Notre Dame de Namur University

Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) is a private nonprofit Catholic university in Belmont, California. Its current academic model serves graduate students and adults finishing bachelor’s degrees; it does not admit first-year undergraduates straight from high school. That distinction matters to applicants: NDNU’s undergraduate routes are degree-completion programs for people with prior college credit, while its broader catalog focuses on business, education, and psychology. WSCUC lists Belmont as its active main campus and reaffirmed the university’s accreditation in February 2026.

Who the programs are designed for

Undergraduate applicants can pursue a B.A. in Psychology or Professional Studies and a B.S. in Business Administration through degree-completion formats. The psychology B.A. is available asynchronously online; business and other completion pathways offer formats that may vary by program. NDNU generally expects applicants to have at least 45 transferable semester units. The university offers a complimentary transcript review, and eligible students may transfer up to 78 lower-division units toward a 120-unit bachelor’s degree. Ask for a written evaluation before deciding how long completion will take; the result depends on your transcript and the requirements of the particular major.

Graduate options span three schools. Business and Management offers the MBA, with concentrations such as artificial intelligence, business analytics, cybersecurity, finance, healthcare administration, and public administration/nonprofit management, plus a Master of Science in Technology Management for technical professionals. Education programs include master’s degrees in education, special education, school administration, and educational therapy, along with teaching credentials. Psychology offers a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology and pathways that add Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) preparation. The 2026–27 catalog still describes the Master of Public Administration, but explicitly says it is not currently accepting applications. Some programs are online, some in person, and some offer both; check the current program directory and catalog for each program’s format, admission prerequisites, and professional licensing limits.

Clinical licensure is state-specific. NDNU identifies its MFT and LPCC pathways as meeting California Board of Behavioral Sciences requirements, but it says it has not determined whether those programs satisfy licensing requirements in the other 49 states. Anyone intending to practice outside California should contact the relevant state board before enrolling.

Campus transition and student housing

NDNU completed the sale of its historic 96.5-acre Belmont property to UC Investments in 2025, but the university continues to operate and teach on the Belmont campus under a leaseback agreement for up to five years while planning its next location. This is a real transition, not a closure: the active Belmont campus remains in WSCUC’s current record and NDNU continues to publish programs and admit students. Still, prospective students should ask where their courses and services will be located during their expected time to degree and how the university will communicate any later move. NDNU no longer offers on-campus housing; students need to plan for off-campus housing or commuting.

Tuition, grants, and scholarships

NDNU’s 2026–27 tuition is charged by unit and varies sharply by program, so there is no single university-wide annual tuition figure. Published rates effective Summer 2026 include $424 per unit for online undergraduate study, $530 per unit for the MBA, $613 per unit for most education master’s and credential programs, $902 per unit for Educational Therapy, and $1,059 per unit for graduate psychology. Course-specific supervision or assessment fees may apply. Multiply the program’s required units by its current rate, then ask Admissions or Financial Aid to identify additional fees and the likely number of terms for your plan. The 2026–27 tuition table lists the current charges.

NDNU offers need-based institutional scholarships and grants to eligible students enrolled at least half time, with applications supported by the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application (school code 001179). Available aid may include Pell Grants, the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, university scholarships, teacher-focused TEACH or Golden State Teachers grants, and federal loans, depending on program and eligibility. Its E3@NDNU project lists scholarships of up to $5,000 for eligible students alongside student-support services; this is not a universal award. Ask which items in your individual aid offer are grants or scholarships, which require work, and which must be repaid. Do not compare a per-unit tuition figure with another college’s full cost of attendance without adding your program’s unit total, fees, books, transportation, and housing.

Address, contact, and visiting

• Main campus: 1500 Ralston Avenue, Belmont, CA 94002-1908. General university line: (650) 508-3500.
• Admissions: (650) 508-3600; admissions@ndnu.edu. Contact the office to discuss a program, transfer-credit evaluation, or a campus visit.
• Financial Aid: St. Mary’s Hall, Room 105, 1500 Ralston Avenue; (650) 508-3441. The office publishes Monday–Friday hours of 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

The university encourages visitors to make an appointment. Its international admissions office also publishes weekday hours of 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; general campus access and individual office schedules can differ, so call before traveling. Start with the university’s admissions page to request information or apply. NDNU lists one active campus; no branch campus is currently identified in the accreditor’s directory.

What students say

Graduate-student comments often value supportive instructors, approachable staff, an inclusive community, and flexibility for people balancing study with work or family. Online learners appreciate being able to organize coursework around other responsibilities. Some reviewers also say that online study demands strong self-direction and can feel less socially connected, and a few describe having to take initiative to get administrative questions resolved. These are individual accounts, but they suggest useful questions: how quickly does your program respond to advising requests, what live faculty contact is built into the online courses, what in-person attendance is required, and what support is available if a student falls behind? Read graduate-student perspectives alongside the current catalog and ask the department about your specific pathway.