Delivering Illinois’s Best Value Education

For more than a century, Dominican University has been committed to the highest quality education—and an intentional affordability that makes it accessible to all.

Top-Tier Academics. Unmatched Affordability.

Dominican is recognized as one of the best small universities in the Midwest. The prestigious “Best Colleges” review by U.S. News & World Report ranks Dominican at No. 15 out of more than 160 regional Midwest universities. We’re the highest-ranking small Catholic university in Illinois. And we are No. 1 in Illinois on the publication’s “Best Value Schools” list, a category that closely examines academic quality and average net cost of attendance. See us in action—schedule your personalized visit.

Investing in You

At Dominican, we believe a student’s academic and personal promise should open the doors to higher education—not a family’s ability to pay. Each year, we invest more than $30 million to support student financial aid. In fact, 100 percent of our incoming freshmen receive some form of financial aid—every last one of them. And our tuition is below the national average for four-year private universities.

What My Scholarship Meant to Me

“It opened doors to a school where your professors and advisors truly care about helping you build a path to your goals. That one-on-one support led to an internship at the Argonne National Laboratory, where I provide software support to scientists. Now, I have lots of ideas for ways I want to improve people’s lives with technology.” –Phaulo Escalante, class of 2019, computer science major

Powerful Academics

Across its 50-plus undergraduate degree programs, Dominican is known for tremendous academic rigor as well as its atmosphere of care, concern and support. Our core curriculum includes seminars constructed around some of life’s biggest questions. And our honors program sends students to study at Oxford University, one of the most prestigious and competitive centers of learning in the world.

Relationship-Centered Learning

Great teaching in small classes is the heart of our tradition. An average class size of just 16 students means your ideas will be heard and your professors will know your name and care about you. Every class is led by a faculty member, not a teaching assistant. Among our 158 full-time faculty, 87 percent hold the highest degree in their discipline. They include Fulbright scholars, nationally recognized researchers and genuine pioneers in their fields.

High-Impact Opportunities

It starts with the highest quality academics. But often it’s that extra “margin of excellence” opportunity—a once-in-lifetime research trip or internship—that makes all the difference in our students' lives and sets them apart in the job market and in the competition for placement in professional and graduate-level education. At Dominican you’ll find:

A Global Outlook

In the 1920s, we became one of the first colleges in the U.S. to establish a study abroad program. From that pioneering beginning, we now have 20 study abroad opportunities on four continents.

Undergraduate Research

Every year, our students have the opportunity to present their best work at our undergraduate research symposium—the kind of opportunity normally reserved for graduate students.

City of Opportunity

Our location puts you in reach of the Chicago area’s outstanding internships. Our reputation and longstanding partnerships with organizations like the Hemingway Foundation will help you land the best ones.

See for Yourself. See Yourself Here.

What are you waiting for? Come visit. It’s the best way to experience what Dominican is all about. We’ll show you around, introduce you to professors and current students, and answer your questions. Then, start thinking big. Because, at Dominican, you’ll be challenged. You’ll gain a broadened outlook on the world. You’ll discover a calling and develop the skills to pursue it. You’ll go out into the world and make it better.

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