What Is Notre Dame Known For? Exploring an Iconic University in America’s Heartland

This blog post explores what sets the University of Notre Dame apart, from its highly regarded academic programs in Business, Engineering, and more to its vibrant campus life rich with tradition. It also covers financial aid opportunities, career prospects, and the university's notable alumni network. If you’re a motivated high school student considering Notre Dame, this guide provides an insightful overview of what you can expect academically, socially, and professionally at this top-ranked university.

When considering top universities, the University of Notre Dame often stands out for its distinctive blend of academic excellence, enduring Catholic faith traditions and values, and a vibrant campus life. Notre Dame also consistently ranks among the top universities in the United States.

Steeped in architectural splendor, boasting bucolic surroundings, hosting an outstanding Division 1 football team, offering noteworthy financial assistance programs, and emphasizing character growth, service, and academic rigor, Notre Dame offers students just about everything.

Intrigued? Ready to learn more? Keep reading to see if Notre Dame should be on your list of top schools.

1. Reputation and Rankings

For many people, Notre Dame University is synonymous with the iconic golden dome that crowns the campus’ main building, an image echoed by the gold helmets adorning the school’s Division 1 football players.

What fewer people may realize is that the University of Notre Dame is a top-tier research university steeped in academic traditions and consistently ranked among the top 20 universities in the US. With a prestigious ranking and so much to offer — as you'll see — it's little wonder that the acceptance rate at Notre Dame hovers around 13%!

Of course, top rankings on their own don't really tell the whole story when it comes to what to look for in a great undergraduate experience. For example, the University of Notre Dame also has a reputation for emphasizing character formation. As one of the most highly regarded Catholic institutions in the US, Notre Dame is respected for producing well-rounded scholars and leaders and sending them out into the world with a vision for leadership, integrity, and community service.

Aerial view of Notre Dame University

2. Popular Majors

Notre Dame offers over 75 diverse undergraduate majors across several colleges, making it an ideal academic setting for learning, for intellectual exploration, and for exploring double majors and similar cross-curricular pathways. Some of the most popular majors prepare students for rewarding careers serving as managers, analysts, and organizational leaders, with finance, economics, and political science at the top of the list.

Of all the colleges and programs at University of Notre Dame, the Mendoza College of Business gets some of the most fanfare and is credited with boosting academic opportunities in Finance, Business, Marketing, and Accountancy.

In the STEM arena, Engineering and neuroscience programs are among other exceptionally popular majors at the school.

For those seeking an academically rigorous liberal arts foundation — as a stepping stone to law school, to doctoral studies and careers in academia, or for entry into a professional degree program down the road — Notre Dame is also an excellent choice. The school's scholarly traditions go back to its founding by French missionaries in 1842, and today Notre Dame is widely respected for an inclusive humanistic approach to teaching languages, literature, philosophy, and theology.

A look at the 8 most sought after majors at the University of Notre Dame…

1. Finance: One of the university’s strongest programs is Finance, with graduates from Notre Dame often securing top positions in banking, investment firms, and corporations.
2. Economics: Economics is the second most popular major, with primary concentrations in econometrics and quantitative economics, along with an option to major in international economics. The program leans heavily toward math and science, as opposed to social theory or political economy. Graduates learn skills that combine well with minors or double majors in complementary fields such as political science or business.
3. Political Science: With a strong focus on leadership and policy, Political Science graduates from Notre Dame are often found working in government, law, or non-profits. The major also offers multiple opportunities for internships in Washington D.C. and abroad, adding additional and alluring opportunities for learning.
4. Computer Science: Notre Dame’s Computer Science program is growing rapidly and it offers you both a BA track, which is great for non-engineers and for interdisciplinary combinations, and a BS track for more STEM-oriented career paths.
5. Business Management and Marketing: Notre Dame’s Business Management and Marketing programs, part of the Mendoza College of Business, offer students pathways to different careers in business. The program equips students for careers in management, consulting, marketing, and entrepreneurship, with concentrations in business technology, analytics, foundations of planning and management, and accountancy. Many go on to apply to global firms, including in high-growth sectors.
6. Neuroscience, General Biology, Pre-Med Studies: About 10% of undergraduates at Notre Dame study in areas related to biology and medicine. Neuroscience is the largest program in the group. Graduates often pursue medical school, research positions, or roles in healthcare industries.
7. Mechanical Engineering – Notre Dame’s College of Engineering is highly respected, with Mechanical Engineering leading the pack. Students gain hands-on experience through labs, research, and internships, setting them up for careers in aerospace, automotive, and robotics industries.
8. Psychology – One of the most popular majors at Notre Dame and offering distinct pathways for students who elect to earn either a BA in Psychology or a BA in Neuroscience and Behavior.

Remember, liberal arts majors are also popular at Notre Dame. Together, programs in philosophy, theology, literature, theater arts, and languages attract more than 10% of the school’s roughly 10,000 undergraduates.

In terms of graduate outcomes, Notre Dame students fare extremely well in the job market, with 95% of graduates employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation.

3. Campus Life and Events

Notre Dame’s campus life is often described as rich with tradition, community, and spirit. As a student here, you’ll experience a wide array of events and activities that make campus life vibrant.

Student Body and Community

With well over 8,000 undergraduate students, 32 on-campus residence halls, an equal mix of men and women, nationally recognized Division 1 athletic programs, an infusion of Christian values and traditions, and an impressive 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio… Notre Dame offers lots of ways to learn and lots of ways to make friends for life.

One thing some students may miss (or not), is Greek life. It’s important to note, however, that dorm life fosters a strong sense of community. Each residence hall not only has its own personality, traditions, mascot, and colors but creates a more intimate community for deeper connections with peers, including spaces for worship, annual community-oriented fundraising events, community service initiatives, and intramural athletics.

Campus leaders are also eager to point out that 100% of first-year students live on campus, alongside 80% of sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

Traditions and Events

Notre Dame is perhaps best known for its football team and the legendary Game Day experience. Thousands of fans pack the Notre Dame Stadium to cheer on the Fighting Irish. The campus comes alive with tailgating, pep rallies, and a palpable sense of campus spirit and unity, making campus life at Notre Dame a truly exceptional mix of engaged academics and spirited relaxation.

In addition to football, there’s the emblematic “Touchdown Jesus” landmark — a religious mural where Jesus' outstretched arms evoke a referee signaling a touch down — on the Hesburgh Library overlooking the football stadium. Other cherished traditions include the Polar Bear Plunge, where students jump into St. Joseph's Lake during winter, and the Fisher Regatta, a boat race held annually.

There are also over 400 student clubs, the newly established Raclin Murphy Museum of Art, and an elegant performing arts venue that attracts international acts across music, dance, theater, and cinema.

A view inside the University of Notre Dame's Raclin Murphy Museum of Art

Recreation, Adventure, Relaxation…

From pub life and kayaking on the St. Joseph River, to crafting at Make South Bend, or attending lively events — at the historic Morris Performing Arts Center downtown, or at the DeBartolo Center on campus — Notre Dame and surrounding South Bend offer lots of locales, close to campus, where you and fellow students can relax, connect, and refresh...

4. Financial Aid & Affordability

Notre Dame prides itself on going the extra mile to make a high-quality college experience more affordable and accessible. According to Notre Dame’s Office of Financial Aid, about 70% of undergraduates receive some form of financial aid, and the university meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students. In fact, the average scholarship package for students with need is over $40,000 annually.

Notre Dame has many resources to help students pay for college:

• Need blind admissions for all students
• A pledge to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need
• Need-based offers in the form of grants and scholarships, not loans
• Students requesting financial aid are automatically considered for all university need-based scholarships
• Merit-based scholarships and mentoring services are offered by The Notre Dame Scholars Program
• Students can apply for numerous Enrichment Scholarships that help pay for summer programs or other extracurriculars and supplementals, such as Outward Bound Wilderness Leadership training, Latino Studies research, study abroad, and more

5. Career Preparation

Notre Dame places a strong emphasis on experiential learning, offering numerous internship and training programs, and diverse study abroad opportunities that prepare students for the workforce. With help from the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development and Notre Dame’s Summer Experience Networking Directory, students can explore a vast trove of career preparation opportunities, including internships, co-ops, and research opportunities both on and off-campus.

About 90% of undergraduates at the school participate in at least one career-related summer experience program.

The Notre Dame Scholars’ Program also offers personal and professional development programming, including internship opportunities, for students interested in service-based learning, often placing them in nonprofits or NGOs across the world.

In addition, the university offers diverse Study Abroad programs, with over 50 different summer and school-year study abroad options across more than 25 countries.

Whether through internships or study programs, students gain a global perspective that enhances their career prospects. These diverse enrichment, mentoring, and internship opportunities along with robust alumni networks increase students’ opportunities to build confidence, acquire new knowledge and skills, and engage in authentic service and leadership — educational goals highly valued at Notre Dame.

6. Inspirational Alumni

Notre Dame’s alumni network is powerful and widespread, with graduates making an impact in various fields. Here are just a few of the university’s notable alumni:

• Condoleezza Rice – Former U.S. Secretary of State (Political Science major)
• Daniel Lungren – Former US Congressman and former California Attorney General (English major)
• Bruce Babbitt – Former Arizona Governor and former Secretary of the Interior (Earth Science major)
• Nicholas Sparks – Bestselling author (Business major)
• Hannah Storm – ESPN SportsCenter anchor (Government major)
• Phil Donahue – Former TV talk show host (Business major)

These alumni represent just a small fraction of Notre Dame’s vast and influential network, which spans industries from politics to entertainment to technology. As a Notre Dame student, you’ll have access to an exceptional alumni network for career opportunities and as inspiration for your own college journey.

7. Is Notre Dame Right for You?

If you’re seeking a large and dynamic learning environment, free from Greek life but rich in community events, with a vibrant campus life, a tradition of academic excellence, and a "whole person" approach to education — with an emphasis on intellectual curiosity, Christian values, character formation, and community service — then Notre Dame should be high on your list.

The school’s consistently high rankings, exceptional financial aid programming, and robust network of resources for undergraduate enrichment and support make it an even more compelling choice.

Remember, with so much going for it, it’s not surprising that the school’s acceptance rate tops out around 13%. This makes Notre Dame highly selective, but still more accessible than most Ivies and some other schools with similar ranks.

Want help finding the best schools to apply to, or want to know how to be a top applicant to Notre Dame? At Crimson, we can help you identify the best schools and the best next steps in your college journey. In fact, we’ve helped thousands of students get into the Ivy League and other highly ranked colleges and universities in the US.

So why wait? Book your free consultation today and learn how our team approach and highly personalized services make all the difference!

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