University of Notre Dame
Indiana, United States
Founded1842
Campus1,261 acres
Research$331.0M
Students8,923 UG / 4,206 PG
Acceptance11.0%
Faculty1,409
Ratio8:1
Updated February 6, 2026
Overview
Founded in 1842 by Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., of the Congregation of Holy Cross, the University of Notre Dame is a private Catholic research university. It serves as a premier academic community where Catholic thought intersects with various forms of human scholarship. The university is committed to its founding vision of being a "force for good" in the world, blending rigorous academic inquiry with a deep commitment to faith, ethics, and global service.
The university is organized into eight distinct colleges and schools, including the College of Arts & Letters, the Mendoza College of Business, and the School of Architecture. In 2023, it achieved the distinction of becoming the only Catholic institution to join the Association of American Universities (AAU). It maintains a highly competitive academic environment with an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio and a 95% undergraduate graduation rate.
Location
The University of Notre Dame is situated in Notre Dame, Indiana, an area adjacent to the city of South Bend. The campus features notable facilities such as the Hesburgh Library, the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art, and the Morris Inn, a AAA Four Diamond hotel.
Beyond its primary Indiana location, the university maintains a significant global footprint. It operates 12 intellectual sites worldwide, including locations in major international hubs such as London, Rome, Dublin, Jerusalem, and Beijing. The School of Architecture specifically features a third-year immersion program located in Rome.
Notre Dame, United States
Campuses
Main Campus
MainNotre Dame· United States
Campus Culture
Student life at Notre Dame is deeply rooted in its spiritual identity and a strong sense of community. The residential system serves as a cornerstone of the undergraduate experience, contributing to a 99% retention rate for second-year students. The campus features 32 residence hall chapels and hosts over 200 weekly Masses, reflecting its Catholic character.
Service is a central pillar of the student experience, with undergraduates completing approximately 90,000 service hours annually. About 80% of students participate in service-learning before they graduate. The university also boasts a significant international dimension, as over 70% of undergraduates participate in study abroad programs, and the campus community includes a diverse body of approximately 8,923 undergraduates and 4,206 graduate and professional students.
Notable Alumni
Notre Dame graduates benefit from a robust global alumni network of over 150,000 members, accessible through platforms like IrishCompass. Career outcomes for the university are exceptionally strong, with 92% of graduates entering careers, graduate school, or service programs within six months of graduation. The university supports these transitions through the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development.
The institution's impact extends into specialized fields; for instance, 84% of its pre-med graduates are admitted to medical school, which is double the national average. Additionally, the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) program prepares educators and leaders to serve in under-resourced Catholic schools, further extending the university's reach in the field of education.
Rankings
Notre Dame is consistently recognized as a top-tier national university, holding the #18 spot in U.S. News & World Report and #12 in College Consensus (2025). Its academic departments earn high global and national praise; the Department of Theology is ranked #1 in the world by QS World University Rankings, and the Mendoza College of Business is ranked #7 for undergraduates by Poets & Quants.
The university's prestige is further highlighted by its faculty's achievements, leading the nation in National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) fellowships awarded since 1999. Additionally, Forbes named Notre Dame as America’s Best Large Employer in 2025. The Law School, established in 1869, holds the distinction of being the oldest Catholic law school in the United States.
Research
As a major research hub, Notre Dame reported research expenditures exceeding $331 million in fiscal year 2023. The university operates over 30 core facilities with primary research strengths in global health, data science, and environmental change. It is a key participant in international scientific efforts, including the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) Collaboration at CERN, and leads the NSF’s Spectrum Innovation Center (SpectrumX).
Innovation at the university often takes an interdisciplinary approach, exemplified by the ESTEEM program—a collaboration between Science, Engineering, and Business. Research efforts also focus on translational science and ethical technology, such as the development of "electronic noses" for bird flu detection and the DELTA framework for AI ethics. The university supports its doctoral students extensively, with 97% receiving full-tuition scholarships and stipends.