
River Forest, ILprivate nonprofitdom.edu
Admit rate has ranged 64%–90% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Dominican University, a small Catholic institution in River Forest, Illinois, punches above its weight with a welcoming, inclusive community and surprisingly strong outcomes for a school with an 80-90% acceptance rate. Known for its business and health professions programs, Dominican defies expectations with a 62% six-year graduation rate—8 points higher than predicted—and a tight-knit campus life fueled by 35+ student organizations.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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Outcomes & value
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Dominican University is a nearly open admissions school with an Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hovering around 80-90%, making it accessible to a wide range of students. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 890-1100 on the SAT or comparable ACT scores. A high school diploma or GED is required, and the university accepts applications on a rolling basis. While not selective, Dominican's admissions team emphasizes personal outreach, with dedicated phone lines and email support for prospective students.
Dominican offers 60+ undergraduate majors and programs, with standout departments in business, health professions, and social sciences. The curriculum blends liberal arts with professional preparation, including accelerated law and theology degrees through partnerships like Catholic Theological Union. Small class sizes and a student-faculty ratio of 10:1 foster close mentorship. Unique offerings include an Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies and interdisciplinary programs that encourage hands-on learning.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Life at Dominican revolves around its tight-knit, diverse community. Students can join 35+ organizations, from service clubs to arts groups, with leadership development woven into campus culture. The university promotes an inclusive vibe—Niche reviews highlight how students feel "accepted" and celebrated for their identities. Though just 10 miles from downtown Chicago, the River Forest campus offers a suburban retreat with gardens, quiet study nooks, and a residential feel.
Defying predictions, Dominican boasts a 62% six-year graduation rate—8 percentage points higher than expected for its student demographics. Alumni outcomes are strong for a regional university, with some programs ranking in the national top 10 for early-career salaries (particularly nursing and business). The university emphasizes career-ready skills, with 57% of its U.S. News score tied to outcomes metrics like graduate earnings and loan repayment rates.
Dominican is transparent about costs, offering a Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator to estimate aid packages. The university provides generous need-based aid, with average first-year scholarships/grants around $22,000-$26,000. About 74% of freshmen receive institutional aid. While tuition is steep (like most private colleges), Dominican's outcomes-to-cost ratio stands out—its graduation rate outperforms similar schools, adding value to the investment.
Dominican University defies the "easy admission, weak outcome" stereotype—its graduation rate and early-career salaries outpace peer institutions. The campus radiates a warm, community-driven energy, amplified by its Catholic values and Chicago proximity. For students seeking personalized attention (those 10:1 classes), practical majors, and a supportive launchpad, Dominican delivers more than its Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. might suggest.