The information included on this site is for currently enrolled first-year students at Notre Dame. Information for students applying to transfer to Notre Dame from other universities can be found here. 

Applicants to Notre Dame are admitted to the University, not to an individual school or college. However, upon application to Notre Dame, all students are asked to make a non-binding indication of the college or school and specific major or discipline in which they intend to major.  First-year class applicants who indicate an intent to enroll in the Mendoza College of Business will be informed, at the time of admission, whether or not they are “preapproved” to do so at the end of their first year.

A small number of students who were not preapproved to major in business will be selected to matriculate into Mendoza through a transfer application process. This number will include both first-year students currently enrolled at Notre Dame and some students applying to Notre Dame as transfer applicants from other universities. The number of openings will be managed to ensure the University achieves the desired enrollment goal per class for Mendoza.

Application Checklist and Instructions

• Notify your first-year advisor of your intentions to apply to the Mendoza College of Business during an advising meeting.
• Complete the online Mendoza College of Business transfer application found here during the application timeline noted below. 
• The application will ask you to submit an “essay” of no more than 500 words (3,000 characters) as to why you want to transfer to the Mendoza College of Business. Tip: Use personal examples, anecdotes—anything that helps differentiate you from your peers.

Who may apply?

Students must matriculate into the Mendoza College of Business as first semester sophomores.  As such, only first-year students will be eligible to apply for internal transfer.

Application Timelines

Evaluation Criteria

Academic Performance in Your First Year at Notre Dame

The Admissions Committee will evaluate each applicant's academic performance in the context of the overall rigor of the transcript incorporating grading distributions from individual course sections.

Extracurricular Activities

Notre Dame women and men are more than just students—they are creative intellectuals with passion and multiple interests. Above all else, they are involved, in the classroom, in the community, and in the relentless pursuit of truth. Demonstrate to the Admissions Committee your passions and commitments to making the world a better place.

Essay

The essay portion of the application is a great opportunity to take a step back and think about your reasons for pursuing a business degree. The way earning a degree from the Mendoza College of Business will help you in your life's vocation is certainly a theme worth exploring. Maximum word limit of 500 (3,000 characters).

FAQs

Why has the University of Notre Dame implemented enrollment limits for the Mendoza College of Business undergraduate program?

The Mendoza College of Business experienced a significant increase in undergraduate enrollment over the past several years. To ensure the quality of the student experience within the Mendoza College of Business, as well as maintain balance in enrollment across all the colleges, the University has adopted new admissions practices. One of the new practices is an internal application process for those Notre Dame students in their first year who wish to transfer into the Mendoza College of Business.

How do I notify the University of my Intention to possibly transfer to the Mendoza College of Business?

You would alert your first-year advisor during an advising meeting and use the online application mentioned below.

When do I apply?  

The first application window typically opens in early December with a submission deadline of late in January. This timing will allow students to explore options during their initial semester at Notre Dame. Students will be able to use their first semester at Notre Dame as a time of education discernment in order to make an informed decision about the selection of their College.

Who may apply?

Students must matriculate into the Mendoza College of Business as first semester sophomores in order to complete the BBA degree requirements within the four year (8 total semesters) undergraduate program. Also due to the competitive nature the restricted program, all applicants must be compared together.  As such, only first-year students will be eligible to apply for internal transfer. 

If I apply during the early deadline timeframe and I am not selected, may I apply again during the later deadline timeframe?

You only need to apply once.  Students not selected in the first (winter) round will automatically be considered again in the second (spring) round unless they remove their name from further consideration. 

What criteria will be used to determine acceptance into Mendoza’s undergraduate business program as an internal transfer?

The Mendoza College of Business uses a holistic review process for internal transfer applicants that considers relevant education-related accomplishments, including first-year academic performance. The review process will also consider relevant characteristics relating to a student’s accomplishments outside of the classroom consistent with the holistic admissions evaluation. It should be noted that there are no guarantees of acceptance and the process will be exceptionally competitive.

Will I be assured of my choice of major in the Mendoza College of Business?

The Mendoza College of Business is committed to admit as many of their students as possible into their choice of business major.  Currently there are no limits on enrollment in available majors, although some have minimum grade requirements in certain prerequisite courses.  You can learn more about Mendoza majors here.

Where do I find the application for internal transfer?

The application is available on the Mendoza Undergraduate website above. More information regarding the Mendoza internal transfer process may also be found above.

When will I hear my decision?

First round decisions will be released in early-March and second round in mid-June. If a student has been accepted to the Mendoza College of Business as an internal transfer, they will need to accept or decline that offer by the deadline specified in their acceptance notification (around the middle of March or end of June depending on which application window they are in).

If I am not admitted, will I still be able to take business classes?

Notre Dame offers many options to non-business majors who seek overlap with a business education. These courses and programs will be provided to students seeking this additional layer of education as they pursue other majors at Notre Dame.  Mendoza currently offers three minors to non-business students (Accounting, Digital Marketing, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship) as well as several courses in support of the Real Estate minor.