Dominican University

Dominican University admits 79.8% of applicants, meaning roughly 4 in 5 students who apply receive an offer of admission. This places Dominican in the Open Access category (admission rates above 75%), indicating that most academically qualified students can expect admission.

The peer median admission rate of 70.6% shows that Dominican is slightly more accessible than typical institutions in its comparison group, with an 9.2 percentage point higher acceptance rate. This open access approach aligns with Dominican's mission to serve diverse student populations, including substantial shares of first-generation and Pell-eligible students.

For prospective students, Dominican's high acceptance rate means that academic qualifications, while important, are less likely to be the primary barrier to admission compared to highly selective institutions. Students should focus on demonstrating fit with Dominican's Catholic values and career-oriented academic programs.

The accessibility of admission makes Dominican a realistic option for students across a broad range of academic profiles, though students should still meet basic preparation requirements for their intended program of study. This admission profile supports Dominican's role as an opportunity-creating institution for students seeking strong post-graduation outcomes without the uncertainty of highly competitive admission processes.

Dominican University's published cost of attendance reaches $44,414 annually, including $37,844 in tuition and fees, $12,552 for room and board, and $1,200 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays significantly less after financial aid, with a net price of $15,113 representing $29,301 in average financial aid savings.

This net price falls $12,030 below the peer median of $27,143, indicating that Dominican's financial aid strategy results in below-average costs for enrolled students despite the private nonprofit pricing structure. The substantial gap between sticker price and net price demonstrates Dominican's commitment to making education financially accessible for students from diverse economic backgrounds, aligning with the institution's Catholic mission of serving underrepresented populations.

Dominican's pricing model effectively uses institutional aid to reduce costs for students across income levels, with particularly generous support for lower-income families. Students and families should focus on net price rather than sticker price when evaluating affordability, as Dominican's financial aid approach creates substantial cost reductions for most enrolled students.

The net price advantage compared to peer institutions makes Dominican competitively positioned in the regional higher education market for students seeking private education benefits at manageable costs.

Dominican University graduates demonstrate steady earnings growth from early to mid-career phases, with median earnings rising from $47,907 six years after enrollment to $57,407 at eight years and $60,327 at ten years, representing 25.9% growth from the six-year mark. These outcomes are based on substantial cohorts of 921 graduates at six years, 938 at eight years, and 874 at ten years, providing high confidence in the reported earnings figures across Dominican's academic programs.

The institution generates $26,646 in earnings beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing Dominican at the 96.5th percentile for earnings uplift and qualifying for top 5% recognition in this critical performance metric. This exceptional performance indicates that Dominican's educational approach, career services, and program quality substantially enhance graduate outcomes beyond what student demographics would predict.

Low-income graduates earn $45,700, demonstrating strong economic mobility outcomes for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Earnings span from $39,029 at the 25th percentile to $81,636 at the 75th percentile, reflecting differences in program choice and career trajectory.

Approximately 29.5% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both workforce entry and advanced education pathways.

Dominican University offers 11 bachelor's degree programs with sufficient federal earnings data for analysis and ranking. Accounting Technology ranks #91 nationally, producing 22 graduates with exceptional median earnings of $76,672 and a strong value score of 67.3.

Adult Health Nursing ranks #256 nationally but represents the largest health program with 51 graduates earning $63,005. Business Administration and Management is Dominican's largest program overall, graduating 69 students with median earnings of $59,552 and ranking #118 nationally and #4 in Illinois.

Natural Sciences ranks #2 nationally and #1 in Illinois, graduating 22 students with median earnings of $47,987 and an excellent value score of 75.0. Psychology General ranks #89 nationally and #5 in Illinois, graduating 42 students with median earnings of $47,929.

Criminology ranks #19 nationally and #2 in Illinois, graduating 32 students with median earnings of $48,026. These programs demonstrate Dominican's strength in professional preparation across health, business, and social science disciplines, with several programs achieving top state rankings despite the university's accessible admission profile.