Notre Dame Mendoza Graduate Business Programs Guide 2026

Mendoza College of Business Overview

The Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame stands as one of America’s most distinctive graduate business schools, combining world-class academic rigor with a mission rooted in Catholic social teaching. Founded in 1921 under the visionary leadership of Father John Cardinal O’Hara, C.S.C., the college has evolved from its origins as a program in foreign commerce into a comprehensive graduate business institution that collectively enrolls more than 800 graduate students from across the United States and over 20 nations.

What sets Mendoza apart from peer institutions is its explicit commitment to “Grow the Good in Business” — a mission that goes beyond corporate social responsibility rhetoric to fundamentally shape curriculum design, faculty research, and student formation. The college’s vision as a “premier global business school widely recognized for innovative research, rigorous educational programs, and formative student experiences, all informed by Catholic character” manifests in required ethics courses across every program, a unique emphasis on servant leadership, and innovative programs in nonprofit administration that few top-tier business schools offer.

Mendoza’s five academic departments — Accountancy, Finance, IT Analytics and Operations, Marketing, and Management and Organization — provide the disciplinary foundations for a graduate portfolio that spans MBA programs, specialized masters degrees, nonprofit administration, dual degrees, and doctoral studies. The main campus in Notre Dame, Indiana, houses the Stayer Center for Executive Education, while the college maintains connections to its Chicago campus at 224 South Michigan Avenue (though this location is sunsetting after May 2025).

For prospective students comparing top Catholic business schools, our guide to Georgetown McDonough MBA program offers a useful benchmark, while the Boston College Carroll School of Management represents another leading Jesuit alternative.

Notre Dame Two-Year MBA Program

The Notre Dame Two-Year MBA is the flagship graduate program at Mendoza, requiring a minimum of 64 credit hours and offering one of the most structured yet customizable MBA experiences available. Students must declare one of five majors, each requiring six courses, and can supplement their major with one or more minors (four courses each).

The five MBA majors reflect current market demands and Mendoza’s analytical strengths:

• Strategy: Develops the strategic thinking and competitive analysis skills essential for leadership roles.
• Finance (STEM-designated): Rigorous quantitative training in corporate finance, investments, and financial modeling.
• Digital Marketing and Marketing Analytics (STEM-designated): Combines traditional marketing theory with data-driven digital strategies.
• Marketing: Comprehensive training in brand management, consumer behavior, and market strategy.
• Business Analytics (STEM-designated): Focused on data science, machine learning, and analytics-driven decision-making.

The STEM designation on three of five majors is particularly significant for international students, as it qualifies them for extended Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization in the United States — a major competitive advantage in the job market.

The 14 required core courses (2.0 credits each) cover the full spectrum of business fundamentals: Finance, Financial Accounting I and II, Introduction to Statistical Analysis, Leading People and Teams, Management, Managerial Economics, Marketing Management, Process Analytics, Strategic Decision Making, plus required courses in ethics and communications. Six additional 1.0-credit courses include the distinctive “Grow Irish” leadership development series across all four semesters, a Career Leadership course, and an MBA Internship.

With 13 available minors — including Brand Management, Digital Product Management, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, International Business, Investments, Leadership, Operations and Supply Chain Management, Real Estate, and Social Impact — students can craft a genuinely personalized MBA experience that aligns with specific career goals.

Executive and Global MBA Programs

Mendoza offers three Executive MBA formats designed for experienced professionals who want to advance their careers without stepping away from full-time employment.

The Executive MBA (South Bend) is a 22-month program based at the Stayer Center for Executive Education on the Notre Dame campus. It delivers the same rigorous curriculum as the full-time MBA but in a format that accommodates working professionals through intensive weekend residencies. Unlike the two-year MBA, EMBA students are not required to declare a major, giving them flexibility to sample across disciplines.

The Global Executive MBA is Mendoza’s most internationally oriented offering. Also spanning 22 months, this program combines regular residencies on the main campus with global immersion experiences that take students to partner institutions around the world. Recent cohorts have studied in Dublin, Ireland (August 2024) and Santiago, Chile (Spring 2025) at the Escuela de Administración Universidad Católica. The 50-credit-hour curriculum includes 24 required core courses covering everything from Corporate Finance and Equity Valuation to Design Thinking and Social Innovation. A 3.0-credit International Capstone project ties the global experience together.

Global EMBA electives include Behavioral Finance, Digital Technologies and Business Strategies, Leadership Communication, Mergers and Acquisitions, and the thought-provoking “Why Business?” course that reflects Mendoza’s values-driven approach. The program’s combination of analytical rigor and global perspective makes it particularly attractive for executives in multinational organizations or those seeking international career transitions.

Master of Science in Business Analytics

Mendoza’s MSBA portfolio is one of the most comprehensive in American business education, offering three distinct tracks that cater to different career objectives and learning formats.

The Residential MSBA (MSBA-R) requires 31 credit hours and carries STEM designation. The curriculum is built on a progression from foundational skills (Introduction to Statistical Analytics, Data Management in SQL, Data Visualization) through intermediate techniques (Simulation and Optimization, Unstructured Data Analytics, Time Series Analytics) to advanced methods (Machine Learning, Advanced Statistical Inference, Python for Data Analytics). Ethics and Big Data Analytics ensures students grapple with the societal implications of data-driven decision-making. The program culminates in an Analytics Capstone Consultation and Data Storytelling course that develops the communication skills essential for translating analytical insights into business action.

The Sports Analytics Concentration (MSBA-SA) is a 32-credit-hour lock-step program that represents one of Mendoza’s most distinctive offerings. Unique courses like Sports Analytics, Human Performance Analytics, and Network Structures prepare graduates for the rapidly growing intersection of data science and professional sports. The curriculum follows a structured sequence: 5 credits in summer, 15 in fall, and 12 in spring, culminating in a 3.0-credit Analytics Capstone Project. Prerequisites include one statistics course and two business courses in Accounting, Finance, Management, or Marketing.

Notre Dame’s location and deep connections to collegiate athletics give MSBA-SA students unparalleled access to real-world sports data and industry networks that programs at other schools simply cannot replicate.

Master of Science in Finance

The Master of Science in Finance Residential (MSFR) is an intensive 38-credit-hour program that provides comprehensive preparation for careers in investment banking, private equity, asset management, and corporate finance. Students choose between two concentrations: Corporate Finance and Investments.

The curriculum is exceptionally thorough, with 21 required core courses covering Financial Accounting, Corporate Finance (a substantial 4.0-credit course), Python for Finance, Investments, Financial Statement Analysis, Derivatives, Fixed Income, Equity Valuation, Applied Valuation in PE and M&A, and Advanced Investment Strategies. Quantitative Methods in Finance I and II provide the mathematical foundations, while Financial Data Visualization and Data Storytelling develop the communication skills that distinguish successful finance professionals.

Notable features include a dedicated Ethics in Finance course (1.0 credit) that reflects Mendoza’s values-driven mission, a Negotiations course (1.0 credit) that develops essential deal-making skills, and a Finance Speaker Series (1.0 credit) that connects students with industry leaders. The Bridge to Success module (1.0 credit) provides career transition support from the moment students begin the program.

The MSFR’s combination of technical depth, ethical grounding, and practical orientation makes it particularly compelling for students who want rigorous quantitative training within a business school that takes professional responsibility seriously. For students also considering finance programs at peer institutions, our guide to Wharton MBA Finance provides a useful comparison point.

Master of Science in Accountancy and Management

The Master of Science in Accountancy (MSA) requires 30 credit hours and offers two majors: Traditional MSA and Data Analytics (STEM-designated). Students choose a primary concentration in either Assurance and Advisory Services (ASAS) or Tax Services, with an optional additional concentration in Deal Advisory (8 credit hours of approved courses).

The MSA program has specific prerequisites that students must complete before enrollment: Accountancy I and II (Financial and Managerial Accounting), Measurement and Disclosure I and II (Intermediate Accounting), Audit and Assurance Services, and Federal Taxation. For students from non-accounting backgrounds, the Accounting Immersion Program (AIP) offers an 8-credit-hour summer intensive that provides the necessary foundation. The program accepts students starting in either fall or spring semester, offering flexibility that many MSA programs lack.

The Master of Science in Management (MSM) is specifically designed for individuals with bachelor’s degrees in non-business disciplines — it explicitly cannot accept students who majored in finance, accounting, marketing, management, business, or dual-degree business programs. Economics majors and students with business minors (18 or fewer credit hours) are welcome to apply. This unique positioning creates cohorts of career changers and liberal arts graduates who bring diverse perspectives to business education.

The 38-credit-hour MSM curriculum covers Quantitative Business Analysis, Principles of Management, Statistics, Financial and Managerial Accounting, Finance Principles, Marketing Principles, Strategic Decision Making, and International Management. Students choose a concentration in either Finance or Marketing, with concentration-specific courses like Managerial Economics and Applied Investment Modeling (Finance) or Digital Marketing and Contemporary Sales Management (Marketing).

Nonprofit Administration Programs

Mendoza’s nonprofit administration programs are among the college’s most distinctive offerings, reflecting Notre Dame’s deep commitment to service and social impact. Few top-tier business schools offer dedicated master’s programs in nonprofit management, making these programs genuinely unique in the competitive landscape.

The Master of Nonprofit Administration (MNA) is a residential program requiring 38 credit hours. The 16-course core curriculum covers Accounting for the NFP, Catholic Social Teaching, Economics of NFP Enterprises, Fund Development, Human Resource Management, Marketing for Nonprofits, Strategic Management, and Innovation in the Nonprofit Sector. The inclusion of Catholic Social Teaching as a required course distinguishes this program from secular nonprofit management degrees. Two substantial experiential components — Nonprofit Management Practicum (4.0 credits) and Synthesis (4.0 credits) — ensure students apply classroom learning to real nonprofit organizations.

The Executive Master of Nonprofit Administration (EMNA) offers a hybrid format for working professionals in the nonprofit sector, requiring 42 credit hours. The 13-course core covers similar territory to the MNA but adds Board Relations and Management, Planning and Policy, and Legal Environment. Students complete a minimum of 6.0 elective credits to customize their learning. Because of its hybrid structure, the EMNA cannot support student visa applications — an important consideration for international applicants.

Both programs prepare graduates for leadership roles in charitable organizations, foundations, healthcare institutions, educational nonprofits, and social enterprises. The growing professionalization of the nonprofit sector means that demand for graduates with formal management training continues to increase.

Dual Degrees and Doctoral Programs

Mendoza offers four dual degree pathways that allow students to combine an MBA with another graduate degree, creating powerful interdisciplinary skill sets. The MBA/Juris Doctorate (MBA/JD) pairs business training with legal education for students interested in corporate law, regulatory compliance, or entrepreneurial ventures. The MBA/Master of Global Affairs (MBA/MGA) combines business acumen with international policy expertise. The MBA/Engineering and MBA/Science programs create technically trained business leaders who can bridge the gap between innovation and commercialization.

At the doctoral level, Mendoza offers two programs that prepare future scholars and research leaders. The Ph.D. in Management requires 60 credit hours and offers concentrations in Organizational Behavior (OB) and Strategy and Entrepreneurship (S&E). OB students study employee attitudes, emotions, cognitions, performance, well-being, relationships, leadership, and work context. S&E students explore strategic management, organization theory, strategic leadership, reputation, founder characteristics, venture funding, and startups as tools for social change. After a candidacy exam following year two, students transition to research-focused credits leading to their dissertation.

The Ph.D. in Analytics is a full-time, in-residence program designed for five years, requiring 60 credit hours (42 coursework plus 18+ research and dissertation). This cutting-edge program trains “thought-leaders in analytics” with a distinctive emphasis on the ethical dimension of data. Courses include Machine Learning and NLP, Philosophy of Science, Designing for Human-Centered AI, Humanitarian Operations Management, and Ethical Frontiers: AI, Society, and Business. Students also take Econometrics I and II from the Economics Department, ensuring rigorous quantitative foundations.

Admission Requirements and Application Process

Admission to Mendoza graduate programs requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited institution by matriculation, with at least a B average (3.0/4.0 GPA) in undergraduate major courses for applicants without a prior graduate degree. Exceptions are made at the discretion of the admissions committee.

The application timeline for most programs follows a structured round system:

International applicants are encouraged to apply by the January 7 (Round 2) deadline to ensure adequate time for visa processing. The two-year MBA application fee is $175.

Application components vary by program but generally include GMAT or GRE scores, transcripts, recommendations, a resume, a statement of purpose, an essay, a video assessment, and language proficiency certification where applicable. Some programs also require a slide deck presentation. Competitive test scores improve merit scholarship eligibility, making strong standardized test preparation a worthwhile investment.

Program-specific requirements are important to note: the MSA requires accounting prerequisites or completion of the AIP summer program, the MSM excludes business majors by design, and the EMNA cannot support student visas. The Mendoza College of Business website provides detailed program-specific admission pages with current requirements and contact information for each program’s admissions team.

Career Outcomes and Student Experience

Mendoza’s graduate programs are designed to produce ethical business leaders who “integrate the mind and the heart, with competence to see and courage to act.” This mission translates into career outcomes that span traditional business sectors, social enterprise, and nonprofit leadership.

The MBA program’s 64 credit hours and required internship ensure students are well-prepared for roles in consulting, investment banking, brand management, technology, and entrepreneurship. The STEM designation on Finance, Business Analytics, and Digital Marketing majors provides critical OPT advantages for international students, while the extensive minor system allows domestic students to differentiate themselves in competitive recruiting processes.

The specialized master’s programs target specific career pathways: MSBA graduates enter data science, analytics consulting, and sports analytics roles; MSF graduates pursue investment banking, asset management, and corporate finance; MSA graduates follow traditional accounting career tracks in audit, tax, and advisory services; and MSM graduates leverage their combined liberal arts and business training for roles in management consulting, marketing, and general management.

The student experience at Mendoza is shaped by Notre Dame’s distinctive campus culture. The “Grow Irish” leadership development series that spans the entire MBA program reflects the university’s emphasis on character formation alongside professional skills. The college’s location in the greater South Bend area, with its lower cost of living compared to major metropolitan MBA programs, makes the financial proposition particularly attractive. The AACSB accreditation ensures that Mendoza’s programs meet the highest international standards for business education.

Notre Dame’s powerful alumni network — among the most engaged in American higher education — provides lifelong career support that extends well beyond graduation. The combination of analytical training, ethical formation, and network strength creates a distinctive value proposition that resonates with employers who seek business leaders capable of making a positive impact on the world.