University of Notre Dame

What University of Notre Dame does

The University of Notre Dame is a private Catholic research university founded in 1842 by the Congregation of Holy Cross and located in Notre Dame, Indiana. It serves approximately 13,129 students (8,923 undergraduate and 4,206 graduate/professional) with 1,526 instructional faculty, achieving an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio and a 95% on-time graduation rate. Notre Dame is the only explicitly religious member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), one of only two American universities with a presence in the Holy Land, and is ranked #1 in the U.S. for NEH fellowships since 1999. The institution operates under a unified mission of integrating Catholic intellectual tradition with top-tier research classification, and is led by President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C.

Notre Dame's academic portfolio spans 75+ undergraduate majors and 50+ graduate programs across eight colleges (Arts & Letters, Engineering, Science, the Mendoza College of Business, the Keough School of Global Affairs, the Law School, the School of Architecture, and the Graduate School), supported by 30+ world-class core facilities. Notable technical assets include the first-of-its-kind Large Mach 10 Quiet Wind Tunnel, NDnano Nanofabrication Facility, Harper Cancer Research Institute, SpectrumX (NSF Spectrum Innovation Center), and the new Center for Biomedical Discovery established under the $165 million Bioengineering & Life Sciences (BELS) Initiative. Research expenditures reached $331M in 2023 (HERD), and the university ranks among the top 100 patent-earning institutions in the U.S. Specialized offerings include a new MS in Digital Marketing (launched fall 2025), a Master of Nonprofit Administration, and the Wilma and Peter Veldman Family Psychology Clinic (opening June 2026).

The university's revenue model is diversified across seven streams: tuition and educational fees (with zero tuition for families under $150,000 income and 100% of demonstrated need met without loans for qualifying students), endowment returns and major donor gifts (e.g., $35M Berthiaume gift, $51M AI ethics grant, repeated Lilly Endowment awards), externally sponsored research ($331M HERD; NIH, NSF, DOE, ARPA-H, Lilly Endowment), brand licensing and partnerships (Teeling Irish Whiskey, Guinness, Ryoko Rain) leveraging an estimated 40 million alumni/fan network, hospitality operations at athletic venues (managed by Levy), commercialization and spinout revenue via the IDEA Center (including Artin Immunology), and a growing portfolio of professional and continuing education programs. Distribution operates through direct enrollment, 12 international academic sites across 10 countries on 5 continents, 60+ study abroad programs (87% student participation), the IDEA Center commercialization engine, and clinical/research partnerships spanning 73 countries.

Name

University of Notre Dame

Legal name

University of Notre Dame du Lac

Website

https://nd.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1842

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The University of Notre Dame is a private Catholic research university in Indiana serving ~13,000 students across 8 colleges, with $331M in research expenditures, a 12-site global academic network, and the only explicitly religious AAU membership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Affiliated Private Research Universities (EDAHABAJ)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Academic research programs
• Undergraduate education
• Graduate professional programs
• Faith-based university

Headquarters

HQ city

Notre Dame

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Educational Fees: Recurring revenue from undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs across 8 colleges and 75+ undergraduate majors. Net-zero tuition for families under $150,000 income; need-blind admissions with 100% demonstrated need met without loans for qualifying students.
2. Endowment and Donor Gifts: Long-term investment income from the endowment pool (managed to enhance affordability, accessibility, and excellence), supplemented by major donor gifts (e.g., $35M from Berthiaume family for the Center for Biomedical Discovery, $10M federal literacy grant).
3. Research Grants and Sponsored Awards: External research funding from federal agencies (NSF, NIH, DOE, Department of Education, ARPA-H), private foundations (Lilly Endowment, Heising-Simons, Alfred P. Sloan), and industry partners. Over $331M in HERD research expenditures for 2023; researchers previously secured $220M+ in awards.
4. Hospitality and Concessions Revenue: Revenue from athletic venue food, beverage, and hospitality operations at Notre Dame Stadium, Compton Family Ice Arena, and Purcell Pavilion, managed by partner Levy under renewed partnership since 2016; includes regional vendor sourcing and sustainability initiatives like Cultivate Food Rescue.
5. Brand Partnerships and Licensing: Revenue from licensed brand collaborations leveraging an estimated 40 million-strong alumni/fan network, including Teeling Irish Whiskey limited editions, Guinness community rituals (since 2020), and Ryoko Rain gameday apparel (sold out in 24 hours).
6. Commercialization and Spinout Ventures: Revenue from commercialization of university research via the IDEA Center, including the McCloskey New Venture Competition, Race to Revenue summer accelerator, and student entrepreneurial programs supporting spinout formation (e.g., Artin Immunology).
7. Professional and Continuing Education: Revenue from new professional master's programs including the Master of Science in Digital Marketing (launched fall 2025), plus the MS in Business Analytics, MS in Finance, Executive MBA, and Master of Nonprofit Administration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The University of Notre Dame is a private Catholic research university that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs across eight colleges and more than 75 undergraduate majors. It also operates 30+ world-class research facilities, a network of 12 global academic sites, and continuing/online master's programs, anchored by a teacher-scholar model with an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Product overview

The University of Notre Dame operates as a unified research university portfolio, anchored by a core academic offering of 75+ undergraduate majors and 50+ graduate/professional programs delivered across eight colleges and schools (School of Architecture, College of Arts and Letters, Mendoza College of Business, College of Engineering, Keough School of Global Affairs, the Law School, College of Science, and the Graduate School). Around this academic core, Notre Dame layers specialized programs and research centers—including the IDEA Center (innovation and entrepreneurship), the new Master of Science in Digital Marketing, the Center for Biomedical Discovery under the Bioengineering & Life Sciences (BELS) Initiative, and the Wilma and Peter Veldman Family Psychology Clinic for mental health. Distinct community-facing programs such as the Talk With Your Baby program (Robinson Community Learning Center), the Upward Bound college access program, the Tutor-ND literacy model, and the "New Horizons" Catholic leadership initiative extend the university's mission outward, while research entities like the Harper Cancer Research Institute, Berthiaume Institute for Precision Health, and the NSF-funded SpectrumX center drive technology and scientific innovation. The Global Network of 12 international sites, the Hesburgh Libraries system, the Global Alliance for Laudato Si', and the Notre Dame-IBM Technology Ethics Lab connect these programs globally and ethically, forming an integrated portfolio of education, research, and service grounded in Notre Dame's Catholic mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IDEA Center: University of Notre Dame's fundamental resource for commercialization, entrepreneurial activities, idea development, business formation, prototyping, and student entrepreneurial education.
• Laetare Medal
• Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE)
• Mendoza College of Business
• Keough School of Global Affairs
• College of Arts & Letters
• College of Engineering
• College of Science
• School of Architecture
• The Law School
• The Graduate School
• Wilma and Peter Veldman Family Psychology Clinic

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs
• Graduate and Professional Programs
• Master of Science in Digital Marketing
• IDEA Center
• Global Network
• Hesburgh Libraries
• Center for Biomedical Discovery (BELS Initiative)
• Wilma and Peter Veldman Family Psychology Clinic
• Talk With Your Baby Program
• Upward Bound Program
• "New Horizons" Catholic Leadership Initiative
• Harper Cancer Research Institute
• SpectrumX (NSF Spectrum Innovation Center)
• Global Alliance for Laudato Si'
• Tutor-ND Model
• Notre Dame-IBM Technology Ethics Lab

Quantifiable outcome

• 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio; 91% of classes under 50 students
• +12 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability14 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Artin ImmunologyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by pharmaceutical executive Erik Eglite in 2017 after his daughter Lauren asked about Notre Dame bioengineer Basar Bilgicer's peanut allergy research during a football game. Artin Immunology is commercializing Bilgicer's patented inhibitor technology to prevent allergic immune overreactions. Proof-of-concept studies in humanized mice show success, with clinical trials planned for potential market availability by the end of the decade. The platform could be adapted to shellfish, penicillin, and asthma triggers.
• Carnegie Mellon University (ARPA-H OMEGA team)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarnegie Mellon leads a nine-member multi-university team that secured up to $39.3M in ARPA-H funding to develop OMEGA, a wearable monitoring system for real-time assessment of fetal oxygen delivery during labor. Notre Dame is part of the team alongside Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, UPMC Magee Womens Hospital, University of Pittsburgh, Washington University, University of Pennsylvania, Institute of Photonic Sciences (Spain), and Tyndall National Institute (Ireland).
• Vatican Laudato Si' Center for Higher EducationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNotre Dame partnered with the Vatican's Laudato Si' Center for Higher Education to create the Global Alliance for Laudato Si', a network of universities and research institutions promoting sustainability and integral ecology aligned with Pope Francis's encyclical Laudato si'.
• Levy (Chicago-based hospitality company)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNotre Dame renewed its hospitality partnership with Chicago-based Levy to continue managing food, beverage, and hospitality operations at Notre Dame Stadium, Compton Family Ice Arena, and Purcell Pavilion. The relationship began in 2016 and was renewed following a competitive RFP process, with expanded focus on regional vendor sourcing and sustainability initiatives including food waste reduction through Cultivate Food Rescue.
• Teeling Irish WhiskeycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTeeling Irish Whiskey has partnered with Notre Dame to leverage its 40 million-strong alumni and fan network for brand marketing, launching limited-edition whiskeys tied to iconic Notre Dame football moments. Authentic cultural alignment rather than simple logo placement.
• GuinnesscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGuinness has partnered with Notre Dame establishing community rituals since 2020, leveraging the 40 million-strong alumni/fan network as part of the brand's premiumization strategy.
• Ryoko RainminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLuxury streetwear brand that collaborated with Notre Dame on a limited-edition gameday jacket that sold out in 24 hours, demonstrating the broader appeal of Notre Dame brand partnerships beyond drinks.
• FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe FIA has announced a research collaboration with the University of Notre Dame, focusing on AI's role in preventing online abuse in sport, supported by the FIA Foundation. The project will use AI-enabled solutions, surveys, and policy research to address harassment and promote safer digital communities in sports.
• City of South Bend, IndianaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Bend has been selected as one of 50 finalists (from 33 countries) in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge. The city plans to integrate AI into its 311 call center, partnering with Notre Dame to build a custom AI model while preserving existing human interaction. Each finalist receives $50,000; potential winners eligible for $1M.
• Harvard Medical SchoolflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Notre Dame on a hybrid 3D bioprinting method capable of producing vascular networks at capillary scale (channels under 10 microns). The work, published in Nature Chemical Engineering, was funded through a four-year, $2.6 million NIH grant, addressing a central challenge in tissue engineering.
• Nen (Barcelona-based pediatric digital solutions company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNen announced the launch of Proyecto ABRAZO, its first pediatric oncology clinical trial evaluating Nen's digital cognitive behavioral therapy platform. The study enrolls 150 pediatric oncology patients and caregivers in Puebla, Mexico, in collaboration with Notre Dame, Harper Cancer Research Institute, Una Nueva Esperanza, and Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla.
• Environmental Working Group / PennEnvironmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNotre Dame research is cited by Stephanie Wein of PennEnvironment in testimony before the PA House Consumer Protection Committee documenting PFAS contamination in diapers (23% of 40 brands), cosmetics (47-63%), dental floss, and menstrual products. Joint advocacy for legislative phase-out of PFAS.
• Indiana UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint study found per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS) in nearly 30% of tested reusable feminine hygiene products from North America, South America, and Europe.
• Journal of the American Chemical Society (publication)minorOthersNotre Dame researchers and collaborators published a study identifying how the protein PA2854 functions as a molecular link connecting the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria to the cell wall, with implications for combating antibiotic-resistant pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Salmonella.
• American Council on Education (ACE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe American Council on Education held the third annual convening of its Commission on Faith-Based Colleges and Universities, with Notre Dame participating alongside other presidents from faith-based institutions, addressing civil dialogue and polarization on campuses under the theme 'Learning to Disagree Better'.
• WestEdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with Indiana Department of Education and Notre Dame on approximately $10M federal grant to expand high-impact literacy tutoring in Indiana, especially rural and underserved areas, based on the successful Tutor-ND model.
• NASA / Pratt & Whitney (research references)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer Academy high school students interned at Notre Dame's Aerospace Department, contributing to graduate-level aerospace research that impressed faculty and industry representatives including NASA and Pratt & Whitney. Notre Dame also operates the Pratt & Whitney Center of Excellence (NDTL Propulsion & Power) as a competitively awarded center.
• Partner institutions in Senegal (rice-fish coculturing study)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNotre Dame researchers and partner institutions published a study in Nature Sustainability showing that introducing African Bonytongue and Nile tilapia into rice fields in Senegal's northern river basin reduced schistosomiasis-transmitting snail populations while increasing rice yields by more than 25%, tested across more than 400 rural households.
• Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating institution for the Proyecto ABRAZO pediatric oncology clinical trial in Puebla, Mexico.
• Paramount Coffee / BIGGBY COFFEEcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLongtime sustainability partnership since 1999. Paramount received Notre Dame's Human Rights and Social Responsibility Award at the 3rd Annual Sustainability Celebration for its Farm-Direct sourcing efforts. BIGGBY COFFEE is progressing toward 100% Farm-Direct sourced by end of 2028. Paramount was also named a finalist for the SCA's 2026 Sustainability Award.
• Notre Dame-IBM Technology Ethics LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompetitively awarded center at Notre Dame. Complements the broader Ethics Initiative positioning Notre Dame as a global leader for the study of ethics, fostering moral understanding, interdisciplinary scholarship, and faith-informed dialogue.
• Pete Bevacqua (PGA of America / NBC Sports)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPete Bevacqua has been influential in sports management and broadcasting over the past 25 years, holding roles at CAA, the PGA of America, NBC Sports, and Notre Dame. His leadership has involved significant organizational changes including NBC's Ryder Cup rights deal through 2030.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Georgetown University: Georgetown is the leading Jesuit Catholic research university in the U.S. and the closest analog to Notre Dame: private, faith-rooted, AAU-adjacent, with similarly strong brand and global reach. Direct overlap in mission, student profile, and research portfolio.
• Boston College: Another prominent Jesuit Catholic research university competing directly with Notre Dame for Catholic undergraduate applicants. Comparable residential model, religious identity integration, and academic profile.
• Villanova University: Augustinian Catholic research university with similar size, undergraduate teaching focus, and faith-based mission. Comparable in residential community model and applicant demographics to Notre Dame.
• Marquette University: Jesuit Catholic research university in the Midwest with overlapping applicant pool and similar undergraduate teaching orientation. Less research-intensive but directly comparable mission and student profile.

Broad incumbents

• Northwestern University: Big Ten private research university with overlapping Midwest positioning, similar NCAA athletics profile (including Big Ten rivalry with Notre Dame in some sports), and comparable faculty/research scale. Secular but a clear benchmark for Notre Dame's research ambitions.
• University of Southern California: Large private research university with strong athletics brand, comparable undergraduate admissions profile, and similar brand-partnership monetization approach. Secular but operationally similar at scale.
• Stanford University: Premier private research university benchmark for Notre Dame's R&D aspirations. Comparable in research expenditures, faculty quality, and commercialization ecosystem, though Stanford operates at substantially larger scale.
• Duke University: Elite private research university with similar NCAA athletics prominence, AAU membership, and high-research-expenditure profile. Comparable as a research-and-athletics institution though non-Catholic.
• Vanderbilt University: Private research university with similar size and undergraduate teaching orientation, AAU membership, and Southern-anchor identity. Comparable in residential community model and academic profile.
• Emory University: Private research university with comparable scale, AAU membership, and strong professional schools. Directly relevant comparison for research expenditures and faculty/student ratios.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NotreDame
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NDdotEDU
• Facebookfacebook.com/notredame
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-of-notre-dame
• Instagraminstagram.com/notredame

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds10 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments4 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of Notre Dame