Dominican University Tops Illinois, 3rd in the Midwest for Value, Social Mobility of Students in New U.S. News and World Report Rankings

River Forest, IL—Dominican University continues to be the top school for educational value, boosting the socio-economic status of its graduates and overall excellence, according to new rankings from U.S. News and World Report’s prestigious 2026 Best Colleges report.

The university maintained its multi-year standing as #1 in Illinois for Best Value and was ranked #3 in the Midwest out of more than 160 regional colleges and universities, according to the report released today.

The Best Value category examines a school’s academic quality and the percentage of full-time undergraduates receiving needs-based financial aid, among other factors. Closing equity gaps and ensuring that all students have access to higher education so they can be positive agents of change is central to Dominican’s mission. One hundred percent of Dominican undergraduate students receive some form of financial aid in order to complete their education. 

Dominican also maintained its #1 position in Illinois for Social Mobility, which measures the university’s commitment to providing students with an impactful education and the career readiness that will help them climb the socio-economic ladder. Among Midwest colleges and universities, Dominican ranked third for ensuring social mobility. 

These rankings reflect Dominican’s long-standing commitment to social mobility and student success. At Dominican, internships and career preparation are emphasized, and students are required to complete at least one internship experience, ensuring their readiness for the workforce after graduation. 

For overall academic quality and graduate success, Dominican placed #3 in Illinois and #25 in the Midwest among U.S. News and World Report’s Best Regional Universities.

"Dominican University’s recognition as a top regional university and the #1 institution in Illinois for both value and social mobility reaffirms the extraordinary and tireless work of our faculty, staff and students,” said Dr. Glena G. Temple, president of Dominican University. “These distinctions also reflect our ongoing commitment to offering a transformative, affordable and accessible education that empowers and uplifts our students, preparing them for a future of service—with compassion and purpose.”

U.S. News & World Report bases its rankings on a system that evaluates several key indicators, including academic excellence, student outcomes, graduation and retention rates, assessment by institutional peers and high school counselors, student-faculty ratio, financial resources and standardized test scores of selected students.

About Dominican University
Founded in 1901, Dominican University is a comprehensive, coeducational Catholic institution with campuses in River Forest and Chicago. The university offers an associate of arts in liberal arts and sciences; bachelor’s and master’s degrees through the Rosary College of Arts, Education, and Sciences, the College of Business, Information Studies, and Technology, and the Borra College of Health Sciences; and doctoral degrees in information studies and applied social justice.

As Chicago's premier Catholic Hispanic-Serving Institution, Dominican is consistently recognized as a leader in academic excellence and value. U.S. News & World Report ranks Dominican University in the top 25 of Midwest regional master’s level universities, and #1 in Illinois for Best Value and ensuring the social mobility of its graduates.