Notre Dame de Namur University

What Notre Dame de Namur University does

Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) is a private, not-for-profit Catholic coeducational university founded in 1851 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and headquartered at 1500 Ralston Avenue, Belmont, California. It is the third-oldest college in California and the first institution in the state authorized to grant women a baccalaureate degree. NDNU serves adult learners and working professionals through three academic units: the School of Business and Management, the School of Education, and the School of Psychology. The university is undergoing a strategic transformation toward a graduate-focused, adult-learner model, with growing enrollment and expanded academic offerings under its FY25-FY28 Strategic Plan.

The university delivers an integrated portfolio of undergraduate degree-completion programs (BA in Psychology, BS in Business Administration) and graduate programs including an MBA with concentrations in Artificial Intelligence, Business Analytics, Cybersecurity, Finance, Healthcare Administration, and Public Administration/Non-Profit Management; master's degrees in Education, Educational Therapy, School Administration, and Special Education; Multiple and Single Subject Teaching Credentials; and a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology with 37-, 60-, and 67-unit tracks leading to MFT and dual MFT/LPCC licensure. Program delivery combines face-to-face instruction at the Belmont campus with 100% online asynchronous and synchronous formats, supported by Canvas LMS, the Campus Portal student information system, Microsoft Office 365 student email, and TimelyCare telehealth. NDNU holds WSCUC regional accreditation (six-year reaccreditation in 2026), BBS approval for its MFT/LPCC tracks, California BPPE authorization, and online-program authorization in 27 U.S. states.

NDNU's revenue model is tuition-driven, supplemented by fundraising through the Division of University Advancement (online giving, mail, phone, wire transfer, gifts-in-kind), federal grants including HEERF II/III and campus-based programs, and institutional grants such as E3@NDNU and STARS. Customer acquisition operates through a digital-first GTM motion: program websites, inquiry forms, monthly virtual info sessions per school via Zoom, social channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, TikTok), an in-house podcast, and Psychology Today faculty content serve top-of-funnel, while alumni outreach, commencement events (notably featuring Nancy Pelosi in 2025), and the San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce Best of Awards reinforce mid-funnel community engagement.

Name

Notre Dame de Namur University

Legal name

Notre Dame de Namur University

Website

https://ndnu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1851

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Notre Dame de Namur University is a private Catholic university in Belmont, California, serving adult learners and working professionals through graduate and degree-completion programs in business, education, and psychology, delivered online and on campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)

Keywords

• Graduate degree programs
• Adult higher education
• Clinical psychology training
• Business administration education
• Teacher credential programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Belmont

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate degree completion programs and graduate programs (MBA, Education, Psychology). Programs offered at varying unit costs with flexible scheduling options.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Division of University Advancement manages alumni donations, corporate partnerships, and annual giving campaigns. Multiple giving options including online, check by mail, credit card by phone, gifts-in-kind, and wire transfer.
3. Grants: Federal grants including HEERF II and III Emergency Grants, campus-based programs, and institutional grants such as E3@NDNU Grant Project and STARS Grant.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Notre Dame de Namur University is a WSCUC-accredited private Catholic university offering undergraduate degree completion and graduate programs through three schools: Business and Management, Education, and Psychology. The institution serves adult learners and working professionals with flexible online (asynchronous and synchronous), hybrid, and in-person program formats, including MBA degrees, MS in Clinical Psychology with MFT and LPCC licensure tracks, MA degrees in Education disciplines, teaching credentials, and bachelor's degree completion programs in Psychology and Business Administration.

Product overview

Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) is a WSCUC-accredited private Catholic university offering a portfolio of undergraduate degree completion and graduate programs through three academic schools: the School of Business and Management, the School of Education, and the School of Psychology. The institution specializes in serving adult learners with flexible online and hybrid formats. The School of Business and Management offers an MBA program with concentrations in Artificial Intelligence, Business Analytics, Cybersecurity, Finance, Healthcare Administration, and Public Administration/Non-Profit Management, plus undergraduate business degree completion. The School of Education provides master's degrees in Education, Educational Therapy, School Administration, and Special Education, along with Multiple Subject and Single Subject Teaching Credentials. The School of Psychology offers a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology with three tracks: the standalone MS/CP (37 units), the MS/CP/MFT (60 units) for Marriage and Family Therapist licensure, and the MS/CP/MFT/LPCC (67 units) for dual licensure. NDNU also provides student support services including an Academic Success Center, SPARK program, grant programs (E3@NDNU, STARS Grant), and telehealth services via TimelyCare. The university delivers programs through Canvas LMS and a Campus Portal, with all programs designed for working adults with flexible scheduling options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) Graduate business degree program providing applied learning that combines industry-relevant knowledge with strong foundations to prepare graduates for meaningful careers and professional advancement, offered fully online and in-person.
• Master of Science in Clinical Psychology (MS/CP) A 37-unit master's program preparing aspiring unlicensed master's level mental health professionals for diverse roles in clinical, business, industry, and organizational settings, with integrative depth-oriented training.
• MS/CP with Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) Track A 60-unit program designed to prepare practitioners for California licensure as marriage and family therapists working in private practice, schools, clinics, hospitals, community agencies, and businesses.
• MS/CP with MFT and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) Track A 67-unit program designed to prepare practitioners for dual California licensure as MFTs and LPCCs, offering more nationally recognized credentials for work in various clinical settings.
• Master of Arts in Education Graduate program in education preparing students for leadership and advanced teaching roles in educational settings, offered through the School of Education with integrated pathway options.
• Master of Arts in Educational Therapy Graduate program combining educational and therapeutic approaches to support diverse learners in academic and clinical contexts.
• Master of Arts in School Administration Graduate program preparing students for administrative and leadership positions in K-12 educational settings.
• Master of Arts in Special Education Graduate program focused on educating students with special needs and disabilities across various educational contexts.
• Multiple Subject Teaching Credential Teaching credential qualifying graduates to teach multiple subjects in elementary schools, offered through the School of Education.
• Single Subject Teaching Credential Teaching credential qualifying graduates to teach specific subjects in middle and high schools, offered through the School of Education.
• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Degree Completion Undergraduate degree completion program in psychology designed for working adults, offered in asynchronous online format with flexible scheduling for career advancement.
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Degree Completion Undergraduate degree completion program in business administration designed for working adults with flexible formats and practical coursework supporting career advancement and lifelong success.

Quantifiable outcome

• Third consecutive year winning Best of San Mateo Area Award for Continuing Education (2026)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• San Mateo Area Chamber of CommercecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 June 2026The San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce presents the Best of San Mateo Area Awards, celebrating organizations that demonstrate excellence, innovation, and meaningful community impact. NDNU has won for three consecutive years, voted by over 40,000 community members.
• Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026President Beth Martin participated in an ACCU delegation that met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican to discuss the role of Catholic higher education. The audience brought together presidents and leaders from Catholic colleges and universities across the United States. Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of Catholic institutions remaining places where faith and reason work together in service to humanity.
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)flagshipOthersWSCUC is the regional accreditor for NDNU. The university received a six-year reaccreditation in 2026, confirming high institutional and academic standards including financial sustainability. Located at 1001 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 402, Alameda, CA 94501.
• California Bureau for Private Postsecondary EducationcoreOthersState regulatory body for private postsecondary education. NDNU complies with California BPPE requirements. Located at 2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95833.
• Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS)flagshipOthersCalifornia professional licensing agency for mental health professionals. NDNU's MS/CP/MFT and MS/CP/MFT/LPCC programs are approved by BBS for licensure preparation as marriage and family therapists and licensed professional clinical counselors.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Dominican University of California: Small private Catholic university in San Rafael, CA, offering undergraduate and graduate programs with similar adult-learner focus. Directly comparable in size, geography (Bay Area), faith-based identity, and graduate program mix, making it a primary peer for enrollment and positioning comparisons.
• Holy Names University: Small Catholic university in Oakland, CA with comparable graduate and adult-learner programs. Similar in heritage, scale, Bay Area geography, and program offerings, making it a close peer despite its recent operational challenges and transition.
• Saint Mary's College of California: Private Catholic college in Moraga, CA with undergraduate and graduate programs including business and education. Comparable faith-based identity, Bay Area location, and graduate program portfolio, though larger in scale than NDNU.
• Pacific Oaks College: Small private nonprofit college in Pasadena, CA focused on adult learners with graduate programs in education, marriage and family therapy, and organizational leadership. Highly comparable niche adult-learner focus and similar MFT/LPCC licensure pathways.
• Alliant International University: Private nonprofit university in California with strong graduate programs in clinical psychology, marriage and family therapy, and education. Comparable BBS-approved licensure pathways and California-focused clinical psychology training, though slightly larger and more distributed across multiple campuses.
• Sofia University: Small private university in Palo Alto, CA offering graduate programs with depth-oriented and transpersonal psychology orientation. Highly comparable in size, Silicon Valley location, depth-psychology curricular differentiation, and adult-learner focus.

Broad incumbents

• University of San Francisco: Larger Jesuit Catholic university in San Francisco offering extensive graduate programs in business, education, and psychology. Comparable faith-based identity and overlapping program areas, but operates at significantly larger scale with broader program portfolio and stronger brand recognition.
• Santa Clara University: Major Jesuit university in Santa Clara, CA with well-regarded graduate business, education, and counseling psychology programs. Comparable faith-based identity and Bay Area geography, but significantly larger enrollment and broader program portfolio positions it as a broader incumbent rather than direct competitor.
• National University: Large nonprofit university system headquartered in San Diego with extensive online graduate programs including MBA, education, and psychology. Directly comparable adult-learner focus and online delivery model, but operates at significantly larger scale with broader geographic reach.
• University of the Pacific: Private Methodist-affiliated university in Stockton, CA with comprehensive graduate programs in business, education, and psychology. Comparable private nonprofit structure and California geography, but operates at larger scale with broader undergraduate focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NDNU
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NdnuEdu
• Facebookfacebook.com/38602727108
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/notre-dame-de-namur-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/notredamednuniversity
• TikToktiktok.com/@ndnu_official

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Notre Dame de Namur University