Notre Dame of Maryland University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
Notre Dame of Maryland University, established in 1873 in Baltimore, is a private Catholic university and the first Catholic college for women in the U.S. to award the four-year degree. NDMU offers 30+ undergraduate and graduate programs with strengths in pharmacy, education, and nursing across its 58-acre campus. The university's historic Gibbons Hall and modern School of Pharmacy building represent its blend of tradition and innovation. NDMU maintains a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and emphasizes leadership development through its Women's College undergraduate program.
NDMU's location in Baltimore provides internship opportunities with leading hospitals, schools, and cultural institutions. The Gators compete in NCAA Division III athletics in the Colonial States Athletic Conference. The university's School of Pharmacy operates community clinics serving underserved populations, while its Renaissance Institute offers lifelong learning programs. NDMU's commitment to social justice is reflected in its community partnerships and the annual 'Visions of Leadership' conference.
Notre Dame of Maryland University Acceptance Rate
Admission at Notre Dame of Maryland University is inclusive by design: 86.5% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Recommended Academic Profile
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Notre Dame of Maryland University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Notre Dame of Maryland University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
NDMU reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (Priority scholarship: 2026/02/01) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
NDMU GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at NDMU is 3.66. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.36 and 3.66? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.86–4.06.NDMU GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective, with solid academic performance as the expectation.
Recommended Strategy: A clear, defined strength in one activity or research area matters more than breadth.
This range is a rough map — where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application:
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Acceptance rate is reported inconsistently across sources - 65% (Research.com) versus 82% (Univstats/Banner reporting for 2024) - treat with appropriate caution rather than quoting one figure confidently.
- Test-optional; SAT/ACT not required or recommended, but international students must submit TOEFL.
- 2025 acquisition of the former Maryland University of Integrative Health added roughly 500 graduate students, a nearly 50% increase to that population.
- Undergraduate "Women's College" now admits men, a structural shift explicitly tied to reversing enrollment decline; some scholarships remain women-only.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself — a 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average — the trajectory tells its own story.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at NDMU
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Notre Dame of Maryland University's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at NDMU — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into NDMU Without SAT or ACT?
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for NDMU
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
NDMU is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
2024 data shows roughly 82% of applicants were admitted, but only about 8% of admitted students enrolled - one of the lowest yields among NDMU's self-identified peers. That gap means financial aid/scholarship packaging, not admission itself, is the real decision point. Counsel students to negotiate or ask direct questions about aid renewal terms rather than worrying about getting in.
Students applying as first-year direct-entry nursing majors face additional requirements on top of the general admissions criteria (an 18-academic-unit college-prep minimum, class rank in the top half typical). Given NDMU's 2025 acquisition of the former Maryland University of Integrative Health and its stated strategic emphasis on healthcare programs, nursing seats are likely to get more competitive, not less - advise students to contact admissions specifically about the Direct-Entry and Transfer Nursing Admission Policy before finalizing their application, not after.
NDMU became, in 2025, the first comprehensive university with a school solely dedicated to integrative health after acquiring MUIH - nearly doubling its graduate enrollment. Any student with interests in wellness, complementary medicine, nutrition, or allied health should reference this specific new school by name in an optional statement or interview; it directly maps to where the institution is investing and expanding, unlike a generic "great healthcare program" comment.
The undergraduate "Women's College" only began admitting men in the past few years as an enrollment-growth strategy (full-time undergrad grew from 497 in 2022 to 678 in 2025 partly on this basis). Some scholarships and programs are still explicitly restricted to "Women's College" students. Male applicants should directly confirm in writing which scholarships, housing options, and legacy programs remain open to them versus reserved for women.
A real and current risk pattern here: NDMU has publicly reported roughly $90,000 in operating losses, a 35% enrollment decline from 2014?2024, and its president of 12 years is retiring with a new president (Abagail Van Vlerah) just starting. For a niche or newly-merged program (especially anything under the new Integrative Health school), students and families should ask admissions directly for a written teach-out or program continuity commitment before enrolling - this is not standard "ask about program strength" advice, it's specific to NDMU's disclosed financial situation as of mid-2026.
NDMU Profile
Is a NDMU Degree Worth It?
At $60,362/year against a $65,344 median graduate salary, NDMU is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation — the numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $70,800, and graduates see a 3.11% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from NDMU Cost?
Listed tuition runs $60,362/year at NDMU; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land typically much lower.
At NDMU, 32.3% receive a Pell Grant and 77.4% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming NDMU on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a NDMU Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, NDMU graduates report a median income of $65,344, about 61% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at NDMU
Bachelor Degree Programs
Masters Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About NDMU Admissions
Notre Dame of Maryland University graduates earn a moderate median salary of $65,344/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Notre Dame of Maryland University runs high — roughly $60,362+/year — so financial aid planning matters.
32.3% of Notre Dame of Maryland University students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income — filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Notre Dame of Maryland University's acceptance rate is 86.5%, comparatively higher than most selective universities — admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Notre Dame of Maryland University students is 3.66, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.36 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Notre Dame of Maryland University. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.26 or below makes admission tougher at Notre Dame of Maryland University, but strong test scores, activities, and essays — plus AP/IB coursework — can still keep you in contention.
Notre Dame of Maryland University follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before Priority scholarship: 2026/02/01 — that's Notre Dame of Maryland University's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out — plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
