The University of Notre Dame is also featured in our ranking The Top 10 Best Schools.
The University of Notre Dame is one of the most well-known schools of higher education in the United States. Founded in 1842, the campus grew so large over the years that it eventually grew beyond the borders of South Bend, Indiana. The campus now has its own zip code and is an approved city called Notre Dame, Indiana, though it still sits right on the border to South Bend. Some people refer to the main campus as the South Bend campus to differentiate it from the campus that it operates in Chicago. Its main campus is also home to a national landmark called Touchdown Jesus, which is a large painting on a building that overlooks its football stadium.
Also called Notre Dame and UND, the university has an enrollment of more than 12,000 students. Established as a religious university, it still has an affiliation with the Congregation of the Holy Cross of the Catholic Church. Forbes ranked Notre Dame as the 13th best university in the United States, but Washington Monthly, U.S. News & World Report and ARWU also rank it among the top American colleges. Similar organizations rank Notre Dame as one of the world’s best schools too. U.S. News & World Report also ranks its business program as one of the top in the country.
Business Programs
The Mendoza College of Business at Notre Dame offers a number of business programs for both undergrads and graduate students. This college dates back to 1921, which makes it one of the oldest business schools in the nation. Its undergrad program is unique because it allows students to major in accountancy, business analytics, information technology management, marketing, management consulting or finance. The university has more than 260 alumni clubs across the nation that offer opportunities for current undergrads and those who recently graduated and need help finding work. More than 100,000 alumni are in the United States, but Notre Dame also has students living all over the world today.
Notre Dame also offers several Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs for its graduate students. The Economist ranked the university within the top 10 colleges in terms of networking potential and alumni effectiveness. Its two-year MBA program is suitable for traditional students who recently graduated, while it’s one-year MBA program is best for executives and students who have more professional business experience. The university also offers an executive MBA program on its South Bend campus and on its Chicago campus. There is a dual program available for students who want to earn both an MBA and a Master of Science degree in a business field.
Also available through its Mendoza College of Business are multiple graduate business degrees that let students specialize in an area of business such as accountancy, finance or management. Some of these programs are only available on its Chicago campus, which allows students living in the big city to earn a degree from a reputable university while working full-time. Other programs are available on its South Bend campus or online.
Notre Dame offers one of the only Master of Nonprofit Administration degree programs in the country too. This is a one-year residential program that requires students take classes on its South Bend campus. As a cohort program, it puts students in small groups and allows them to work together as they finish their degrees. The university designed this program for students who want to work in the nonprofit sector as soon as they graduate.
University of Notre Dame Accreditation Details
Notre Dame has accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS), which granted the university regional accreditation. This provides students with opportunities, including the chance to bring college or university credits with them and to use federal financial aid. The university also has accreditation for all its graduate and undergrad business programs from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
University of Notre Dame Application Requirements
The University of Notre Dame is a highly selective university that accepts just 18% of the undergrad applications received annually. Students can start the undergrad application process via the Common Application or the Coalition Application. Both of these systems allow students to enter their information once and use it on more than one application, which allows them to apply to Notre Dame and other schools at the same time. Students must write a response to one essay question and then write two additional essays in response to other questions. Notre Dame has an undergrad application deadline of January 1 and requires that students submit standardized test scores and official transcripts.
Those applying to one of the university’s MBA or graduate business programs can apply at any time during the year. The Mendoza College of Business has a rolling admissions policy and will accept new students before the beginning of any session. Grad students must submit an application, an official GMAT or GRE test score and transcripts from any colleges they attended. They will also write an essay in response to one of two questions provided to them in advance and submit two letters of recommendation. Notre Dame also asks business graduate students to create a slide presentation.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition and fees at Notre Dame start at $53,391 per year for undergrads. They will also pay for room and board and supplies, which the university estimates will bring their total costs up to more than $71,000 a year. More than 70% of all undergrads receive financial aid though, and the university has a scholarship fund with more than $130 million available to incoming students. The average amount of aid given to an incoming freshman is more than $30,000 a year. Students can apply for financial aid when they submit the FAFSA and list the Notre Dame school code.
Graduate students pay different costs based on the programs they study. Most of the university’s business master’s programs cost around $54,000 a year. This amount includes all fees and the cost of the classes that the student takes. Its two-year MBA program costs around $61,000 a year, while its one-year MBA program costs close to $76,000 a year. Many graduate students receive loans after completing the FAFSA. The University of Notre Dame also offers fellowships for grad students and can help veterans use their military benefits to cover their costs.