Overview
Enrollment
| Location | River Forest, Illinois |
| Online | dom.edu |
| School Type | Private 4 Year |
| Setting | Large Suburban |
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Size | Small |
| Status | Non-profit |
| On Campus Housing | Yes |
| Level of Study | Undergrad/Graduate |
Dominican University occupies a suburban 30-acre campus in River Forest, Illinois, located 10 miles west of downtown Chicago and accessible via public transportation. The institution, founded in 1901 as St. Clara College, operates in the Catholic Dominican tradition and features Gothic-style academic buildings centered around a quadrangle. The private university maintains a selective undergraduate admission process and offers degree programs through four primary academic schools, with notable strengths in business, information science, and social work. The Parmer School of Business and the School of Information Studies are particularly recognized for their graduate programs, while the university's social justice emphasis shapes many of its academic offerings. Students are required to live on campus for their first two years, with housing available in five residence halls that accommodate approximately half of the undergraduate population.
Ratings
Overall
Academics
Resources
Outcomes
Value
Dominican is rated within the top 49% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 6 out of 10. Learn how ratings are calculated
Rankings
Rankings for Dominican University within the 2025 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.
#573 in Best Colleges in the U.S.
#393 in Best Private Colleges in the U.S.
#28 in Best Colleges in Illinois
#21 in Best Private Colleges in Illinois
#263 in Best Value Colleges in the U.S.
#20 in Best Value Colleges in Illinois
View the CollegeSimply ranking methodology.
Getting In
Admission Standards
| SAT | 934/1140 |
| ACT | 17/22 |
| GPA | 3.74 |
Applications Accepted
| Applications Due | Aug 31, 2025 |
| Applicant Competition | Very Low |
| Application Fee | $0 |
Annual Cost to Attend
Tuition
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books and Supplies | $1,200 |
| Other Fees | $650 |
| Room and Board | $12,552 |
| Budget for Other Expenses | $850 |
| Total One Year Cost | $52,446 |
Outcomes
Average Salary After 10 Years
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate
Popular Areas of Study
| Subject | Percent of Class |
|---|---|
| Business | 29% |
| Social Sciences | 16% |
| Psychology | 10% |
| Visual and Performing Arts | 9% |
| Communication | 7% |
Other Colleges to Consider
Students considering Dominican are frequently interested in these similar colleges.
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=148496 IPEDS survey data for Dominican University.
Current students may use the Dominican University GPA calculator to determine their current college GPA.
Last updated February 24, 2025