Undergraduate Education

Goal: Offer an unsurpassed undergraduate education

Notre Dame is dedicated to maintaining its historic excellence in undergraduate education. Here are some notable recent achievements toward this goal:

  • Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement
    Launched in 2009, this center offers ideas, advice and centralization of information for undergraduates interested in doing research, in addition to partnering with faculty to create research opportunities. Its mission is to increase intellectual vibrancy on campus, increase the breadth and depth of undergraduate research and help students apply for and win fellowships.
  • Duncan and Ryan residence halls
    Notre Dame opened its first new residence halls in a decade with the completion of Duncan Hall for men in 2008 and Ryan Hall for women in 2009. These West Quad buildings continue the traditions of campus residence at Notre Dame, but they also feature modern elements of sustainable design and construction.
  • Glynn Family Honors Program
    A $10 million gift in 2006 from John and Barbara Glynn allowed the University to expand the joint honors program in the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Science. Each year, 100 of the nation’s most exceptional students become Glynn Scholars and become eligible for summer research fellowships to pursue original research projects at Notre Dame or other universities around the world.
  • Graduation rate of student athletes
    Notre Dame athletes consistently rate among the best in the country in graduation rate. Whether it’s the federal graduation rate among Division I-A schools or the Graduation Success Rate, Notre Dame athletes excel on and off the field.
  • Hesburgh-Yusko Scholars Program
    This comprehensive merit scholarship was established in 2009 with a $35 million gift (the third-largest in University history) from Mark and Stacey Yusko. The program attracts talented undergraduate students to the University and provides them with the tools to become transformational leaders in the image of former University President Fr. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C.
  • Jordan Hall of Science
    This $70 million, 201,782-square-foot structure north of the Joyce Center is the largest building devoted solely to undergraduate education at the University. Jordan Hall, dedicated in 2006, has improved the way Notre Dame teaches science, giving students the opportunity to use cutting-edge technologies and excel in their chosen fields.
  • Mendoza Business School
    The Mendoza College of Business ranked No. 1 in 2010 and 2011 in Bloomberg Businessweek’s annual survey of the best undergraduate business schools. The top ranking was due in large part to the school’s 98 percent job placement rate three months after graduation, study abroad and research projects, and student satisfaction that’s higher than any other school in the rankings.
  • Study abroad
    An increased emphasis on Notre Dame’s international presence has given more support to the catchphrase: “Our campus is in South Bend, Ind.; our classroom is the world.” New programs in Hong Kong, Cambridge, Jerusalem and Sicily bring the total to more than 40 in 20 countries worldwide, and the percentage of undergraduates who participate is consistently among the highest in the nation.