Dominican University of California
#2 Best Nursing Colleges in California- Graduation Rate
- 77% B+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $84,713 A+
- Top 3% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $35,333 F
- 106% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 84% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 14.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $14.7 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Nursing Colleges in California.
Every $1 spent returns $14.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,942,421.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 108% more than the national college median.
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A 77% graduation rate — 35% above the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 3.20% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $14.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Dominican University of California Matters
Dominican University of California is a private university in San Rafael, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 3% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 1,114
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Dominican University of California
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 84% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1210–1300. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $35,333 a year after grants and scholarships — 106% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $84,713 ten years after enrolling — 108% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 3.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 8% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.85 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Over 84% of applicants gain admission to Dominican University of California, making it an accessible option for many students. With a total enrollment of 1,114, the university maintains a close-knit community atmosphere. This accessibility does not dilute the quality of education, as evidenced by a solid graduation rate of 77%.
According to the Chetty/Opportunity Insights data, Dominican University does not have published mobility rates. However, graduates see significant financial returns, with an average earning of $84,713 ten years after enrollment. This suggests that the school equips students with valuable skills that translate into higher salaries in the job market.
The net price for attending Dominican is $35,333, with a median debt of $27,000. A notable 32% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating that the university supports lower-income students. Those who thrive here often pursue degrees in Health Professions, Business, Computer Science, or Psychology, aligning with high-demand career fields.
Rankings
- #2 Best Nursing Colleges in California
- #10 Best Colleges for Health Professions
- #10 Best Bachelor's in Health Professions
- #10 Best Master's in Health Professions
- #11 Highest-Paying Colleges for Public Health
- #19 Highest-Paying Colleges for Healthcare Administration
- #22 Best Computer Science Colleges in California
- #22 Best Data Science Colleges in California
Can I Get In?
How selective Dominican University of California is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Dominican University of California? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in San Rafael, California, Dominican University of California admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 84%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,290. The graduation rate is roughly 77%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 84%
- Retention Rate
- 85%
- SAT Average
- 1290
- ACT Midpoint
- 23
- SAT Range
- 1210–1300
- Full-Time Faculty
- 30%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,036
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 9:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.76
- First-Gen Students
- 31%
- Applicants
- 1,746
- Admitted
- 1,627
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Dominican University of California is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 12% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 12%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 2%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 100%
- of enrolled freshmen
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Dominican University of California? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Dominican University of California is $52,161, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $35,333. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $24,572 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $52,161
- Out-of-State
- $52,161
- Avg Net Price
- $35,333
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 32%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 58%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $24,572
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $29,275
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $30,313
- Family Income $110K+
- $43,317
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Dominican University of California — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Dominican University of California Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Dominican University of California earn a median of $84,713, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $71,477
- 8 Years
- $79,660
- 10 Years
- $84,713
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.32x
- Earning > $25K
- 72%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (162)
- 62%
- 100% (162)
- 62%
- 100% (162)
- 62%
- 100% (162)
- 62%
Where Grads Go
Top employers of Dominican University of California’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.
How Dominican Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Dominican University of California Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Dominican University of California delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $35,333/year ($141,332 total). Graduates earn $84,713 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,083,753 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,942,421 (14.7× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 77% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $141,332
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,083,753
- Net Return
- $1,942,421
- ROI Multiple
- 14.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $35,333
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 77%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Dominican University of California Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Dominican University of California is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.20%, among the highest in the country. About 6.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 52.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $98,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 3.20%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 52.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 6.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $133,284
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $4,771,865
- Investment Income
- $-4,866,120
Top Programs
The fields Dominican University of California awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 42% $105,318 early-career
- Business & Marketing 15% $54,760 early-career
- Psychology 11% $48,218 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 10% $43,942 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7%
- Visual & Performing Arts 4%
- Education 2% $71,605 early-career
- Communications 2% $31,554 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Dominican University of California's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Dominican University of California? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in San Rafael, California, Dominican University of California admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 84%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,290. The graduation rate is roughly 77%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Dominican University of California? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Dominican University of California is $52,161, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $35,333. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $24,572 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Dominican University of California Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Dominican University of California earn a median of $84,713, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does Dominican University of California Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Dominican University of California is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.20%, among the highest in the country. About 6.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 52.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $98,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Dominican University of California? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Dominican University of California. Its economic connectedness score is 1.85, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Dominican University of California offer Early Decision?
No. Dominican University of California does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Is Dominican University of California really test-optional?
Dominican University of California reports test-optional admission, but most enrolled students still submit scores: about 1% of first-year students sent an SAT or ACT (2024-25 Common Data Set). Submitting strong scores is the norm here.
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Dominican University of California?
About 12% of admitted students choose to enroll at Dominican University of California — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Dominican University of California.
- Kettering UniversityFlint, MI · Close peer71% grad $94,823 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaMoraga, CA · Close peer70% grad $78,812 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Saint Johns UniversityCollegeville, MN · Close peer76% grad $76,786 earn 91% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Clarkson UniversityPotsdam, NY · Close peer74% grad $89,696 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Mount Saint Mary CollegeNewburgh, NY · Close peer66% grad $67,705 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar size
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottPrescott, AZ · Close peer69% grad $84,131 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Dominican University of California? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Dominican University of California. Its economic connectedness score is 1.85, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note