How to Apply to the Mendoza College of Business at Notre Dame: Indicate Business When You Apply and Learn at Admission Whether You Are Approved, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, undergraduate business is taught at the Mendoza College of Business, and the degree is the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Notre Dame’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. How to get into Mendoza

• Indicate your intent: every applicant makes a non-binding indication of the college or school and major they intend to pursue.
• Decision at admission: applicants who indicate Mendoza are told at the time of admission whether they are approved to enroll in business.
• If not approved: students admitted to Notre Dame but not to Mendoza can pursue another college and major. First-year students have two opportunities to apply to transfer into Mendoza, and all internal transfers must be accepted before sophomore year; the process is highly competitive. Tell your first-year advisor about your interest so they can help with course selection.
• Changing your mind: students approved for business may switch to another college, though Notre Dame notes the timing can have consequences.

2. Majors and curriculum

• Majors: the Mendoza undergraduate page lists Accountancy, Business Analytics, Finance, Marketing and Management Consulting, plus the Business Computer Science (BCS) program. Students can double major in any two business majors.
• Business core: all BBA students take 25.5 credits of business fundamentals (including Principles of Microeconomics and Foundations of Ethical Behavior), 9 credits of business broadening electives across departments, and 24 credits outside Mendoza. All business majors learn Python coding fundamentals by sophomore year.
• Honors: Mendoza runs business honors programs for top students.

3. Rounds for fall 2027

• Restrictive Early Action: deadline 1 November, supplements by 15 November, decisions in mid-December. You may not apply to binding Early Decision I elsewhere, but may apply to other Early Action and Early Decision II programs. Notre Dame describes its early standards as very conservative.
• Regular Decision: deadline 4 January, supplements by 15 January, decisions in mid to late March.
• Commit by 1 May; Restrictive Early Action applicants get priority for merit scholarships.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Materials: Common App or Coalition, official transcripts including national exam results, one core-subject teacher recommendation and an US$85 fee; the CSS Profile if you need aid.
• Coursework: at least 16 units, including 4 English, 3 math (4 recommended), 2 foreign language, 2 science and 2 history or social science.
• SAT/ACT: optional for fall 2027 entry and required again from fall 2028. IB Diploma students and those taking three or more A-levels may use predicted results instead.
• Gaokao: Notre Dame does not explain how Gaokao results are used beyond including national exam results on transcripts.
• English: required if English is not your first language or your school is not mainly English-medium. Strongly recommended scores: TOEFL iBT 100 (speaking 25) or a 5.5 average on the new scale with no section below 5.0; IELTS 7.5; Duolingo 125. SAT Reading and Writing of 650+ or ACT English or Reading of 26+ waives the test.
• Interviews: Notre Dame offers no interviews but encourages students from China to use InitialView or Vericant.

5. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver)

• There are no Canada- or BC-specific requirements; the general international requirements apply.
• No English test is needed if your school is mainly English-medium and English is your first language.
• Indicate Mendoza as your intended college.

6. Costs and aid

• 2026-27 average costs: tuition US$69,280, required fees 514, housing and food 18,992, books 1,250, personal 1,200 and travel 750, for a total of about US$91,986. No separate business differential is listed.
• Need-blind for international students: Notre Dame is need-blind for all applicants, including international students, and meets full demonstrated need with grants and scholarships.
• Applying for aid: international first-years submit the 2027-28 CSS Profile (code 1841). All international students are considered for merit scholarships, most without a separate application.

7. Transfer students

• External transfer to Mendoza: applications take place in the spring of freshman year and depend on completing one year at another institution; the process is highly competitive. External transfers must matriculate as first-semester sophomores.
• Prerequisites: all transfer students are expected to complete at least one semester of calculus and Principles of Microeconomics before sophomore year.
• University transfer rules: at least 24 transferable credits and a full year at an accredited institution; the fall 2027 deadline is 15 March 2027, with decisions from 20 May to 14 June. Recently admitted transfers averaged a college GPA above 3.75. SAT/ACT is optional for 2026-27 transfers, and international transfers can apply for need-based aid.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply by 1 November (REA) or 4 January (RD), indicating the Mendoza College of Business
• TOEFL 100 (5.5 new), IELTS 7.5 or Duolingo 125; SAT/ACT optional
• Consider an InitialView or Vericant interview; submit the CSS Profile if you need aid

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• English-medium students with English as a first language need no English test; IB or A-level students may use predicted results instead of SAT/ACT

Transfer students:

• Complete a year elsewhere with calculus and microeconomics; apply by 15 March and enter as a sophomore

Sources: University of Notre Dame, Mendoza undergraduate program; Undergraduate curriculum; Apply; Restrictive Early Action and Regular Decision; International applicants; International application information; Transfer applicants; 2026-27 costs; Aid for international students. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures). Check Notre Dame for the latest details.