The University of Notre Dame du Lac 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". In the 2025–2026 academic year 13,042 students attended Notre Dame, making it the eighth largest Catholic university in terms of enrollment in the U.S. 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.