smaller programs as well. Members of the Congregation of Holy Cross lead the Summer Seminary Immersion Program, a two-week stay on campus for young men exploring priesthood or religious life. ADAM is a gap year at Notre Dame's center in Jerusalem, and only high school graduates from the greater Jerusalem area can apply. Notre Dame says Pre-College students may receive 1 transferable credit and a Satisfactory (S) grade once they complete all program requirements. The office is in 403 McKenna Hall on the Notre Dame campus.

Teaching style

Notre Dame faculty teach college-level courses, and Notre Dame describes the work as rigorous. For Summer Scholars, Notre Dame says it keeps classes small and personal attention from faculty high. Students also work together on coursework outside class, the way they would in college. Leadership Seminars focuses on global issues, with 2027 courses such as AI and Global Business and Global Issues: Violence and Peace in the Modern Age. The study abroad programs combine teaching from Notre Dame professors with visits to places like the Colosseum in Rome and the ruins of Teotihuacan on the Mexico City program. The office also says students grow in leadership through service.

Reputation & Succeed take

Our take

The biggest draw at Notre Dame Pre-College is Leadership Seminars. The University pays tuition, housing and meals for admitted students. That leaves a family paying the $75 application fee, the $150 enrollment fee and travel to campus. Notre Dame says about 150 students are admitted each year, so treat it as a selective application rather than a sure thing. Summer Scholars is the paid option. Notre Dame lists the 2027 total for tuition, housing and enrollment fees as $5,200. Its need-based aid is limited, but donor grants cover qualifying students in Indiana, in the Philadelphia area and in the Accounting course. Study abroad has no financial aid at present. If you have a real leadership record, we'd suggest applying to Leadership Seminars and to Summer Scholars too, since Notre Dame lets you apply to as many programs as you're eligible for. Check the age rule early. You must be 16 by 1 August 2027, and Notre Dame makes no exceptions.

Who this provider suits

Who should choose them

This may suit you if you'll be 16 by 1 August 2027 and want to try a real college course while living on a university campus. Summer Scholars is for current sophomores and juniors with strong grades who want two weeks on one subject. The listed courses run from law and chemistry to film production. Leadership Seminars fits students who already lead something in their community and want to take on big global questions with peers. Beyond fees and travel, it costs nothing. Study abroad suits students who'd rather learn history and culture on site in Rome, London, Ireland or Mexico City. Families in Indiana or the Philadelphia area should look closely at Summer Scholars. Donor grants there can cover tuition, room and board for students who qualify.

Who it may not suit

Who should skip it: students who'll be under 16 on 1 August 2027. Notre Dame doesn't make exceptions to its age rule. If your family needs financial aid for study abroad, Notre Dame says it has no aid for those programs at present. It also doesn't offer application fee waivers for study abroad. Summer Scholars aid is need-based and limited, and there are no merit scholarships. Summer Scholars is two weeks built around one course, so it may feel short if you want a long research project. Leadership Seminars admits about 150 students a year, so have a backup plan if your summer depends on it.

Contact

precoll@nd.edu

(574) 631-0990

Visit Website

Frequently asked questions

Study abroad and Leadership Seminars applications are due 20 January 2027. Summer Scholars applications are due 17 February 2027. Applications opened on 19 October 2026. Notre Dame gives counselors and recommenders one extra week after the deadline to upload their documents, but your own part has to be in on time.

You must be 16 by 1 August 2027 for Summer Scholars, Leadership Seminars and the study abroad programs. Notre Dame says it can't make exceptions because of its insurance, liability and child protective policies.

Notre Dame lists the 2027 total for Summer Scholars tuition, housing and enrollment fees as $5,200, and there's also a $75 application fee. For Leadership Seminars, the University pays tuition, housing and meals. You pay the $75 application fee, the $150 enrollment fee and travel to and from campus. Each study abroad program lists its costs on its own Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid page.

Summer Scholars has limited need-based aid, from partial to full tuition, but no merit scholarships. Grants cover tuition, room and board for qualifying students in Indiana, in the Philadelphia area and in the Accounting course. A parent or guardian applies by filling in the Financial Aid Request Form. Leadership Seminars rarely gives aid for travel or application fees. Study abroad has no financial aid at present.

Notre Dame says Pre-College students may receive 1 transferable credit and a Satisfactory (S) grade after completing all program requirements. You order the transcript through the Notre Dame Registrar. We'd suggest asking the colleges you're considering how they treat this credit.

You apply online. The application includes two essays, a teacher recommendation, a counselor report, transcripts and an application fee. Test scores are encouraged but not required for any program. Students who don't attend an English-speaking high school must send a TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or Duolingo score.

Yes. Notre Dame lets you apply to as many programs as you like, as long as you meet each program's eligibility rules.

Programs by University of Notre Dame Pre-College Programs

Program

Applications open

Accounting: The Language of Business

Organized by University of Notre Dame Pre-College Programs

Business & EconomicsFinance

Dates

June to July 2027, 2 sessions

Duration

2 weeks

University of Notre Dame Pre-College Programs

About University of Notre Dame Pre-College Programs

Teaching style

Reputation & Succeed take

Who this provider suits

Contact

Frequently asked questions

When are the Summer 2027 application deadlines?

How old do I need to be?

How much do the programs cost?

Is financial aid available?

Will I earn college credit?

What does the application include?

Can I apply to more than one program?

Programs by University of Notre Dame Pre-College Programs

Accounting: The Language of Business

Beyond the Game: The Business of Sports Marketing

Business: What is it Good For?

Climate Change: Fighting for the Future of Our Planet

Confronting Poverty: Bringing Service to Justice

Cryptography: From Classical to Quantum-Secure Systems

Engineering and Inventing the Future: Making Things Smarter for a Better World

Entrepreneurial Immersion

Exploring the World of Chemistry

Film Production Summer Scholars Course

Gospel of John: Learning To See

Law Summer Scholars Course

Life Sciences: Ecology and Environmental Science and Cancer Biology

Making Headlines: An Introduction to Journalism

Narratively Speaking: Image, Sequence, and the Art of the Book

Object Design and Prototyping

Playing the Past: A Short History of Video Games

Pop Art for the Digital Age

Psychology and the Self

Public Policymaking: A Primer

Public Speaking and Debate

Reality Bites: Understanding the Complexity of Failure in Addressing Wicked Problems

Research Computing: Computers Accelerating Discovery

Restorative Justice: A Social Movement to Transform the U.S. Criminal Justice System

Russia and the West

Study Abroad: Ireland

Study Abroad: Italy

Study Abroad: London

Study Abroad: Mexico City

The Culture of Medicine

Time Traveler's Guide to Disease: Pathogens, Past and Present

Under the Influence: Teens and Screens

World Politics and Power: An Introduction to International Relations