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Dominican University

Private Nonprofit Graduate Strong 77/100

Dominican University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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River Forest, Illinois

About Dominican University

Dominican University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in River Forest, Illinois. It enrolls 2,561 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: dom.edu

Acceptance: 90.3%
Graduation: 61.5%
Net Price: $11,745
Median Earnings (10yr): $60,327
Enrollment: 2,561
Student : Faculty: 12:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

77/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 52

Value 92

Affordability 87

Selectivity 27

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 90.3%, Dominican University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

90.3%

Open

SAT Range (25th–75th)

880 – 1100

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

16 – 26

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Dominican University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 15.5 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Dominican University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $11,745 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$11,745

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

52%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

50%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees: $38,978
Room & Board (on-campus): $12,716
Room & Board (off-campus): $12,716
Books & Supplies: $1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus): $850
Other Expenses (off-campus): $1,350
Total Cost of Attendance: $43,891

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$9,759
$30,001 – $48,000

$9,014
$48,001 – $75,000

$11,891
$75,001 – $110,000

$16,851
Over $110,000

$17,963

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$4,750

10% percentile

$7,500

25% percentile

$24,411

Median percentile

$27,000

75% percentile

$32,000

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $19,500 ↓ $4,911

No Pell $15,625 ↓ $8,786

Dependent students $19,000 ↓ $5,411

Independent students $14,900 ↓ $9,511

Female students $18,750 ↓ $5,661

Male students $18,750 ↓ $5,661

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,750, less than completers ($24,411), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

62% of full-time students who enrolled at Dominican University graduate within six years, and 79% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

62%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

79%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Dominican University earn a median of $60,327 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$60,327

Earning > $25K

83%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$46,300

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$57,300

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$45,700

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$50,200

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$52,600

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $11,000, about 19% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 20.4 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 86% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Dominican University is home to 2,561 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 51% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

2,561

Part-Time

First-Generation

51%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

Hispanic 69.2% 1,773

White 18.2% 466

Black 5.9% 150

Asian 3.1% 78

Other 1.3% 34

International 0.4% 11

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Dominican University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large Suburb River Forest, Illinois

Housing

Partly residential 520 beds available

Adult Learners

6% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

Designation

Religiously affiliated

What You Can Study

Dominican University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 63 distinct programs across 22 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

10 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Marketing $69K ($50K–$93K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)

2 Programs

Library Science

Library Science and Administration $37K ($23K–$52K)
Library Science and Administration $37K ($23K–$52K)

2 Programs

Public Administration

Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)
Human $49K ($35K–$63K)

6 Programs

Health

Allied Health Diagnostic $71K ($51K–$96K)
Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Health/Medical Preparatory $62K ($43K–$83K)

7 Programs

Interdisciplinary Studies

Natural Sciences $58K ($37K–$80K)
Dispute Resolution
Nutrition Sciences $60K ($43K–$77K)

2 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Neurobiology $62K ($41K–$89K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Dominican University is 12:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

12:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Endowment

$115M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$69,786

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

143 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	54	38%	$76,921
Associate Professors	34	24%	$64,884
Assistant Professors	32	22%	$67,903
Instructors	3	2%	$55,770
Lecturers	20	14%	$63,973

Pros & Cons of Dominican University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Dominican University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body

CONS

No clear weaknesses in the data.

Best for: Based on the data, Dominican University is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dominican University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Dominican University.

Is Dominican University hard to get into?

Dominican University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 90.3%.

What is the acceptance rate at Dominican University?

Dominican University has an acceptance rate of 90.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Dominican University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Dominican University scored between 880 and 1100 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

What ACT score do you need for Dominican University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Dominican University scored between 16 and 26 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Dominican University cost?

The average net price after aid at Dominican University is $11,745 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Dominican University worth it?

Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $60,327 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $11,745 per year. That's roughly 5.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Dominican University known for?

Dominican University is best known for its programs in Library Science and Administration, Social Work, Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Dominican University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Dominican University are $60,327, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Dominican University accredited?

Yes. Dominican University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend Dominican University?

Dominican University enrolls 2,561 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Dominican University?

Dominican University graduates 62% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Dominican University a public or private college?

Dominican University is a Private Nonprofit institution.

Where is Dominican University located?

Dominican University is located in River Forest, Illinois.

What programs does Dominican University offer?

Dominican University offers 63 distinct programs. The most popular include Library Science and Administration, Social Work, Teacher Education (K-12).

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Dominican University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Dominican University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.