Dominican University of California
Dominican University of California — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Dominican University of California at a Glance
Dominican University of California is a private university in San Rafael, California, United States. It was founded in 1890 as Dominican College by the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael. It is one of the oldest universities in California.
1890
136 years old
$33M
$33 million
1,720
1,054 undergrad · 627 grad
80 acres
Identity
Is Dominican University of California Worth It?
Dominican University of California offers moderate value at $35,333/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $84,713, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.7 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 77% graduation rate means roughly 23% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Dominican University of California compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #9 of 17 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Mount Carmel College of Nursing | 100 | $10,420 | $75,103 |
| #2 | Kalamazoo College | 68 | $19,072 | $65,590 |
| #3 | Clarkson College | 57 | $19,241 | $64,876 |
| #4 | Immaculata University | 53 | $24,258 | $75,701 |
| #5 | Linfield University | 50 | $26,536 | $78,638 |
| #6 | Assumption University | 48 | $29,498 | $74,895 |
| #9 | Dominican University of California | 46 | $35,333 | $84,713 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Dominican University of California's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 2 in CA.
Best Programs at Dominican University of California
The highest-earning program at Dominican University of California is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $91,600/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Business Administration, Management and Operations at $46,400/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from Dominican University of California earns $91,600, while a Business Administration, Management and Operations graduate earns $46,400. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates carry $30,991 in median debt vs. $27,000 for Business Administration, Management and Operations.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $35,333/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $91,600 | $91,600 | $30,991 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $46,400 | $46,400 | $27,000 |
Similar Colleges in CA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- San Rafael, CA
- Student Body
- 1,114 students
- Admission Rate
- 84%
- Graduation Rate
- 77%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $35,333
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $84,713
- Median Student Debt
- $27,000