Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Dominican University of California #368 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $95,437, placing Dominican University of California in the 93.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Dominican University of California sits in the 99.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn about $33,304 more than similar students at comparable institutions. --- Students at Dominican University of California achieve median earnings that rank notably among nonprofit four-year institutions, driven in large part by the university's concentration in health-oriented programs that connect graduates to stable, in-demand careers. The institution's standing for earnings beyond expectations reflects how well Dominican University of California converts its focused academic mission into durable financial outcomes for its graduates.
Azimuth ranks Dominican University of California #368 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university located in San Rafael, CA, Dominican University of California enrolls roughly 1,114 undergraduates. The university's freshman retention rate is 85.5% and its six-year graduation rate is 78.0%, reflecting a student body that largely completes what it starts. The composite is anchored in return on investment. Azimuth ranks Dominican University of California #27 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $95,437, and earn about $33,304 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Dominican University of California in the 99.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program concentration in Health — a field with strong regional labor-market demand in the San Francisco Bay Area — contributes meaningfully to these outcomes. Access and affordability shape the composite's lower pillars. Dominican University of California sits in the 20.7 percentile for access and the 5.3 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the cost structure typical of smaller private institutions in a high-cost state. 31.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 30.6% are first-generation college students — a meaningful share given the institution's size and private-nonprofit standing. Mobility sits in the 56.3 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, supported by the career pathways that health-focused programs tend to open.
Dominican University of California's published cost of attendance is $71,751. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $24,572, middle-income families pay around $30,313, and higher-income families pay approximately $43,317. Azimuth ranks Dominican University of California #1350 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Dominican University participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the university evaluates demonstrated financial need to determine aid eligibility. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry: net price and sticker price can differ substantially, and understanding that gap is essential when comparing institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $54,119; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $95,437, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Dominican University of California is a strong fit for students drawn to health sciences, nursing, and allied health fields who want a small private nonprofit university in San Rafael, CA, with a clear pathway to stable, in-demand careers. Graduates earn in the 93.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Dominican University of California sits in the 99.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $33,304 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for a small institution concentrated in health-oriented programs. The access profile is notable: 31.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 30.6% are first-generation college students, and Dominican University of California sits in the 92.0 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure — a sign that the institution delivers for students who need financial returns to matter. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Health and related fields, so students whose interests align with health, science, or applied professional programs will find the strongest outcomes; and the higher-income net price of $43,317 means families who cannot rely heavily on need-based aid should weigh total cost carefully against median debt of $27,000 and the earnings trajectory the degree supports.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Dominican University Of California hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
115 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
45 graduates
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
19 graduates
Biology, General
44 graduates
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
7 graduates
Dominican University of California's program mix is anchored in health and applied sciences — a signature consistent with the institution's identity as a small private nonprofit university in the San Francisco Bay Area. Health fields form the core of degree output, with Business accounting for 11% of graduates, followed by Arts at 3% and Social Sciences at 2%.
Across 12 programs, 6 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, serving roughly 377 students annually. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in health-adjacent and business programs.
Nursing, with 115 graduates, leads the institution for median earnings four years after enrollment at $149,622, and Azimuth ranks it #2 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business Administration follows with 45 graduates earning $88,913 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #95 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General and Biology, General round out the high-earning tier, with Azimuth ranking Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General #10 and Biology, General #61 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Nursing represents the institution's highest aggregate return program — combining meaningful cohort scale with strong earnings to anchor Dominican University of California's economic profile.
On the enrollment side, Nursing is the largest program with 115 graduates, and Azimuth ranks it #2 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business Administration and Biology, General also draw substantial cohorts — 45 and 44 graduates respectively — with Azimuth ranking Business Administration #95 and Biology, General #61 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Health-oriented programs such as Nursing are direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect labor-market outcomes; fields like Computer Game Programming are more likely grad-school-dependent, where four-year figures undercount longer-term trajectory. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with national labor-market trends.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Dominican University of California's published cost of attendance is $71,751. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $24,572, middle-income families pay around $30,313, and higher-income families pay approximately $43,317.
Azimuth ranks Dominican University of California #1350 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Dominican University participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the university evaluates demonstrated financial need to determine aid eligibility.
The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry: net price and sticker price can differ substantially, and understanding that gap is essential when comparing institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $54,119; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $95,437, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Dominican University of California earn median 4-year earnings of $95,437, placing Dominican University of California in the 93.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $33,304 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Dominican University of California in the 99.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Dominican University of California #27 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. For graduates who do not pursue a degree, CA's no-degree earnings baseline of $34,672 — the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential — provides a useful reference point for the lifetime value a Dominican University of California degree represents.
The earnings pattern at Dominican University of California is anchored in health and applied professional fields. Nursing is the standout program by aggregate return, combining meaningful cohort scale with strong four-year earnings.
Nursing, the largest program by graduate count with 115 graduates, delivers median four-year earnings of $149,622, and Azimuth ranks it #2 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Business Administration and Biology, General round out the program lineup, with 45 and 44 graduates earning median four-year earnings of $88,913 and $75,913 respectively — Azimuth ranks Business Administration #95 and Biology, General #61 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The concentration in Health fields helps explain the institution's earnings profile relative to peers, as graduates move into in-demand roles where hiring demand in CA's labor market remains consistently strong.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Tulsa Similar quality tier (#10751 ranked) | OK | 62% | $61,408 | #10751 | Compare |
University Of Detroit Mercy Similar quality tier (#10774 ranked) | MI | 75% | $71,030 | #10774 | Compare |
Good Samaritan College Of Nursing And Health Science Similar quality tier (#10725 ranked) | OH | 46% | $66,111 | #10725 | Compare |
Colby College Similar quality tier (#10788 ranked) | ME | 7% | $80,490 | #10788 | Compare |
Gallaudet University Similar quality tier (#10801 ranked) | DC | 58% | $43,101 | #10801 | Compare |
