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Retirement

Retirement benefits are a key part of your total rewards from Notre Dame. They are designed to address the holistic needs of you and your family. Along with take-home pay, medical benefits, educational benefits and work and life benefits, they give you a comprehensive package that is competitive and geared toward helping you address many aspects of your life. Learn more about the retirement benefits the University offers that provide for your long-term financial well-being and stability.

Retirement Planning Assistance Available

Retirement Planners from Fidelity

To help you plan for your future, Retirement Planners from Fidelity Investments are on campus regularly to provide one-on-one guidance appointments. To schedule your confidential consultation, contact Fidelity Investments at 877-963-0242 or visit netbenefits.com/nd. Consultations may be conducted in person, virtually, or over the phone.

ND Retirement Information for Faculty & Staff

If you are planning on retiring in the next 5 years, please consider reviewing our retirement information.

Retirement Eligibility

Learn about the age and years of service you need to be eligible for retirement with the University.

Retirement Programs

For All Employees Immediately Upon Hire

403(b) Retirement Plan (Voluntary Savings)

The University of Notre Dame 403(b) Retirement Plan allows all employees – faculty, exempt and non-exempt staff, full and part-time/temporary – to make Voluntary Employee Contributions. Employees are eligible to make voluntary contributions immediately upon hire — no period of prior service is required.

For Employees After One Year of Service

403(b) Retirement Plan (Mandatory Defined Contribution)

Benefit eligible faculty and staff are eligible to participate in this plan upon meeting the one-year-of-service eligibility period of employment. Upon attaining eligibility, the University contributes 10% of your regular salary to the plan, and eligible faculty and staff are required to contribute a Mandatory Employee Contribution of 5% of regular salary to the plan. Contributions made by the University are vested immediately. Mandatory Employee Contributions (5%) and University Contributions (10%) are made on a pre-tax basis. Voluntary Employee Contributions can be made on either a pre-tax or Roth after-tax basis.

For Non-Exempt Staff Who Were Choice-Eligible Legacy

403(b) Retirement Plan (Choice-Eligible Legacy)

Participation is for certain non-exempt staff in the UND Employees’ Pension Plan who elected, as part of the 2017 Retirement Plan Choice offering, to transfer to the 403(b) Plan and who do not satisfy the requirements that obligate them to make mandatory employee contributions. Upon transferring to the 403(b) Plan, the University began contributing 5% of your Regular Salary to the plan. You may voluntarily contribute a percentage of your Regular Salary to the 403(b) Plan. Each pay period, the University will make matching contributions to the 403(b) Plan on your behalf in an amount equal to 100% of the first 5% of your Regular Salary if you elect to make a voluntary contribution for that pay period.

For Non-Exempt Staff Hired Before July 1, 2016

UND Employees' Pension Plan

The UND Employees’ Pension Plan was closed to new entrants effective December 31, 2017. Non-exempt participants who elected, as part of the 2017 Retirement Plan Choice offering, to remain in the Pension Plan continue to earn credited service toward retirement. This is a defined benefit plan and is fully funded by the University.

Disability Retirement

The University provides a disability retirement benefit to protect staff members from loss of income in the event they become permanently, continuously, and disabled.

Benefits After Retirement

The University of Notre Dame offers comprehensive benefits to eligible staff and faculty who retire.

  • Medical Plan and Other Insurance Benefits
  • Retiree ID Card (for both the retiree and their spouse, if applicable)
  • Use of Athletic Facilities
  • Library Privileges
  • Bookstore and Varsity Shop Discounts
  • Football Tickets (optional, and requires the retiree to have at least 5 consecutive years of full-time service at the time of retirement)
  • Free admission to Notre Dame athletic events (excluding football, men's and women's basketball, hockey and tournaments for any sport)
  • Parking Decal
  • Email Access
  • Option to purchase burial space at Cedar Grove Cemetery

The University expects to continue these plans, but since future conditions affecting the University cannot be anticipated or foreseen, the University must necessarily and does hereby reserve the right to amend, modify, or terminate these plans at any time.