Dominican University of California is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in San Rafael, California. It enrolls 1,114 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
67/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes84
Value38
Affordability28
Selectivity48
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 83.5%, Dominican University of California is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
83.5%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1210 – 1300
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Dominican University of California is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
4.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Dominican University of California isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $35,333 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$35,333
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
32%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
58%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$52,161
Room & Board (on-campus)
$16,191
Room & Board (off-campus)
$17,784
Books & Supplies
$1,152
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,122
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,931
Total Cost of Attendance
$71,751
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$24,572
$30,001 – $48,000
$29,275
$48,001 – $75,000
$30,313
$75,001 – $110,000
$35,343
Over $110,000
$43,317
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$6,38810%percentile
$15,00025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$30,62575%percentile
$38,16690%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $23,878
↓ $3,122
No Pell $24,789
↓ $2,211
Dependent students $24,250
↓ $2,750
Independent students $25,000
↓ $2,000
Female students $25,000
↓ $2,000
Male students $18,417
↓ $8,583
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $11,613, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
72% of full-time students who enrolled at Dominican University of California graduate within six years, and 87% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
72%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
87%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Dominican University of California earn a median of $84,713 ten years after first enrolling. That's well above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$84,713
Earning > $25K
90%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$62,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$68,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$63,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$62,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$64,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,600, about 10% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 87% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Dominican University of California is home to 1,114 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 31% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,114
Part-Time
10%
First-Generation
31%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 32.3%360
Asian 30.1%335
White 20.7%230
Black 5.8%65
International 2.7%30
Other 2.4%27
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Dominican University of California. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CitySan Rafael, California
Housing
Mostly residential535 beds on campus
Adult Learners
12%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Dominican University of California offers
a varied set of programs:
33 distinct programs across
14 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Dominican University of California is 8:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
8:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$77M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$85,716
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
109 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
29
27%
$97,035
Associate Professors
25
23%
$81,939
Assistant Professors
45
41%
$78,792
Instructors
4
4%
$103,424
Lecturers
6
6%
—
Pros & Cons of Dominican University of California
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Dominican University of California tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Above-average graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
High published cost of attendance before aid
Best for:
Based on the data, Dominican University of California is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students prioritizing post-graduation earnings; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dominican University of California
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Dominican University of California.
Is Dominican University of California hard to get into?
Dominican University of California has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 83.5%.
What is the acceptance rate at Dominican University of California?
Dominican University of California has an acceptance rate of 83.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Dominican University of California?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Dominican University of California scored between 1210 and 1300 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
How much does Dominican University of California cost?
The average net price after aid at Dominican University of California is $35,333 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Dominican University of California worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $84,713 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $35,333 per year. That's roughly 2.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Dominican University of California known for?
Dominican University of California is best known for its programs in Business & Management, Other, Nursing, Rehabilitation. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Dominican University of California graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Dominican University of California are $84,713, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Dominican University of California accredited?
Yes. Dominican University of California is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend Dominican University of California?
Dominican University of California enrolls 1,114 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Dominican University of California?
Dominican University of California graduates 72% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Dominican University of California a public or private college?
Dominican University of California is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Dominican University of California located?
Dominican University of California is located in San Rafael, California.
What programs does Dominican University of California offer?
Dominican University of California offers 33 distinct programs. The most popular include Business & Management, Other, Nursing, Rehabilitation.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Dominican University of California?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Dominican University of California is 8:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in California
Other colleges in California share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Build Your College List Pillar
The full process of narrowing from 3,839 US colleges to a shortlist of ~10. Cost, location, size, selectivity, and fit factors that actually predict whether you'll thrive.
What actually makes a college work for first-generation students, the support and aid signals that predict success, and how to find the schools that deliver them using federal data.
How to find the colleges that deliver the strongest return on a STEM degree by weighing earnings outcomes against net cost, rather than chasing the most selective name.
Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
American Colleges by the Numbers
One federal dataset, 3,839 colleges. The median school costs $16,371 a year, admits 78% of applicants, and enrolls 1,259 students. The shape of US higher ed.
Higher education data
Net price
College enrollment
Acceptance rate
College ownership
Do Selective Schools Actually Graduate More Students?
Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
Acceptance rate
Selectivity
Completion
College outcomes
For-Profit Colleges Charge the Most and Pay the Least
For-profit colleges post the highest median net price of any sector and the lowest graduate earnings. They cost more than private nonprofits and pay less than publics.
For-profit colleges
Net price
Earnings
College ROI
College ownership
Continue Exploring
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
