An aerial view of the University of Notre Dame campus shows the Golden Dome and Sacred Heart Basilica rising above a tree-lined landscape under a clear blue sky.

About

Founded on a Mission

Fighting for it, still.

Notre Dame began as a bold act of faith, a belief that a one-room cabin in the Indiana wilderness could one day shape minds and serve humanity. That same sense of conviction drives us today.

At Notre Dame, faith and inquiry are never at odds. Excellence is expected and elevated by our desire to serve the common good. So students are taught not just how to think, but how to live. We foster intellectual growth and moral character in equal measure—pursuing breakthroughs in research, leadership in every field, and purpose in all that we do.

Close-up on the face of a statue of Rev. Edward Sorin. He has a long full beard and is wearing a tall hat.

This college will be one of the most powerful means for doing good in this country.

Rev. Edward Sorin C.S.C.

founder of the University of Notre Dame du Lac

The Golden Dome of the Main Building at the University of Notre Dame, topped with the statue of Mary, against a deep blue twilight sky with a crescent moon.

By the numbers

This is ND [5.7MB]
  • 75undergraduate majors
  • 8colleges and schools
  • 1/71AAU members
  • 8,923undergraduate students
  • 4,206graduate/professional students
  • 1,526instructional faculty
  • #12university in the nation (College Consensus, 2025, average rating from Forbes, Money, U.S. News & World Report)
  • Top 10collegiate workplace (The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2025)
  • #1America’s Best Large Employer. Forbes, 2025
Father Dowd speaks at a wooden podium with a microphone, wearing a black suit and clerical collar.

Leadership

Notre Dame’s leaders are deeply committed to its mission as a preeminent global Catholic research university. By creating a community where tomorrow’s leaders can cultivate the knowledge and habits of mind they will need to solve the world’s most pressing problems, as well as the ethical, moral, and spiritual foundation that will guide them for a lifetime, the University seeks to be that “great force for good” envisioned at its founding.

Notre Dame’s Leadership

A statue of Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., founder of the University of Notre Dame, stands against a bright blue sky and a tree with red foliage.

Our history

Founded in 1842 by Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., and the Congregation of Holy Cross, Notre Dame began with a vision to do good in this country. From its earliest days, the University has embodied the Catholic intellectual tradition, fostering inquiry, faith, and service. That legacy continues today, guiding how we teach, research, and grow. More than 180 years later, our commitment to the common good is stronger than ever.

The History of Notre Dame

Three smiling young women are outside, two holding plates of funnel cake, with other people blurred in the background.

Endowment

The endowment aids in creating opportunity for our students by enhancing the affordability, accessibility, and excellence of a Notre Dame education. 

How Notre Dame’s endowment pool helps to support its mission

Visit Notre Dame

From the moment the Golden Dome comes into view, you will know you have arrived somewhere special. Visitors to Notre Dame experience more than just beautiful buildings—they encounter a spirit of welcome, wonder, and purpose. Whether you are here for a game, a tour, or a photo opportunity, we invite you to see what makes this place unlike any other.

Visit Notre Dame

A diverse group of college students walks on a sunny green lawn with a brick building in the background at the University of Notre Dame. The golden dome and a statue of Mary at the Main Building of the University of Notre Dame are visible against a clear blue sky. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, in blue uniforms and gold helmets, runs onto the field through a cloud of smoke from an overhead perspective.

A campus that inspires

The Golden Dome may be our most iconic landmark, but it’s just the beginning. Notre Dame’s campus is a living symbol of our values, where tradition meets innovation in classrooms, residence halls, and sacred spaces. As a fully residential university, we believe education happens everywhere—in the chapel, on the quad, and over a late-night conversation in the library.