Dominican University: A Comprehensive Look at Admissions and Academics

Dominican University, a private liberal arts college with a rich history and commitment to student success, offers a diverse range of academic programs and a supportive campus environment. This article delves into various aspects of Dominican University, including its acceptance rate, academic offerings, campus life, and financial aid opportunities, providing a comprehensive overview for prospective students and their families.

Overview

Dominican University is a small, 4-year, private liberal arts college located in a suburban setting. The campus is primarily a commuter campus. Dominican University is located at 7900 W. Division St. Harlem Avenue Exit from I-90 or I-290 with numerous hotels of all price ranges near O'Hare Airport.

Key Highlights:

Size: Small, fostering a close-knit community.
Setting: Suburban, providing a balance between a peaceful environment and access to urban amenities.
Programs: Offers associate, bachelor's, certificate, master's, and doctoral degrees.
Recognition: Ranked #25 in Regional Universities Midwest and #3 in Best Value Schools by U.S. News & World Report (2026 edition).
Ranked #1 in Chicagoland offering a "best value" in college education, #3 in Social Mobility, #6 in Undergraduate Teaching.
Student-Faculty Ratio: 12:1, ensuring personalized attention.
Average Class Size: Only 17 students.

Academics

Dominican University provides undergraduates with a “strong sense of community” in a “very welcoming and helpful” environment. Small by design, Dominican University is rich in resources and opportunities. Professors, not teaching assistants, teach all classes. The university offers more than 50 academic majors and minors, 20+ master's programs and two doctoral programs.

Rankings & Recognition

Dominican University is ranked No. #25 in Regional Universities Midwest in the 2026 edition of Best Colleges. It's also ranked No. #3 in Best Value Schools.

Academic Calendar

Dominican University utilizes a semester-based academic calendar.

Campus Life

Although it is a Catholic institution, many students assure us that the school is “inclusive,” “open, and respectful to other religions and cultures.” They proudly proclaim that their peers are “very diverse,” noting that you’ll find “a broad range of ethnicities and races” as well as people with many different “social backgrounds and sexual [identities].” This is a community in which you “never have to travel very far in order to see a friendly face.” Plus, they are always “willing to lend a hand” to their peers. Because Dominican is “largely a commuter school,” there’s a sense that “students mainly … come for classes” and then leave campus.

Admissions

Dominican University has an acceptance rate of 79.8% in 2023. This figure indicates that the university is moderately selective, with a significant portion of applicants being admitted. The acceptance rate was 89.5% in 2022.

Key Admission Statistics:

Acceptance Rate: 79.8% (2023), 89.5% (2022)
Application Deadline: August 15
Required Standardized Tests: Not considered for admission

Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. GPA a very important academic factor and recommendation are considered by admissions officials at Dominican University.

Standardized Testing Policy

Dominican University accepts the Common Application and has a test-optional admissions policy. Half the applicants admitted to Dominican University who submitted test scores have an SAT score between 870 and 1120 or an ACT score of 16 and 24. However, one quarter of admitted applicants achieved scores above these ranges and one quarter scored below these ranges.

Dominican University New York Admissions

The acceptance rate at Dominican University New York is 97.7%, a nearly open admissions school. They accept nearly all students, so for the most part, you just need to submit an application to get in. The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. Dominican University New York accepts students with below-average GPAs. You might have a mix of B's and C's in your high school record. Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Dominican University New York hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to Dominican University New York will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. The 25th percentile SAT score is 995, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1168. The average ACT score at Dominican University New York is 20. The 25th percentile ACT score is 17, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 24. Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 17 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Dominican University New York considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. This school offers nearly open admissions, which means they give almost every student an offer of admission. To be safe, you should aim for a 995 SAT or a 17 ACT or higher.

Costs and Financial Aid

Dominican University is committed to making education accessible and affordable. The school's tuition and fees are $40,458. Eighty percent of first-year students receive need-based financial aid, and the average net price for federal loan recipients is $17,768.

Tuition and Fees

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at Dominican University is $37,194, which is $12,619 more than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575). The cost of tuition at Dominican University is $12,619 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

Average Net Price

In 2023 Dominican University had an average net price - the price paid after factoring in grants and loans - of $16,969. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of Dominican University grew by 6.57%.

Financial Aid

95% of undergraduate students at Dominican University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023. This represents a growth of 1.06% with respect to 2022, when 94% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

Student Body

Dominican University had a total enrollment of 3,424 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at Dominican University is 2,545 students and the part-time enrollment is 879. This means that 74.3% of students enrolled at Dominican University are enrolled full-time.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

The enrolled student population at Dominican University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 53.1% Hispanic or Latino, 29.3% White, 5.93% Black or African American, 3.3% Asian, 1.43% Two or More Races, 0.146% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0292% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Outcomes

The four-year graduation rate is 45%. Six years after graduation, the median salary for graduates is $47,907.

Graduation Rate

In 2023, 40% of students graduating from Dominican University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 52% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 52% within 200%.

Median Salary

Six years after graduation, the median salary for graduates is $47,907.

Campus & Location

The campus size is 37 acres. Its setting is suburban. Dominican University is located at 7900 W. Division St. Harlem Avenue Exit from I-90 or I-290 with numerous hotels of all price ranges near O'Hare Airport.

Additional Information

Dominican University accepts the Common Application and has a test-optional admissions policy. The student-faculty ratio at Dominican University is 12:1, and it utilizes a semester-based academic calendar.

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