When one thinks of classic American universities, he or she would be hard-pressed to not think of Notre Dame and the school’s emblematic Fighting Irishman. The school–located in South Bend, Indiana–is a traditionally Catholic institution and while religion is not a factor in admissions, 80% of the student body does identify as Roman Catholic. In addition, 80% of students choose to live on campus throughout their undergraduate years; each of the school’s 29 single-sex residence halls organize intramural sports teams in nearly fifteen sports. Of course, this fact should come as little surprise–after all, students hold a special place in their hearts for Notre Dame athletics. Legends, an on-campus restaurant and bar, is a popular attraction for students, who gather to cheer on the school’s many successful Division I teams.
Academically, Notre Dame is extremely competitive. The school came in at #19 in The U.S. News and World Report‘s annual rankings for national universities. Furthermore, Notre Dame’s library system is one of the largest in the nation, providing students with a wide range of resources at their fingertips.