University of Notre Dame
| Latin: Universitas Dominae Nostrae a Lacu | |
| Motto | Vita Dulcedo Spes (Latin) |
|---|---|
Motto in English | "Life, Sweetness, Hope" |
| Type | Private research university |
| Established | November 26, 1842 |
| Founder | Edward Sorin |
| Accreditation | HLC |
Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic (Congregation of Holy Cross) |
Academic affiliations | |
| Endowment | $20.09 billion (FY2025) |
| President | Robert A. Dowd |
| Provost | John McGreevy |
Academic staff | 1,526 (fall 2023) |
| Students | 13,016 (fall 2024) |
| Undergraduates | 8,854 (fall 2024) |
| Postgraduates | 4,162 (fall 2024) |
| Location | , United States 41°42′00″N 86°14′20″W / 41.70000°N 86.23889°W |
| Campus | Large suburb, 1,261 acres (5.10 km2) |
| Newspapers | |
| Colors | Blue and gold |
| Nickname | Fighting Irish |
Sporting affiliations | |
| Mascot | Leprechaun |
| Website | www |
The University of Notre Dame du Lac (known simply as Notre Dame; /ˌnoʊtərˈdeɪm/ ⓘ NOH-tər-DAYM; ND) is a private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States. The university was founded in 1842 by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, a Catholic religious order of priests and brothers. Its main campus covers 1,261 acres (510 ha) in a suburban setting and has landmarks such as the Golden Dome main building, Sacred Heart Basilica, the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Word of Life mosaic mural, and Notre Dame Stadium.
Notre Dame is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research spending and doctorate production". The university is organized into seven schools and colleges: College of Arts and Letters, College of Science, Notre Dame Law School, School of Architecture, College of Engineering, Mendoza College of Business, and Keough School of Global Affairs. Notre Dame's graduate program includes more than 50 master, doctoral and professional degrees offered by the seven schools.
The university's athletic teams are members of the NCAA Division I and are known collectively as the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame is noted for its football team, which contributed to its rise to prominence on the national stage in the early 20th century. Notre Dame teams in other sports, chiefly in the Atlantic Coast Conference, have won 17 national championships.
Between 1952 and 1987, Theodore Hesburgh's administration increased the university's resources and improved its academic programs and its reputation. Its network of alumni consists of 151,000 members.