University of Notre Dame

Overview

The University of Notre Dame is a private research university in South Bend, Indiana, USA. Recognized as one of the top universities in the United States, the university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees for a wide range of fields. It is divided into several schools and colleges, with the largest being the College of Arts and Letters. It also includes the highly ranked Mendoza College of Business, as well as the Notre Dame School of Architecture that offers graduate and undergraduate programs.

The university serves as a home to a number of recognizable landmarks, including the Word of Life mural, the Basilica, the Notre Dame Stadium, and the Golden Dome. Founded in 1842 by the French priest Reverend Edward Sorin, the university was established as a Catholic university that strongly upholds both religious and intellectual traditions. Its philosophy and theology departments are regarded as one the finest in the world. It attracts various kinds of scholars, from those who study civil rights and religious liberty to sociologists studying ethical and religious practices.

Since its founding, the university has been considered as an international institution that welcomes scholars from all over the world. Its early programs follow the French method of residential community education, which required students to live on the premises of the campus. During the beginning of the 20th century, students of the university comprised heavily of recruits from Latin America.

The University of Notre Dame offers varied majors, minors, and programs throughout its colleges, namely Arts and Letters, Engineering, Science, Business, Global Affairs, and Architecture. Students enrolled in the university can expect to learn in dynamic and advanced facilities, such as Jenkins and Nanovic Halls, the DeBartolo Center for the Performing Arts, and McCourtney Hall. Graduate students of the university are also mentored in a community of scientists, scholars, and artists, enabling a multidisciplinary collaboration among a diverse population of students.

The university is recognized as a leader in producing Fulbright Program recipients. This program is the US government’s flagship international educational exchange program. Today, the university has six global centers found in Hong Kong, Mexico City, Kylemore Abbey (Ireland), São Paulo, Santiago, and Mumbai.

As a Catholic institution, the university encourages a student resident life that manifests a sense of community and responsibility. It provides the faculty and students with a forum where various lines of Catholic thought intersect with sciences, arts, and other aspects of human creativity. Throughout its history, the university’s Catholic identity has been predominantly nurtured by a number of Catholic leaders who foster the disciplined habits of students.

You can also learn more about the educational performance of University of Notre Dame in our ranking of US universities & colleges.