Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Dominican University #374 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $59,507, placing Dominican University in the 44.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Dominican University sits in the 92.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Dominican University #787 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Students at Dominican University earn more than similar students at comparable institutions, a pattern that holds across the university's business-led program mix and reflects consistent graduate outcomes relative to cost. That earnings advantage, combined with a strong mobility ranking, positions Dominican University as a reliable path to upward economic progress for students across income backgrounds.
Azimuth ranks Dominican University #374 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in River Forest, IL, Dominican University enrolls roughly 2,561 undergraduates. Retention stands at 77.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 55.3%, reflecting solid degree-completion performance for an institution of its size and mission. Where Dominican University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Dominican University #486 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $59,507, and earn about $14,766 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Dominican University in the 92.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's Business-leaning program mix anchors much of this return advantage, channeling a meaningful share of graduates into fields with consistent hiring demand and solid mid-career pay. Access and affordability shape the composite's lower pillars. Dominican University admits about 90.3% of applicants, with 51.5% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 50.7% identifying as first-generation college students — a profile that reflects the university's Catholic, liberal-arts-rooted mission of serving a mixed enrollment in the Chicago metropolitan area. Dominican University sits in the 77.1 percentile for access and the 77.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, with mobility outcomes in the 46.9 percentile — a composite picture of an institution that delivers strong graduate earnings relative to its peer set while continuing to serve a broad, cost-sensitive student population.
Dominican University's published cost of attendance is $43,891. Net price by income band reflects the university's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $9,759, middle-income families pay around $11,891, and higher-income families pay approximately $17,963. Azimuth ranks Dominican University #329 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's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid applied to close the gap between published cost and family contribution. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility for need-based aid, and work-study is available as part of the aid package. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,411, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $19,865; 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 $59,507, median federal debt of $24,411 projects to a monthly payment of about $276 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Dominican University is a strong fit for students drawn to business, health, and applied professional fields who want a private nonprofit university experience in River Forest, IL, with a program mix oriented toward career-ready outcomes and a student body that skews toward first-generation and Pell-eligible learners. Graduates earn in the 44.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Dominican University sits in the 92.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $14,766 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students weighing long-term return on investment at a smaller private institution. The access profile is broad. 51.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 50.7% are first-generation college students, and Dominican University sits in the 58.7 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. For families weighing net price, median student debt at graduation is $24,411, which provides a concrete anchor for planning. Fit depends on two realistic filters: Dominican University's program portfolio centers on Business and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes. Students seeking a large research university environment or highly specialized STEM programs will find a better match elsewhere.
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
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Dominican University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Computer Science
18 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
36 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
11 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
28 graduates
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
11 graduates
Dominican University's program mix is anchored in Business, with meaningful enrollment across health, social sciences, and education — a portfolio consistent with the university's identity as a mission-driven private nonprofit in the Chicago suburbs. Business accounts for 19% of graduates, followed by Social Sciences at 11% and Education at 4%.
Across 28 programs serving roughly 490 students annually, 13 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold — a focused portfolio where a handful of programs define the institution's economic signature. Nursing anchors Dominican University's strongest aggregate return, combining meaningful cohort scale with solid four-year earnings — the combination that drives the most economic value for the broadest number of graduates.
Psychology, General is the largest program by graduate count, with 42 graduates earning median earnings of $51,093 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks it #189 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/). Nursing (36 graduates, $80,703 median earnings) and Natural Sciences (30 graduates, $56,555 median earnings) round out the high-enrollment tier, with Azimuth ranking them #291 and #5, respectively, for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The highest-earning programs at Dominican University cluster in applied business and health-adjacent fields — pathways where graduates move directly into the workforce and four-year earnings reflect labor-market outcomes rather than graduate-school deferrals. Nursing leads with median earnings of $80,703 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #291 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Business Administration ($66,871) and Natural Sciences ($56,555) follow, with Azimuth ranking them #219 and #5, respectively, for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students weighing which fields align with national wage trends, the [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides additional context on how Dominican University's dominant program families fit the broader labor market.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Manhattan University Similar quality tier (#10932 ranked) | NY | 79% | $86,316 | #10932 | Compare |
Florida Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier (#10936 ranked) | FL | 40% | $43,137 | #10936 | Compare |
Pace University Similar quality tier (#10918 ranked) | NY | 76% | $70,378 | #10918 | Compare |
Grinnell College Similar quality tier in Midwest (#10915 ranked) | IA | 15% | $62,830 | #10915 | Compare |
Mcphs University Similar quality tier (#11976 ranked) | MA | 85% | $125,557 | #11976 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Dominican University's published cost of attendance is $43,891. Net price by income band reflects the university's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $9,759, middle-income families pay around $11,891, and higher-income families pay approximately $17,963.
Azimuth ranks Dominican University #329 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's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid applied to close the gap between published cost and family contribution. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility for need-based aid, and work-study is available as part of the aid package. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,411, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $19,865; 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 $59,507, median federal debt of $24,411 projects to a monthly payment of about $276 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 earn median 4-year earnings of $59,507, placing Dominican University in the 44.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $14,766 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Dominican University in the 92.2 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Dominican University #486 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Dominican University also sits in the 58.7 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a [historical 10-year Scorecard measure](/analysis/college-scorecard-2026-4-year-vs-10-year-earnings-2-2/) not yet updated to the four-year horizon.
The earnings pattern at Dominican University is anchored by Business, which represents 19% of degree output and connects graduates to stable, professionally oriented career paths. Nursing stands out as the program combining the broadest cohort scale with the strongest aggregate earnings contribution at the institution.
Psychology, General, with 42 graduates, posts median 4-year earnings of $51,093, and Azimuth ranks the program #189 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/) — at 1.0x the national benchmark for the field. Nursing (36 graduates) earns median 4-year earnings of $80,703, with Azimuth ranking it #291 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions at 0.9x its field benchmark.
Natural Sciences (30 graduates) and Business Administration (28 graduates) round out the higher-earning cluster, posting median 4-year earnings of $56,555 and $66,871 respectively, with Azimuth ranking them #5 and #219 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
