Top 10 things you may not know about Marquette

1. Our home is Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

(Not Marquette, Michigan 😊) Milwaukee is a great city by a Great Lake and just a 90-minute drive from Chicago. Lake Michigan is a short walk from our campus, and the lakefront features a famous art museum, Summerfest, and loads of parks and beaches. Although Milwaukee is known for beer, brats and festivals, its sense of community and vibrant food scene are getting noticed. Travel + Leisure ranked Milwaukee in the top 5 “Best U.S. Cities for Young Adults” in 2026, and National Geographic listed our hometown in its 2023 exclusive list of “Best of the World” cities!

2. We’re ranked 6th in the country for job placement.

Marquette is ranked sixth nationally and first in Wisconsin for job placement 10 years after graduation (based on Department of Education College Scorecard data). This ranking is a result of our strong relationships with regional and national industry partners, lots of internship and co-op opportunities for students, an enthusiastic alumni network and deep career services support. Check out some of the jobs our students are securing on the You Are Marquette Instagram!

3. Everyone knows a little Latin here.

Our Catholic, Jesuit mission is a part of everything we do as we strive to shape our students to be women and men for and with others. Latin phrases such as cura personalis (care for the whole person) and Ad majorem Dei gloriam (for the greater glory of God) are principles rooted in our Jesuit tradition and inspire our approach to education and life in general. Forty-five Jesuits call Marquette home, 18 worship spaces are available on campus, and over 30 Catholic Masses are celebrated each month. Because Catholicism at its best seeks to be inclusive, Marquette is open to all who share our mission.

4. Our 115,000-plus alumni stay connected and involved.

Get within earshot of a Marquette event and you will hear our rallying cry: We Are Marquette! Our alumni community spans all 50 states and many parts of the globe. It’s rallied to support our students and our campus through Time To Rise, a fundraising campaign that exceeded $800 million to help expand student opportunities, support our teacher-scholars, foster innovation, and transform our campus environment. Our award-winning Marquette Mentors Program is in its 15th year, and it connects students with alumni mentors from Alaska to London to provide career exploration, job shadowing and networking.

5. We’re home to orcs, goblins, elves and quidditch.

Marquette’s Raynor Library is home to the J.R.R. Tolkien Collection, which includes original manuscripts and drafts of three of the author’s most celebrated books — The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and Farmer Giles of Ham — and other Tolkien memorabilia. Beyond the Harry Potter-inspired quidditch, we also have over 40 club and recreation sports and nearly 300 student organizations — there’s truly something for everyone.

6. Marquette is No 1.  

Marquette University has been recognized by The Princeton Review as the nation’s No. 1 college most engaged in community service two years in a row (2025-2026)! As a Catholic. Jesuit university, we are so proud of this ranking, yet even more proud of our students, faculty and staff who continue to provide over 100,000 hours a year serving those in need throughout the world.

7. We earn high marks from U.S. News & World Report. 

The national publication ranks Marquette in the top 20% of America’s Best Colleges, top 20 for Best Undergraduate Teaching, top 50 for Most Innovative Schools and No. 59 for Best Value. Marquette prides itself on its strong liberal arts education where every undergraduate student’s academic experience is grounded in the Marquette Core Curriculum. This foundation provides the personally transformative studies that have been a hallmark of Jesuit education since the 16th century.   

8. We’re the first Catholic university in the world to educate women alongside men. 

In 1909, Marquette President James McCabe, S.J., began to enroll women in Bachelor of Arts classes at a new summer school. Despite initial pushback, his bold action paved the way for gender equity at Marquette as the first Catholic institution of higher education to admit both men and women into its core undergraduate academic program.

9. There’s history on campus dating back to the year 1420. 

St. Joan of Arc Chapel, originally constructed in early 15th century France, was rebuilt brick by brick in the heart of campus in the 1960s and then dedicated in 1966. This medieval treasure remains a favorite spot for students, alumni and curious travelers alike. And its Tuesday night Masses have been celebrated by generations of Marquette students. 

10. We’re pretty good at basketball.

But you already knew that. We also cheer on our 15 other NCAA Division I athletics teams that compete in the Big East, each offering a dynamic experience for student-athletes and spectators. Go Golden Eagles!