
Baltimore, MDprivate nonprofitwww.ndm.edu/
Admit rate has ranged 62%–86% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) is a small, Catholic liberal arts university in Baltimore that punches above its weight with standout nursing and pharmacy programs, a tight-knit community, and a pragmatic approach to career preparation. With an 82-86% acceptance rate and a student body that's 69% Maryland residents, it offers an accessible yet personalized education where leadership development and social justice values permeate everything from criminology seminars to late-night CAB events.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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Outcomes & value
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
NDMU maintains an 82-86.5% acceptance rate, making it accessible but not a rubber stamp—admitted students typically have GPAs in the 3.25-3.75 range and ACT scores between 17-22. Notably, 69.1% of incoming students are Maryland residents, with the rest hailing from 47 other states and a small international cohort (2.4%). The university doesn't require SAT/ACT scores but recommends a strong high school GPA. Its admissions process emphasizes Holistic admissionsA review that weighs the whole applicant — grades, essays, activities, and context — rather than relying on test scores and GPA alone., with particular attention to applicants demonstrating leadership potential and alignment with its Catholic mission.
NDMU’s academic identity blends with liberal arts depth. The most popular majors are , liberal arts/general studies, and education—particularly its . The School of Pharmacy boasts an for its accelerated program. Smaller signature programs like criminology & social deviance and leadership studies thrive thanks to faculty mentorship. The curriculum emphasizes writing-intensive courses across disciplines, and the university recently ranked by U.S. News.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
With 44% of students living on campus, NDMU fosters intimacy through traditions like the Women’s Leadership Institute and student-run Campus Activities Board (CAB) events. The Baltimore location provides internships and cultural outings, while the 58-acre wooded campus offers a quieter retreat. Division III athletics (especially basketball) draw crowds, but the vibe leans more toward community service and club life—think sustainability initiatives rather than Greek parties. The university emphasizes ‘mind, body, and spirit’ development, with wellness programs and spiritual retreats woven into campus culture.
NDMU graduates earn median salaries of $63,918 six years post-graduation (nursing alumni report $65,344 at the 10-year mark). The four-year graduation rate is 43%, rising to 60% for six-year completion—below national averages but improving with recent student success initiatives. Pharmacy graduates see strong placement, with 85-87% achieving licensure milestones. The university’s small size pays off in personalized career support; alumni networks are especially robust in Maryland’s healthcare and education sectors.
The average net price after aid is $22,552–$22,675/year, with most students receiving $24,972 in aid packages (grants, scholarships, work-study). NDMU meets 72% of demonstrated financial need on average. The university offers merit scholarships for high-achieving applicants and Need-based aidFinancial aid awarded based on your family's ability to pay, as measured by forms like the FAFSA, rather than on achievements., with a streamlined application process that includes no application fee. Pharmacy and nursing students often secure additional clinical placement stipends.
NDMU carves a niche as a relationship-driven university where students gain Baltimore’s professional opportunities without getting lost in a big-city crowd. Its nursing and pharmacy programs outperform larger institutions, while criminology and education majors benefit from D.C.-adjacent fieldwork. The Catholic identity manifests in social justice engagement rather than dogma—think service-learning courses, not chapel requirements. For Marylanders (and adventurous out-of-staters) seeking a small-school experience with urban access, NDMU delivers at a more affordable net price than many regional peers.