Notre Dame vs Fordham for investment banking recruiting: which is better for breaking into Wall Street?

For investment banking, Notre Dame usually gives you the stronger overall platform. It has a very well-established alumni network in finance, solid on-campus recruiting for high-finance roles, and a national reputation that tends to travel better across banks and offices. Fordham can absolutely place students into Wall Street, especially because of its New York location, but the path is often more self-directed and less structured than at Notre Dame.

Notre Dame tends to fit the student who wants a more built-out pipeline into banking. The finance and business ecosystem is strong, alumni are known for being especially responsive, and there is a real culture of students aiming for selective finance roles. That matters because investment banking recruiting starts early, and having upperclassmen, clubs, and alumni who already know the process can make a noticeable difference.

Fordham makes the most sense for a student who wants to be physically close to New York firms and is ready to hustle constantly for networking, part-time internships during the semester, and off-campus opportunities. Being in the city is a real advantage, especially for coffee chats, boutique internships, and staying plugged into the market.

If your question is specifically which school gives you the better shot at both internships and full-time banking recruiting, I would lean Notre Dame. Fordham can work very well for a student who is aggressive, organized, and wants to leverage NYC every week, but Notre Dame usually offers the cleaner and more reliable route into Wall Street recruiting.