The Department of Preprofessional Studies was formally established in 1960 but there have been large numbers of premedical majors in the College of Science for more than one hundred years. These students have entered medical schools in virtually every state in the country and have become deans of medical schools, deans and directors of admissions, professors of medicine, medical scientists in every field and many excellent practicing physicians. Notre Dame graduates have pioneered heart valve research, have entered the field of AIDS research and have been personal physicians to presidents.

The University has graduated large numbers of premedical students each year who have attended medical and dental schools. Approximately 160 students have matriculated in these schools each year for the past 20 years. These students have attended many different schools. For example, over 200 graduates of the class of 190 this year are attending 66 different schools of medicine and dentistry.