Starting Fall 2026, Tuition at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana Will Be Free for More Families
How Much Will College Cost Your Kids? One Indiana University Just Made a Huge Announcement
Ever since my daughter was little, I've put money aside every week for her big three: college, a wedding, and whatever comes next. The more scholarships she earns, the more she'll be able to spend on a wedding, honeymoon, or even a down payment on a home.
My parents gave me an incredible gift. I graduated from college with no debt. Now, I did earn scholarships, maintained a high GPA, and worked through college to pay for my own housing, food, and car. When I got married, I scrimped and saved on every detail I could. But their generosity made it possible for me to start adulthood without the added stress and uncertainty of student loan payments.
Student Debt Is a Reality for Millions of Americans
For millions of college students, student debt is a huge burden. About half of bachelor's degree graduates leave college with debt. The average student borrower graduates with an estimated $29,000 to $35,000 in student loans, says NerdWallet.
For perspective, a student who borrows $30,000 at about 6.5% interest and repays it over 10 years would have a monthly payment of roughly $340 and pay about $11,000 in interest over the life of the loan.
The Peter G Peterson Foundation found that "the amount of student debt in 2023 totaled $1.6 trillion, more than twice the amount outstanding in 2008 ($600 billion)." The cost of college is outpacing almost every other form of debt.
What Will College Cost in the Future?
If you have kids and you're wondering whether you'll be able to help pay for college, there's a handy calculator you can use to estimate future costs.
If you're the parent of an incoming freshman, you can plug in a few numbers and see projections for the future. The calculator estimates that the cost of attending a four-year public institution will be $21,786 per year, or $87,144 over four years. Yikes.
Now, that estimate includes tuition, room, and board. But don't forget all the extras life throws your way, like car repairs, gas, medications, entertainment, clothing, and other day-to-day expenses. I plugged everything into ChatGPT, and it estimated that the total cost could reach about $145,000 for all four years. That's quite a bit. If you start saving the day your child is born until their 18th birthday, that's a little over $8,000 a year. Who can save that much, especially when you are saving for retirement and paying for life along the way?
Notre Dame Announces Free Tuition for Many Families
But now, one private university in Indiana has announced that, beginning in the fall of 2026, tuition will be free for students whose families earn less than $150,000 per year.
In a press release published in March, Notre Dame shared the following announcement:
"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."
More Financial Aid Available for Middle-Income Families
But that's not all.
Families with annual incomes below $200,000 will receive need-based aid covering half the cost of tuition. In addition, most students from families earning less than $60,000 annually will receive need-based financial aid covering tuition, fees, housing, and food.
According to their website, this year's tuition at Notre Dame runs a student $69,280. That's a huge savings if you are within the income bracket.
The initiative, Pathways to Notre Dame, was first announced during the University president's inauguration speech in September 2024, when he shared plans to make Notre Dame need-blind and loan-free for all students, both domestic and international.
This announcement reflects the university's long-standing commitment to making a Notre Dame education affordable and accessible to students from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
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Gallery Credit: Travis Sams