University of Notre Dame

Summary

University of Notre Dame is a private institution that was founded in 1842. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 8,372, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 1,250 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Notre Dame's ranking in the 2011 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 19. Its tuition and fees are $39,919 (2010-11).

Notre Dame is located in South Bend, Ind., just 100 miles outside of Chicago. Only freshmen are required to live on campus, but most students choose to remain on campus in one of the 27 single-sex residence halls. The halls serve as the centers of social life at Notre Dame, as there is no Greek life on campus. Legends, an on-campus restaurant and pub, is a popular spot for watching sporting events. The Notre Dame "Fighting Irish" boast more than 25 varsity NCAA Division I athletic teams and are well known for their consistently strong football program. Over half of students study abroad for at least one semester.

Notre Dame is divided into eight schools and colleges, the largest of which is the College of Arts and Letters. Notre Dame’s graduate and professional programs include the highly ranked Mendoza College of Business and Law School in addition to a well-regarded School of Architecture, which offers undergraduate and graduate programs. Notable alumni include former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, talk-show host Regis Philbin, and Hall of Fame football player Joe Montana. The 1993 film Rudy, ranked one of the top 25 sports movies of the past 25 years by ESPN, was filmed on Notre Dame’s campus anddepicts the true story of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, who overcame many obstacles to play football at Notre Dame.

School mission (as provided by the school):

Notre Dame offers undergraduate students an educational experience that is second to none in quality and, at the same time, distinctly Catholic. Faith... Read More

Applying

When applying to University of Notre Dame, it's important to note the application deadline is December 31, and the early action deadline is November 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due March 1. The application fee at University of Notre Dame is $65. It is most selective, with an acceptance rate of 28.6 percent and an early acceptance rate of 42.2 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.

Selectivity	most selective
Fall 2009 acceptance rate	29%
Application deadline	December 31
SAT/ACT scores must be received by	March 1

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Academic Life

The student-faculty ratio at University of Notre Dame is 12:1, and the school has 54.4 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of Notre Dame include: Biology/biological sciences; Business/commerce; Engineering; Political science and government; and Psychology. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 97.5 percent.

Class sizes
Student-faculty ratio	12:1
4-year graduation rate	90% - High
Five most popular majors for 2009 graduates
Biology/biological sciences 6% Business/commerce 24% Engineering 10% Political science and government 7% Psychology 6%

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Student Life

University of Notre Dame has a total undergraduate enrollment of 8,372, with a gender distribution of 53.8 percent male students and 46.2 percent female students. 81.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 19.0 percent of students live off campus. University of Notre Dame is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.

See what students are saying about life at University of Notre Dame.

Total enrollment	11,816
Student gender distribution
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity	N/A
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority	N/A
Collegiate athletic association	NCAA I

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Campus Info & Services

University of Notre Dame offers a number of student services including women's center, placement service, health service, and health insurance. University of Notre Dame also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). 26 percent of students have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at University of Notre Dame.

Students who have cars on campus	26% - Low
Health insurance offered	Yes
Students required to own/lease a computer	No

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Paying for School

At University of Notre Dame, 49.1 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $26,847.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.

Tuition and fees	$39,919 (2010-11)
Room and board	$10,866 (2010-11) - High
Financial aid statistics

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Student Reviews Ratings data provided by Unigo

One of the greatest things I've learned being abroad is how much I love Notre Dame. And I don't mean it in the sense of I'm going to paint my house blue and gold, get tatoos all over my body, make it mandatory that my kids (in the future) attend Notre Dame... What I mean is Notre Dame has been a WONDERFUL experience for me. I love our campus size; I love how beautiful our campus is; I love how I can walk around by myself at any time of day, pretty much anywhere, and feel comfortable; I love our dorms; I love the opportunities that I've been presented with because I've been at Notre Dame. I've... Read More

Jill Junior

Notre Dame is a small town with classes. It's different from the average university where at the end of 4 years you graduate with a degree, some good memories, and some great friends. At ND, you get all of that (along with a little chunk of debt if you're like me) one of the most prolific alumni networks in the country, and the stigma and prestige of the name Notre Dame. It's really interesting how people react to the name. It's a school you either love or hate, and rarely will you meet someone who is lukewarm. The bottom line about ND: The classes are hard, every other student has a varisty letter and a 3.5 GPA. You're held accountable for your actions in the world, but babied a bit for your actions on campus. You're stuck in a bubble, but only if you let yourself be so. "From the outside looking in you can't understand it and from the inside looking out you can't explain it."

Special Sauce Junior

Notre Dame is a great size, big enough so its always interesting, but not so big that it's overwhelming. The school spirit here is always high, and the students often five their all to everything that they do. The surrounding area of South Bend is not much to talk about, but has some fun bars (once you're 21). Going to Notre Dame opens a lot of doors outside of the classroom, and nearly everyone who hears "Notre Dame" is immediately impressed. The weather in the winter is probably the most common student complaint.

Kelly Junior