Founded in 1850 by the Society of Mary (the Marianists), a group of visionary leaders who knew that consistent change was necessary for constant growth, the University has grown into a top-tier Catholic university. At the University of Dayton, we learn by doing, because doing transforms education. Whether it's breaking ground on campus to do groundbreaking work with GE Aviation, staying ahead of the economic curve by opening an institute in China or increasing our global foothold by reducing our local footprint, we're rolling up our sleeves and taking action to create a better tomorrow.

The University of Dayton is committed to being an educational community that: 

• offers a broad range of undergraduate programs and selected graduate and continuing education programs; 
• views learning and scholarship as a shared task of discovering, integrating, applying and communicating knowledge; and 
• emphasizes learning and scholarship at the intersections of liberal and professional education, of the disciplines, and of theory and practice. 
  
  

As a comprehensive university, we commit ourselves: to educating students within a vibrant learning community; to strong programs in both liberal arts and sciences and the professional disciplines; to collaboration across disciplinary and organizational boundaries. As a community, we are dedicated to excellence in teaching and seek to share it, critically review and evaluate it, and together transform our practices of learning and teaching. We are also dedicated to excellence in creating new knowledge, integrating this knowledge across disciplinary boundaries, and applying it creatively to meet human needs. We are responsive and serve the needs of our community and region. Our pursuit of learning and scholarship is characterized by academic freedom and professional responsibility.

Why the University of Dayton

Ranked a top-tier university by U.S. News & World Report, the University of Dayton provides challenging academics and opportunities to gain experience in your field of study. Our more than 10,000 students benefit from nationally recognized programs including the entrepreneurship program, which is ranked number 15 in the nation by The Princeton Review. We’re ranked second in the nation among all colleges and universities for the amount of sponsored materials research performed, and many real-world experiences and internships are available with industry leaders and our own University of Dayton Research Institute.

Our welcoming campus works hard to make you feel at home. The University of Dayton has been named a leading university worldwide in learning, living and support services, according to the International Student Barometer – and The Princeton Review called us a "best college". Here are some of the things that we take pride in at the University of Dayton:

• In fiscal year 2017, we had $135.9 million in research sponsorship - making us No. 8 nationally for sponsored research among private four-year U.S. universities that do not perform medical research. To top it off, the University is the No. 1 Catholic university for sponsored engineering research and development - and No. 1 in the nation for federally sponsored materials research and development.
• We are pioneering partnerships with visionary companies. GE Aviation and Emerson built research facilities right on campus so our students and faculty work side-by-side with professionals to create solutions to real-world problems.
• Our entrepreneurship program has ranked among the top 20 in the nation for 11 straight years by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine.
• The Hanley Sustainability Institute provides a distinctive, integrated approach to creating a more sustainable future. UD is home to what's thought to be the largest university composting program in the country, and our master's degree program in renewable and clean energy is an international attraction - bringing three Fulbright scholars to the program at the same time.
• We were among the first American universities to establish a campus in China's Suzhou Industrial Park, home to more than a third of the world's Fortune 500 companies. UD students can study at the China Institute for the same cost as a semester on campus.
  
• We were the first University to establish an undergraduate program in human rights studies, and our Human Rights Center creates positive change through research, education and dialogue.
• Nearly all - 95 percent - of recent University of Dayton graduates report being employed, pursuing a graduate degree or participating in a service program within six months of graduation.