Flexible, Accelerated Education at Dominican
Dominican University appears in our ranking of 50 Most Affordable Online Colleges with High Graduation Rates.
Ranked the Midwest’s 27th best value by Washington Monthly, Dominican University has seven Catholic schools conferring 55 bachelor’s, 18 master’s, one doctoral, and five certificate programs, including eight online degrees, at an 11:1 student-professor ratio. For example, the BPS in Legal Studies offers fast-paced, eight-week online terms for associate transfers to finish five concentrations like Labor Relations, Paralegal Studies, and Criminal Justice in 20 months with Alpha Sigma Lambda membership. Chaired by Dr. Emily Radlowski, the BS in Nutrition builds a 120-credit, ACEND-accredited River Forest plan with 1,200 internship hours to train Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.
On Canvas, the Brennan School led by Dr. Roberto Curci grants a 36-credit Master of Business Administration with a 20 percent Alumni Tuition Discount for online students to tackle Finance, Accounting, Data Analytics, Marketing, Leadership, or Healthcare Administration tracks in 18 months. The Master of Social Work follows a 60-credit, CSWE-accredited curriculum with an Advanced Standing option to blend Web-based courses like Military Mental Health and 1,080 hours at 350+ practicum agencies, such as Barris-Harris Children’s Grief Center. Additional Dominican degrees include the BPS in Human Services, BA in Painting, BA in Fashion Merchandising, BS in Culinology, MS in Information Management, MA in Conflict Resolution, MS in Special Education, and MMS in Physician Assistant Studies.
About Dominican University
Dominican University originated in 1848 when the Venerable Rev. Samuel Charles Mazzuchelli, an Italian friar, started the St. Clara Female Academy after immigrating to Wisconsin. In 1865, Mother Emily Power acquired it and renamed it Sinsinawa Mound College. In 1901, an inaugural class of 115 women earned the first postsecondary Catholic degrees. In 1922, it became Rosary College and built the present 30-acre Illinois campus in River Forest near Oak Park. In 1926, Rosary added Trinity High School for its college-prep courses. Coeducational since 1970, Rosary College opened the 300,000-volume Rebecca Kranz Crown Library in 1972. Fifteen years later, ground broke for building the 15,000-square-foot Igini Sports Forum. By 1997, the Dominican University name was adopted to honor its Sinsinawa heritage. In 2004, the Adult/Continuing Studies Division launched accelerated online learning.
Endowed for $33 million, Dominican University now serves 3,589 Stars from 23 countries online, in semester abroad programs from South Africa to Spain, and on-campus with 45+ clubs like Mazzuchelli Scholars. In 2019, Dominican received the Daily Herald Business Ledger’s Excellence Award. In 2018, the National Science Foundation selected Dominican for a $559,179 STEM Success Grant. DU’s Palmer Hall also won the Illinois-Indiana Masonry Council Silver Award. The U.S. News & World Report named Dominican University the Midwest’s 11th best college and 19th top undergrad school with the 37th best library science program nationally. On Niche, DU boasts America’s 77th best criminal justice, 169th top sociology, and 221st best liberal arts degrees. WalletHub also applauded Dominican for the 98th most campus safety and 138th best learning experience.
Dominican University Accreditation Details
On June 22, 2015, the Higher Learning Commission on North Central Association (HLC-NCA) Institutional Actions Council informed Dominican University in writing that the Level V accreditation status was renewed through 2024-25 under its first lay president, Dr. Donna M. Carroll, who earned the Sisters of Sinsinawa Cornerstones Award. Located 12 miles east via Interstate 290 in Chicago, this huge 19-state Heartland Region accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Education Department and Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE). The Institutional Effectiveness Office also reported the following degree accreditations:
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
- American Library Association Committee on Accreditation
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
- Council on Social Work Education Office of Accreditation
- Accreditation Review Commission for the Physician Assistant
Dominican University Application Requirements
Entering Dominican University is classified “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s because 3,070 of the 4,813 Fall 2017 applicants were victorious for competitive 64 percent acceptance. First-year Stars must finish at least 16 units of high school academic subjects or the GED. If provided, class rank should be the top 50th percentile. Freshmen must present a minimum 2.75 GPA on the four-point scale. Scoring above 21 on the ACT or 1060 on the New SAT is required. The BSN Program considers Chemistry and Biology courses graded “C” or better prerequisite. Incoming transfers must carry 24+ college credits and GPAs above 2.5 to skip freshman testing. Online BPS majors must have finished 30+ credits or graduated high school over seven years ago. The Graduate Admission Office seeks entrants with accredited bachelor’s degrees at 2.5 GPAs or higher. Online MBA cohorts qualify for GMAT waivers with six years of experience or Beta Gamma Sigma membership. Hybrid MSIM students need at least 297 GRE or 404 MAT scores.
Dominican University conveniently has rolling admission on a space-available basis. Online Bachelor of Professional Studies and MBA majors can enroll before any eight-week term. The Online MSW set deadlines of March 1st for Summer and June 1st for Fall starts. The PAS Program has an August 1st deadline. Ph.D. in Information Studies cohorts must file before July 8th. Accordingly, complete the three-step Dominican Application online for $25. Forward official transcripts to 7900 West Division Street in River Forest, IL 60305. Electronic test submissions require SAT/GRE code 1667 or ACT code 1126. Supplemental checklist items might include the 500-word personal statement, two recommendations, current résumé, Advanced Standing form, foundation course waiver, criminal background check, and Professional Educator License (PEL). Inquire further by contacting (708) 366-2490 or [email protected].
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2019-20, Dominican University is billing full-time Rosary College of Arts & Sciences undergrads $33,900 annually. Studying part-time incurs $1,133 per credit. Bachelor’s students pay a $150 technology fee each term and one-time $150 orientation fee. Nutrition and Nursing majors cover a $250 lab fee per course. Living at the River Forest campus’ dorms like Coughlin Hall adds $5,274 to $6,340 each semester. Students receive a $500 line of credit for bookstore purchases. DU budgets $1,300 for miscellaneous expenses. Traditional annual attendance equals $46,175 on-site and $38,434 if commuting. Online BPS tuition is $475 per credit. The Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program is priced $978 per credit. The Online MBA charges $1,035 per credit. Online MSW cohorts pay $850 per credit. School of Education master’s are the cheapest at $550 per credit.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Financial Aid Office in Lewis Hall Room 120 gets 88 percent of full-time DU Stars median tuition assistance of $19,323 each for $39.36 million total. University funds include the Westlake Health Foundation Nursing Scholarship, Ida Brechtel Scholarship, Residence Life Award, Success Scholarship, Catholic High School Scholarship, Schmitt Leader Scholarship, Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship, Cromien Endowed Scholarship, McCusker Endowed Scholarship, Brennan Business Scholarship, and Helen Brach Foundation Scholarship. The Freshman Merit Scholarship gifts $4,000 to $20,000 per year based on SAT/ACT results. Online MSW students exceeding the 3.5 GPA minimum could earn a $5,000 Director’s Scholarship. Federal aid applications coded 001750 unlock the Pell Grant, Opportunity Grant, Teach Grant, Work-Study Program, and Direct Loan. Illinois options like the Monetary Award, State Scholar Program, Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver, and Nursing Education Scholarship also help.
Explore the 75+ accredited Catholic degrees with 78 percent retention on the Dominican University website.