Dominican at a Glance

Dominican University is highly regarded for its academic rigor, intentional affordability and values-based, relationship-centered learning environment. U.S. News & World Report ranks Dominican as follows:

  • #1 Best Value in the Midwest. Ranked first in the prestigious publication's list of "Best Value Schools" in the Midwest. This study looks closely at each school's academic quality and average cost of attendance.
  • #1 in Social Mobility in Illinois. Recognizes Dominican’s success in enrolling and graduating large proportions of economically under-resourced students, helping them secure meaningful career opportunities and earning the institution the top rank in Illinois. Dominican is proud to be the only Hispanic-Serving Institution ranked in the top 5 for the social mobility category in the Midwest.
  • Top 20 in the Midwest. Ranked 20th overall among nearly 160 Regional Midwest Universities.
  • #1 in Undergraduate Teaching in Illinois. This designation recognizes the Dominican faculty’s unusually strong commitment to high quality teaching, not just research and publishing, at the undergraduate level.
Rigorous Education

We offer more than 50 undergraduate degree options, 25 graduate degrees as well as doctoral degrees in library and information science as well as applied social justice. Students benefit from hands-on research opportunities, demanding academics, personal attention and deep interactions in classes that average 16 students.

Career-enhancing Opportunities

Pre-professional programs, multiple master's degrees (some accelerated), multiple locations, full- and part-time schedules, evening classes and certification and endorsement programs.

We offer hundreds of avenues at the undergraduate and graduate levels to explore career interests and experience diverse cultures and international environments. And we organize and support 250-plus projects and learning experiences that contribute effectively to the good of local and global communities.

Top-ranked Hispanic-Serving Institution

Dominican is a leader among the nation’s Hispanic-Serving Institutions, advancing opportunity and ensuring the success of our Latinx and low-income students. As a federally designated HSI since 2011, Dominican has grown from a Hispanic-enrolling institution to a model for how to truly serve today’s diverse Latinx student populations. We are expanding scholarships, reducing equity gaps, creating new pathways to graduate school and careers, and more. As a Top 15 U.S. News regional university, we are the highest ranked HSI in the Midwest. Learn more

Proven Mentors

Professors combine strong academic credentials and passion for teaching with real-world expertise and robust professional connections.

Strategic Partnerships

Combined and dual degree programs through key alliances with the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, McCormick Theological Seminary, Roosevelt University, Illinois Institute of Technology and Loyola University Chicago

Ideal Locations

Scenic main campus on 37 wooded acres in suburban River Forest, minutes from downtown Chicago with access to the city's internships, career opportunities, arts, entertainment and shopping

Accreditations
  • Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools (www.hlcommission.org)
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
  • Committee on Accreditation of the American Library Association
  • Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Social Work Education
  • Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Illinois State Board of Education
  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
  • Accreditation-Continued from the Accreditation Review Commission for the Physician Assistant
University Type

Private, not-for-profit, coed; Master's Colleges & Universities – Larger Programs

Religious Affiliation

Roman Catholic

Origins

Founded in 1901 as St. Clara College in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin; relocated to River Forest, Illinois in 1922 and renamed Rosary College; expanded to become Dominican University in 1997

Fast Facts

Opportunity Index
  • 50+ undergraduate academic programs
  • 35+ student clubs and organizations
  • Six professional and pre-professional programs
  • 25+ master's degrees and two PhDs
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1
  • Fall applicant tuition deposit is refundable until May 1
Global Reach
  • Four continents where Dominican students study
  • Twenty study abroad programs
  • Year of initial study-abroad program (one of the oldest in the nation): 1925
  • 23 nations are represented in the student body
Community Demographics (Fall 2024)
  • 2,724 Undergraduate students
  • 1,194 graduate students 
  • 3,918 total students 
Campus
  • Thirty-acre main campus in River Forest, a residential suburb located ten miles west of downtown Chicago.
  • 939,000 square feet of buildings
  • Four residence halls
  • Two theaters plus rehearsal rooms, art gallery, and fashion and dance studios
  • 70,000+ square-foot central library with more than 300,000 materials
  • Dominican’s Chicago Campus offers a six-story dorm that will be home to 100 students in a vibrant living-learning community, a resource center for up to four concurrent classrooms, on-site support services and more.
  • Classes are also offered at other sites in the Chicago area and online
Tuition and Financial Aid (2024–2025)
  • Undergraduate:  $38,330 per year full time ($1,277 per credit hour part time)
  • Graduate: $225 to $1,100 per credit hour, depending on program
  • Room and board: $11,600 to $13,800 (includes meal plan with flex dollars)
  • For the 2022–2023 academic year, 100% of all incoming freshmen received some form of financial aid with an average scholarship/grant award of $30,203. The average total award, including institutional scholarship/grants, federal grants, state grants, work-study and student loans for freshmen is $35,083.