University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame, known by most as just Notre Dame, is one of the most recognizable colleges in the country. Established in 1842 by the Congregation of the Holy Cross, the university originally offered several classes and held classes in a small log cabin. Notre Dame grew so quickly in the coming years that the city of South Bend, Indiana set aside land specifically for the university. The university is now a city of its own and while situated right next to South Bend, it has its own zip code and city listing. Many fans know the university for its long history of football success. Fans from all around the world visit the campus every year to view the Touchdown Jesus mural painted on a campus building that overlooks the football stadium. Hollywood films like Rudy and Knute Rockne, All American featured Notre Dame.
Notre Dame is a selective university that admits fewer than 20% of all students who apply each year. Its selective admissions policy and other factors led to major publications including the university on both global and national rankings. Forbes, Washington Monthly and U.S. News & World Report ranked Notre Dame within the 20 tops colleges in the United States. Times placed Notre Dame on its list of the 100 best colleges in the world. Notre Dame also appeared on a Newsweek report that identified the best new schools that were similar to Ivy League colleges.
University of Notre Dame Accreditation Details
Notre Dame has accreditation from a number of different organizations. The most important type of accreditation that it has is its regional accreditation, which comes from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. NCACS regional accreditation provides students with the chance to get federal financial aid, allows them to transfer credits between schools and ensures that they learn valuable skills while enrolled in college. Those interested in one of the engineering programs offered by Notre Dame will find that those programs have accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET). ABET accreditation applies to all engineering programs, including those in civil, electrical and mechanical engineering. Notre Dame also has accreditation from the American Bar Association, American Psychological Association, Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools, National Association of Schools of Art and Design and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
University of Notre Dame Application Requirements
Though nearly 2,000 students take classes through Notre Dame's graduate schools every year, the university is very selective on who it admits. Those who apply must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college or will have one before starting school. All applicants must have a minimum grade point average that is equivalent to a B average as well. The number of students admitted every year varies based on the number of available spots. Notre Dame typically looks for students who have a commitment to their studies and those who demonstrate strong skills outside of the classroom such as doing volunteer work or conducting independent study projects.
Each department on campus has its own deadline, which is why students will need to check the department website to determine the due date for their applications. The application itself is available online, but students will need to make sure that they fill out each section and answer truthfully. There is also a small nonrefundable application fee charged. After completing the application, students will also need to submit an official transcript from any colleges they attended and an official score from a graduate level admissions exam like the GRE or GMAT. Select departments on campus may require an essay or a resume too.
Tuition and Fees
Looking at the cost of attending graduate school at Notre Dame is difficult because each program charges different rates. The average cost of all programs is nearly $48,000 a year. This includes both tuition and any miscellaneous fees charged by the program. Those who live on campus will also need to pay for a dorm room or apartment and some type of meal plans, and all students are responsible for personal expenses like transportation and textbooks. Notre Dame also requires that grad students have health insurance coverage or that they purchase coverage through the university.
More than 90% of all grad students receive some type of financial aid. Fellowships and assistantships are among the more common aid types. There programs award students $19,000 or more every year and pay for the total cost of their health insurance. The Office of Grants and Fellowships has representatives who can work with accepted students and help them seek additional funding, including scholarships and grants. Students can apply for a fellowship or assistantship directly through the university before starting classes. Those attending the Notre Dame graduate school can also file the FAFSA to see if they qualify for any federal loans or grants. Advanced students can apply for funding through the university for conferences, research projects and travel experiences as well.
Graduate Degree Programs
Notre Dame offers professional graduate degrees in fields like law, medicine and business, but the university also offers traditional graduate degree programs through its graduate school. It is one of the only colleges in Indiana that has a creative writing graduate program. As part of its Master of Fine Arts program, creative writing students will learn how to better their writing skills, write creative stories and find publishers. This program is more flexible than other programs and allows students to work with their professors to create a course of study based around their own interests and what they want to write about.
The Eck Institute of Global Health at Notre Dame maintains its Master of Science in Global Health program, which some called one of the best of its type in the nation. Required courses include global health challenges, bioethics, medical microbiology, child health services and research methods. The capstone requirement of this program is one that students can complete on or off campus. The university allows students to spend a semester working in an impoverished area and writing a paper about their experiences or completing a project in the field. The University of Notre Dame offers dozens of other graduate programs for students who want to end their studies or later enroll in a doctoral program.