Dominican University is a private Catholic liberal arts institution located 10 miles west of Chicago. With a variety of career-focused majors and graduate programs, Dominican is highly regarded for its academic rigor, intentional affordability and personalized learning environment. The prestigious U.S. News & World Report ranks Dominican at No. 15 out of more than 160 regional Midwest universities.  Dominican University is also a great return in investment, with 86% of it’s graduates finding employment after graduation.   

Minutes from the heart of Chicago 

Located in River Forest, IL, you’ll get the best of both worlds. Our scenic suburban campus is surrounded by beautiful forest preserves perfect for contemplation and packed with state-of-the-art equipment and learning spaces. Our free campus shuttle transports you quickly and safely to local transit stops, where you can reach Chicago and its world-class culture, entertainment and opportunities in just 20 minutes.  

Small class sizes and wraparound support 

You won’t be lost in the crowd here. Our student-to-faculty ratio is 10 to 1, and the average class has 16 students. This means your professors will get to know you as an individual. At Dominican University, you’ll learn from Fulbright Scholars, PhDs, nationally recognized researchers, and caring mentors who have practical experience in your field of interest. You’ll have a whole student care team dedicated to your success, providing a range of support, including basic needs (food, housing, etc.), technological assistance, financial advice, academic support, mental health assistance, and more.  

Hands-on learning and internships 

Gain hands-on experience in the classroom and beyond. Through our required internships, you’ll explore your career interests at Chicagoland’s leading employers. You’ll benefit from one-on-one career mentoring with top industry leaders, advising you on everything from developing a resume to interview strategies. You can even build your resume while contributing to local and global communities in our 60+ service-learning projects.  

Make real-world connections – find your dream job

The Chicago area’s top employers regularly visit campus to find talent. Participate in mock interview events, join us for job fairs, visit prospective employers virtually and much more. Within a year of graduation, 85% of our graduates are employed and 21% are enrolled in graduate school.  

Join our diverse community   

Here, you will find curious, committed students from nearly every religious, racial and ethnic background. In fact, 67% of our community are students of color and we represent 12 countries from across the globe. Our welcoming community is committed to responsible global citizenship, creating an environment where all students can thrive. At our Center for Cultural Liberation, you will find a designated space to engage in important topics including everything from immigration policy to criminal justice reform.   

Living on campus: close to it all 

You’ll build community within one of our four residence halls where you can walk to nearly any class in under five minutes. And you’ll find ample parking just steps from your destination. Our campus holds 13 laboratories, a modern four-story library, two theaters, an art gallery, a fashion studio, a fitness center, countless areas for student activities – and so much more.