Fordham University

New York, NY · founded 1841 · 16,000 students · private research university · Atlantic 10

Known for: Fordham is a prestigious Jesuit university in New York City, renowned for its strong liberal arts core, highly ranked law and business schools, and its historic Rose Hill campus in the Bronx.

Rankings

U.S. News national: #72
QS World: #501
Times Higher Education: #401
Forbes: #138

Top programmes

Law
Business
Theology
English
History
Sociology

Notable alumni

Vince Lombardi — Legendary NFL coach
Denis Leary — Actor and comedian
Andrew Cuomo — Former Governor of New York
Patricia Clarkson — Academy Award-nominated actress
John F. Kennedy — 35th President of the United States (attended briefly)
Taylor Schilling — Actress known for 'Orange Is the New Black'
Donald Trump — 45th President of the United States (attended briefly)
Mary Higgins Clark — Bestselling author

Traditions

Midnight Madness (basketball season kickoff)
Spring Weekend concert
President's Ball
Ram Van shuttle between campuses

If Fordham University were…

As a food: a Sunday gravy at an Italian grandmother's house in the Bronx — Traditional, hearty, takes hours to make, and served with a side of Catholic guilt if you don't finish your plate. Fordham is that gravy—old-school, comforting, and unapologetically rooted in its neighborhood.
As an athlete: Eli Manning — Steady, dependable, not the flashiest but gets the job done when it counts, and beloved by a specific tribe of loyalists. Fordham grads are the Eli Mannings of the professional world—solid, prepared, and quietly competen
As a person alive today: Stephen Colbert — Jesuit-educated, whip-smart, deeply Catholic but with a sharp sense of irony about it, and capable of code-switching between highbrow and populist. Fordham produces Colberts—people who can quote Aquinas and still crush i
As a historical figure: Thomas More — Devout, principled, educated in the classical tradition, and willing to suffer for his beliefs. Fordham's Jesuit core curriculum is basically training you to be a modern Thomas More—minus the beheading, hopefully.
As a movie or TV show: The Sopranos — Set in the outer boroughs, steeped in Catholic guilt and Italian-American culture, grappling with morality and ambition. Fordham students live in the Sopranos universe—minus the mob hits, plus more philosophy seminars.
As a US president: Joe Biden — Catholic, working-class roots, traditional values, and a career built on steady competence rather than flash. Fordham is the Joe Biden of universities—dependable, faith-driven, and a little old-fashioned.
As a city: Dublin — Catholic, literary, full of pubs and serious conversations about philosophy, and punching above its weight culturally. Fordham is New York's Dublin—rooted in tradition but scrappily ambitious.
As an element: Iron — Strong, foundational, essential to building structures, and literally what the Bronx was built on during the industrial age. Fordham students are iron—solid, dependable, and the backbone of whatever they build.
As a car: 1995 BMW 5 Series — A well-tailored German sedan that navigates Manhattan with Jesuit discipline and pre-professional purpose. Fordham combines old-world tradition with urban pragmatism, producing alumni who know both theology and corporate

Campus life

Life is split between the traditional, leafy Rose Hill campus in the Bronx and the modern, vertical Lincoln Center campus in Manhattan, offering both classic collegiate and fast-paced urban experiences. The Jesuit tradition fosters a strong sense of community and service.