University of Dayton

University of Dayton is a private Catholic research university located in Dayton, Ohio. Founded in 1850 by the Society of Mary, it is one of three Marianist universities in the United States. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across the arts and sciences, business, engineering, education, health sciences, and law. Classified among research universities with very high research activity, it is known for its strong emphasis on community engagement, experiential learning, and residential campus life. Students are drawn to University of Dayton for its faith-based educational tradition, research opportunities, and active campus environment in an urban Midwestern setting.

University of Dayton was founded in 1850 by the Society of Mary in Dayton, Ohio. The institution began on July 1, 1850, as St. Mary’s School for Boys, established by Marianist missionary Leo Meyer on a hilltop farm known as Nazareth. In the decades that followed, the school expanded its curriculum and facilities, adding collegiate programs and constructing key campus buildings in the late nineteenth century. In 1882, it was incorporated by the State of Ohio with authority to confer degrees, and in 1920 it was officially renamed University of Dayton to reflect its broader mission and connection to the city. During the twentieth century, University of Dayton expanded its academic divisions, research initiatives, and campus footprint, including the opening of the University of Dayton Arena in 1969. Today, University of Dayton is recognized as a Catholic research university with national reach and strong community ties.