University of Dayton

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Rankings & Lists

Students Say - Academics
The University of Dayton, a school "known for friendly students, strong academics, and Flyer basketball," is "academically challenging yet unpretentious [and] casual yet fun as hell." Students at this midsize Catholic school enjoy a "relaxed atmosphere. Academics are important at Dayton, but people aren't engaged in cut-throat rivalries with people to get ahead in the classroom. If you're struggling, it's easy to find someone to offer a helping hand." One student observes, "Dayton is about academics, but the school also stresses getting to know the people you study with. I thought the community aspect they repeated endlessly during my visit was just a way to get me to enroll at Dayton, but everyone is genuinely interested" in making sure that overall everyone around them has "a good college experience." Both academics and service "are taken very seriously" at UD. One undergrad notes, "You earn what you deserve. As long as you work hard, and your teachers can see that, you won't have a problem." Top programs include "a great pre-med program," "a wonderful engineering department," "an amazing teacher education program," and an "awesome business school" that includes the Davis Center for Portfolio Management, a "student-run fund that invests more than $11 million of the university's endowment." The number of options is unusual for an institution with such a small-school feel; students describe UD as "small enough that you get to know people very well, and you are always seeing someone you know, yet big enough that there are always new people to meet."

Students Say - Campus Life
On top of great academic programs, the University of Dayton offers the full college experience-exciting athletic events, good dorm life, and the Ghetto, one student writes, alluding to UD's well-known student neighborhood, where "Porch sitting is a must on sunny days." One student explains, "Porches are symbolic of UD. Everyone sits out on the porch. It's one huge neighborhood where everyone is welcome to party or to chill. And when we party, everyone leaves their door wide open for anyone to come." As one student puts it, "Community is probably the first word that comes to the majority of the student body's minds." UD is situated near "a poverty-stricken area," but students point out that "It's never necessary to leave campus, even on the weekends," so the neighborhood isn't as large a factor as it might be. One student writes, "Going out to eat and seeing movies is the basic activity for when we get bored of hanging out at each other's houses on campus, but normally, we are content with going to the bars, going to house parties, or just staying in to watch a movie on the weekends...it just depends on the mood." And let's not forget Dayton basketball, "the gem of the community." True to its Marianist tradition, UD also has "the largest campus ministry in the country. We help both the local and global community with things ranging from one-time service days to immersion trips and even an entire year of service."

Students Say - Student Body
Many will say that the typical UD student comes from an upper-middle class suburb, went to a Catholic high school, and owns a North Face jacket, one student writes. "However, I know quite a few people who don't fit that description, and I think compared to similar schools, UD is much more diverse. Even though many people come from affluent backgrounds, many are also in need of a lot of financial aid, and it doesn't really matter. The idea of community and inclusiveness really helps everyone feel united." The typical undergrad here tends to be "semi-religious, overly friendly, welcoming, and accepting of the few diverse students who are here." He or she also "loves UD basketball, community service, beer, and most of all, holding the door for the person behind them." Because of the school's Catholic focus, "The majority of students are Catholic, and some students who are not Catholic feel that the university incorporates too much religion in service-type activities."

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