Why ND
This is Your Journey
The path to finding your purpose begins with a journey of self-discovery.
At Notre Dame, we provide the resources and support you need to explore your passions, develop your talents, and build a life lived with purpose. Students come to Notre Dame to learn not only how to think critically and creatively, but also how to live fully.
As a top national research institution, Notre Dame offers a world-class academic experience with opportunities for student research, creative pursuits, and projects that go beyond the classroom. Innovative ideas are celebrated here because we know that exploration is key to discovery. As a Notre Dame student, you’ll join an international community of students, faculty, and alumni who are as dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge as they are to the Notre Dame family. You’ll learn in classrooms and labs under the guidance of faculty who are the leading experts in their fields. You’ll have opportunities for research and internships that turn your knowledge into action.
Here at Notre Dame, we build each other up. The community here motivates you to continue going when you feel low; it challenges you to step outside of your comfort zone and try something new; and it encourages you to put good out into the world, helping live out our mission.
Statistics
- 96% graduation rate (top 5 among research universities)
- 98% retention rate (number of students who continue to sophomore year)
- 9:1 student to faculty ratio
- 97% placement rate
- 1/3 conduct undergraduate research
- 70%+ of students study abroad
- 89% participate in internships or research projects
- #9 largest endowment among private universities
- TOP producer of Fulbright Program students for nine consecutive years
The University of Notre Dame was founded with the intention of serving as a force for good in our world. It is the formation not only of one's mind, but of one's heart that sets a Notre Dame education apart.
For over 175 years we have been educating and empowering compassionate individuals, following the example of our founder Reverend Edward Sorin, C.S.C., who envisioned the University of Notre Dame to be a powerful force for good in the world. These values direct our mission as we prepare our students with the skills, experience, and confidence to make a difference.
Notre Dame seeks to enroll the creative intellectual, the bold and the ethical, the relentless seekers of social justice. We believe a strong education goes beyond simply gaining intellect. It’s your path to wisdom, the development of your sense of self, and your quest to lead a life with passion and purpose.