<p>By Jay Mathews
Newsweek</p>
<p>HOTTEST LEGENDARY UNIVERSITY
University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind.
As proof that Notre Dame doesn't rest on its reputation, the well-known nonprofit Education Trust in 2005 praised it for strengthening graduation rates by set-ting up special chemistry classes for low-performing students. But old values and habits are at the core of this proudly Roman Catholic university. (Only 15 percent of the 8,300 undergrads are non-Catholics.) Most students live on campus, usually in the same dorm all four years. Some residence halls have their own fight songs and mascots for intramural competitions. Ninety minutes before each Fighting Irish football clash, thousands line the route the marching band follows to the stadium.</p>