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River Forest , IL
Dominican University is a private, coeducational institution located in River Forest, Illinois, just outside of Chicago. It was founded in 1901 by the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters, who continue to sponsor the university today. Offering over 50 undergraduate majors and minors, as well as various graduate programs, Dominican University is known for providing a comprehensive education rooted in the liberal arts and sciences.
The campus of Dominican University combines beautiful historic buildings with modern facilities, creating a vibrant and inclusive learning environment. Students have access to state-of-the-art laboratories, a renowned library, art studios, and performance spaces. The university also boasts a strong commitment to sustainability, with solar panels, green roofs, and energy-efficient systems implemented across campus.
In addition to academic excellence, Dominican University provides students with numerous opportunities for personal and professional growth. The university encourages students to engage in internships, research projects, and study abroad programs to gain a global perspective and practical skills. With a diverse and supportive community, Dominican University fosters an atmosphere of intellectual curiosity, social responsibility, and leadership development, preparing students for success in their chosen careers and beyond.
Dominican University is a private university located in River Forest, IL. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 90%. The freshman retention rate at Dominican University is 78% and the six-year graduation rate is 55%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is July 15. For transfer students, the application deadline is July 15.
Discover more about what you can expect if you get into Dominican University.
Quick Facts
2,690
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$39,958
Tuition
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
55%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Learning as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission maximizes your chances of getting admitted. Here are the most vital data you have to know about admission policy and requirements at Dominican University.
In 2025, the school accepted 6,208 new students. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.73. Therefore, the chances are that you'll need a GPA higher than the average for acceptance,.
Deadlines
The cutoff date for submitting applications to Dominican University is July 15. If you plan on applying as a transfer student, note that the application deadline is July 15.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university newcomers who return for their sophomore year. When you make your list of possible schools to attend, don't forget to consider the freshmen retention rate.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Dominican University was 78%, indicative of the exceptional educational experience and supportive environment at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 55%.
Student Body
Making the decision of which school is the optimal place for you is not easy. Obtaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Dominican University in 2025 was 3,804.
That year, the school had 9% of out-of-state students. There was a total of 2,690 undergraduate students, including 11 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 191.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 824 male and 2,069 female full-time students in 2025, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to focusing on the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Dominican University.
This school had 78 Asian students and 150 Afro-American students in 2025. 1,773 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 26 as multirace. The school also had 1 student who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 7 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 49 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to consider before you apply. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Dominican University.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition cost for this university.
In 2025, tuition amounted to $39,958 for all full-time domestic students. Dominican University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 were required to pay additional fees in the amount of $500.
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to take into consideration is the approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to set aside about $1,200 for books and supplies during their time at Dominican University.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
In 2025, room and board cost at Dominican University amounted to $11,800 a year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 added up to $6,600 for one academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $6,415.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 39,958 |
| Room and Board | $ 11,800 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
| Total Expense | $ 52,958 |
Financial Aid
Obtaining some financial help in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be vital for completing your studies. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Dominican University, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
According to the most recent data, 658 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average financial aid package awarded to students equaled $31,379.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet other eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
1,970 students received some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Dominican University is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 1,998. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $10,379,115, and state $10,953,305. The students of Dominican University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $36,214,585, and external in the amount of $938,626.
$21,344
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 164 students overall (including freshmen) at Dominican University in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 53 full-time freshman. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $10,379,115 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $62,304. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $10,713,174. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $2,454,722 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
Majors
Faculty
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
In 2025, this ratio at Dominican University was 12:1. That means that there were 12 times more students than teachers at this school. The faculty of this school consists of 479 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 165 men and 314 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Dominican University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Dominican University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some details about campus life at Dominican University.
Its campus spans 37 acres.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists exclusively of current students and/or alumni.
There are 51 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. The most popular student organization is Commuter Student Association, followed by Black Student Union and Student Government Association. Other popular student organizations at this school are Student Athlete Advisory Committee and Organization of Latin American Students.
In case you're interested in acting, there is a drama club you can consider joining. Interested in media and communication? Dominican University publishes its own newspaper.
Student Services
At Dominican University, there are many amenities required for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Dominican University.
All in all, campus life at Dominican University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Dominican University.
Career Counselling
At Dominican University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Understanding the potential salary after graduating can be of help in determining if a specific educational institution matches your professional aspirations.
The starting salary for graduates employed within six months of graduating at this school averages 45,100 USD.
$45,100
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Dominican University is located in River Forest, IL.
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Dominican University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
-
The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Dominican University is 39,958 USD, based on the most recent data.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Dominican University is 90%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Dominican University is 78%.
Contact Information
Dominican University
7900 W. Division Street
River Forest , IL
60305-1099
790 366-2490
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.