Notre Dame College (Notre Dame College of Ohio or NDC) was a private Catholic college in South Euclid, Ohio, United States. Established in 1922 by the Sisters of Notre Dame as a women's college, it was coeducational from January 2001 until its closure. The Sisters of Notre Dame ended their sponsorship of the college in 2023. In February 2024, the college announced it would be closing at the end of the spring semester, with agreements in place for existing students to complete their degrees at partner colleges and universities. The college ultimately closed on May 2, 2024.
While the majority of Notre Dame's students were from Ohio, the student body represented 35 states and 21 countries in 2022. The college offered a number of extracurricular activities to its students, including honor societies, clubs, student organizations, and athletics.
The college was a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level and fielded athletic teams known as the Falcons. Notre Dame was a member of the Mountain East Conference (MEC), a Division II conference that began playing in the 2013–14 school year. Prior to joining the NCAA, the college competed in the NAIA as a member of the American Mideast Conference. The official school and athletic colors were royal blue and gold.
History
Notre Dame College was founded in the summer of 1922 on Ansel Road in Cleveland as a women's college under the guidance of Mother M. Cecilia Romen, SND. Later that year, Mary Evarista Harks, SND, became NDC's first president (1922–1943). In its early years the college had a faculty population of 9 and a full-time student enrollment of 13 women and 11 novices; in addition 30 students were enrolled in extension courses.
In the fall of 1991, Notre Dame's Master of Education program started, with the first class graduating in 1994. The college graduated its first co-ed class on May 7, 2005.
The college announced in early 2024 that it would be closing at the end of the spring semester. This followed a few years of significant financial challenges. Before deciding to close, college administrators and trustees explored merging with Cleveland State University. After closing, Lake Erie College in nearby Painesville agreed to become NDC's "institution of record", preserving documents and other historical items.
The college was auctioned off on May 7, 2026, with Akron Children's Hospital winning the auction.
Academics
Notre Dame College offered 30 majors and individually designed majors and had a total enrollment of 1,106 undergraduate students in fall 2020.
- Arts & Humanities
- Business Administration
- Education
- Nursing
- Science & Mathematics
The college also had three special programs and two interdisciplinary programs. It also offered an Associate in Arts degree in Pastoral Ministry. and a master's degree in National Security and Intelligence Studies. In 2018, the college introduced graduate programs in Business.
Athletics
Notre Dame College's athletic teams were known as the Falcons, whose colors are blue and gold. The school sponsored 22 intercollegiate teams. The college was a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level. In July 2012, the college received notice it was accepted as a full member starting in the 2012–13 academic year; as a full member the college is eligible for postseason conference and NCAA competition. During its time in the NAIA, the college was known for its men's wrestling program. The team won back-to-back NAIA National Championships in 2010 and 2011. In 2014, the school's second year of NCAA eligibility, Notre Dame College won the Division II national wrestling championship led by four-time national champion and undefeated wrestler Joey Davis.
The men's rugby team won the 2017 USA Rugby men's collegiate Division IAA national championship, defeating UC–Davis, 40–20. The team also won the 2023 NCR (National Collegiate Rugby) DI national championship, defeating St Bonaventure, 33-10.
Men's
Sports that were sponsored by the MEC
- Marye Anne Fox - physical organic chemist, university administrator
- Cody Garbrandt - MMA fighter
- Dorothy Schmitt Gauchat - Catholic Worker; co-founder of Our Lady of the Wayside (Avon, Ohio), a home for children with severe disabilities; and foundress of the Colette Marie Infant Hospice for children with HIV/AIDS
- Mary Beth Ruskai - Mathematical physicist
- Chris Via - professional bowler on the PBA Tour, winner of the 2021 U.S. Open
- Mary Helen Washington - English professor
See also
- List of Roman Catholic universities and colleges in the United States