More selective than 17% of Illinois colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
14% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 1% sent ACT scores.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose Dominican University over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
What Dominican University weighs when deciding
How much each part of an application counts for first-year applicants, as Dominican University reports it. Programs with their own criteria (nursing, music, honors) can weigh things differently.
- High school GPA
- Rigor of high school courses
- Class rank
- Essay
- Character and personal qualities
- SAT/ACT scores
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent or ability
- First-generation college student
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Your demonstrated interest
- Alumni relation (legacy)
- Where you live
- State residency
- Religious affiliation
Item C7. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
High school GPA of Dominican University first-year students
Share of fall 2025 first-year students in each high school GPA range; the average was 3.75. Colleges report GPAs as they record them, weighted or not.
Items C11-C12; enrolled students, not admitted students. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
Early decision, early action and the waitlist
Items C2, C21-C22. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
Dominican University SAT and ACT scores
Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. If your score is above the 75th, Dominican University is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.
| Test | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 460 | 560 |
| SAT math | 420 | 540 |
| ACT composite | 16 | 26 |
| SAT total (approx.) | 880 | 1100 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.
Dominican University admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 90% | 460–560 | 420–540 | 16–26 | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 80% | 480–570 | 454–570 | 17–22 | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is Dominican University compared with other Illinois colleges?
Dominican University has the 44th-lowest acceptance rate of 53 Illinois colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 87% | 62% | $13,297 |
| 41 | Wheaton College | 87% | 85% | $26,975 |
| 42 | Illinois State University | 88% | 65% | $19,398 |
| 43 | Columbia College Chicago | 89% | 52% | $26,598 |
| 44 | Dominican University | 90% | 55% | $11,745 |
| 45 | Monmouth College | 91% | 65% | $17,133 |
| 46 | Concordia University-Chicago | 93% | 36% | $18,436 |
| 47 | Rockford University | 93% | 47% | $22,436 |
| 48 | National Louis University | 95% | 30% | $12,641 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All Illinois colleges →
Who enrolls at Dominican University
College Scorecard; IPEDS
Dominican University admissions questions
What is the Dominican University acceptance rate?
Dominican University accepts 90% of applicants, most. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 5,216 of 6,536 applicants were admitted.
Does Dominican University require the SAT or ACT?
Dominican University considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 14% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 1% submitted ACT scores.
What SAT score do you need for Dominican University?
The middle 50% of Dominican University enrolled first-year students scored 880–1100 on the SAT and 16–26 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.
How many admitted students enroll at Dominican University?
12% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (651 of 5,216).
What does Dominican University look for in applicants?
Dominican University reports these as very important for first-year applicants: high school GPA. Important: rigor of high school courses, class rank, essay, character and personal qualities. Considered: sAT/ACT scores, recommendations, interview, extracurricular activities, talent or ability, first-generation college student, volunteer work, work experience, your demonstrated interest. (Common Data Set 2025-26).
Does Dominican University have early decision?
No. Dominican University does not offer binding early decision (Common Data Set 2025-26).
Is Dominican University getting harder to get into?
Dominican University accepted 90% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 80% for Fall 2023.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; Dominican University's Common Data Set 2025-26; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Dominican University overview