Which is better for finance: Colgate or Notre Dame?

The biggest practical tradeoff is scale and recruiting reach versus a smaller, more intimate liberal arts setting. For finance specifically, Notre Dame tends to have the clearer advantage because it has a larger business ecosystem, more direct access to finance recruiting, and an especially visible alumni network in major cities like New York and Chicago. Colgate can absolutely place students into finance, but the path is usually more self-directed and less built around an undergraduate business structure.

At Notre Dame, the Mendoza College of Business gives you a more obvious on-campus route into finance-related coursework, clubs, alumni mentorship, and employer recognition. The alumni network is one of the school’s biggest assets, and in finance that matters a lot because internships and first jobs often come through relationships, informational interviews, and alumni referrals.

Colgate’s strengths are different. It offers a close-knit campus, strong academics, and a loyal alumni base, and students from selective liberal arts schools do break into banking, asset management, and related fields. But because Colgate is not built around an undergraduate business school, you may need to be more proactive about finding finance experiences, shaping your coursework, and networking off campus earlier.

If your main question is which school gives you the better platform for finance recruiting and network strength, I’d lean Notre Dame. Colgate is still a good option, especially if you strongly prefer the liberal arts environment, but for finance alone, Notre Dame is usually the more advantageous choice.