Fordham University was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York as St. John's College, placed in the care of the Society of Jesus shortly thereafter, and has since become an independent institution under a lay Board of Trustees which describes the university as "in the Jesuit tradition." The University is composed of four undergraduate colleges and six graduate schools, including the Fordham School of Law and the Fordham Graduate School of Social Service.

University's academic ideals are drawn from its Jesuit influences. Fordham University promotes a Jesuit principle known as cura personalis, which fosters a faculty and administration respect for the individual student and their uniqueness, and the Jesuit principle magis which intends to inspire service and strive for excellence in all aspects of life, even beyond the academic.

Enrollment
The University enrolls 14,544 students. Of the 7,950 undergraduates, 3,845 live in University-managed housing. There are 6,594 graduate and professional students, of whom 208 live in University-managed housing. All students are enrolled at 10 schools of the University.

Sports
Fordham sponsors 23 men’s and women’s varsity sports teams. The Fordham Rams are members of the NCAA Division I and compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, indoor and outdoor track, rowing, soccer, softball, squash, swimming and diving, tennis, volleyball, and water polo.

Student Services
The Department of Student Services  offers a variety of resources and programs to support students in their academic achievement, educational goals, personal growth, and professional development. Students are encouraged to take advantage of these services and are actively engaged with administrators in the planning process, from the development of new programs discussed in small and informal focus groups, to formally administered assessment instruments.