Notre Dame College prioritizes educational access and community, serving nearly 40% Pell Grant recipients in a supportive small-college environment.
While earnings outcomes are modest, the institution provides meaningful opportunities for students seeking personalized attention and close faculty relationships.
Notre Dame College is a small private nonprofit institution in Cleveland, Ohio, that serves students seeking a close-knit academic community. While the college faces challenges in overall earnings outcomes—ranking in the lower portion nationally for long-term financial returns—it provides meaningful access for students from diverse backgrounds, with 39% of students receiving Pell Grants and about 33% being first-generation college students.
The institution's mobility quadrant classification as "Under-Resourced Institutions" reflects both its commitment to serving students who need support and the financial constraints that limit some outcomes. Graduates earn a median of $49,737 ten years after enrollment, which is below typical expectations for similar students at other institutions. However, the college maintains reasonable affordability, with net prices around $18,700 for low- and middle-income families.
As a small private college, Notre Dame offers the intimate learning environment that many students value—small classes, direct faculty mentorship, and a supportive campus community. For students who thrive in close-knit settings and prioritize the college experience over maximum earnings potential, Notre Dame provides access to higher education in a nurturing environment that emphasizes personal growth and community connection.
Notre Dame College's program portfolio reflects its focus on practical, career-oriented fields, though outcomes vary significantly by major choice. The Adult Health Nursing program stands out as the institution's strongest financial pathway, graduating 35 students who earn a median of $61,859 ten years later—well above the college average and competitive with nursing programs at larger institutions. This program represents Notre Dame's clearest value proposition, combining strong employment demand with solid compensation.
Business Administration serves as the college's largest program with 37 graduates, producing median earnings of $46,087 that align closely with the institutional average. Psychology, with 25 graduates, shows more modest outcomes at $33,993, reflecting the challenges many liberal arts fields face in translating directly to high-paying careers. These variations underscore how program selection significantly impacts return on investment at Notre Dame.
The college's program mix emphasizes practical fields that prepare students for immediate workforce entry rather than graduate school preparation. While this approach serves students seeking direct career pathways, it also means that outcomes depend heavily on local job market conditions in Cleveland and surrounding areas. Students considering Notre Dame should carefully evaluate their intended major's earning potential and career prospects when weighing the institution's overall value proposition.
Notre Dame College graduates face modest long-term earnings compared with national averages and similar institutions. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $49,737, placing the college in the bottom 20% nationally for earnings outcomes. This performance falls short of what similar students typically achieve at other institutions, with graduates earning about $1,200 less than expected based on their backgrounds and characteristics.
The college's strongest financial outcomes come from its nursing program, where Adult Health Nursing graduates earn around $61,859 ten years out—significantly above the institutional average. Business Administration, the largest program with 37 graduates, produces median earnings of $46,087, while Psychology graduates see more modest outcomes at $33,993. These program-level variations highlight how field of study significantly impacts long-term financial prospects at Notre Dame.
While earnings outcomes are below national benchmarks, graduates do benefit from the college's emphasis on practical, career-focused programs. The nursing program in particular provides a clear pathway to stable, well-compensated employment in healthcare. However, students should understand that Notre Dame's overall earnings profile reflects the challenges facing many small private institutions in delivering strong financial returns relative to the investment required.
Notre Dame College maintains relatively consistent and predictable pricing across income levels, with net prices that make private education accessible to many families. Low-income students pay approximately $18,707 annually, while middle-income families see similar costs at $18,567—both representing substantial discounts from the sticker price through institutional aid. Even high-income families pay $25,243, which is moderate for private college pricing.
The college's affordability story becomes more complex when considering debt levels. Typical graduates leave with $27,000 in federal student loan debt, a substantial amount given the institution's earnings outcomes. Additionally, families often rely on Parent PLUS loans averaging $17,505 to bridge funding gaps. This debt load, while not extreme, requires careful consideration given that graduates earn less than typical expectations for their backgrounds.
For families weighing Notre Dame's value proposition, the key consideration is whether the benefits of a small private college experience—personalized attention, close faculty relationships, and supportive community—justify the financial investment. The college provides meaningful access through need-based aid, but families should plan carefully for debt repayment given the institution's modest earnings outcomes.
Notre Dame College Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
