Dominican University of California

Dominican University of California is a private, nonprofit university in San Rafael, in Marin County. Its range of undergraduate and graduate programs spans the arts, business, education, health, natural sciences, and social sciences. There is a major accreditation issue applicants should understand before comparing offers: WSCUC currently lists Dominican as Accredited on Warning. WSCUC found the university out of compliance with Standard 3, and the university says it faces serious financial challenges. Accreditation continues during the warning, and the university says current students’ status is not affected; still, prospective students should ask about their intended program, finances, and any teach-out plans before committing.

Programs and academic fit

Dominican reports more than 60 majors, minors, and concentrations. Undergraduate options include nursing, biological sciences, chemistry, kinesiology, business administration, criminology, communication and media studies, art and design, English and creative writing, and psychology. Graduate and professional study includes accounting, an MBA, marriage and family therapy, art therapy, nursing, occupational therapy, and physician assistant studies. The university is broad rather than a single-field school, but its health-professions pathways are a notable part of its offering. Review the current undergraduate program directory and ask each department about admission requirements, clinical placements, licensure preparation, and cohort availability.

WSCUC identifies several programs as being in teach-out, including Applied Computer Science and Visual Studies, and also lists Dance/LINES Ballet, Education Studies, Global Public Health, and some other degrees in that status. A teach-out means a program is winding down while arrangements are made for enrolled students to complete; do not assume new students can enter. Confirm directly with Admissions which programs are accepting students for the term you want and what completion protections apply.

Tuition, scholarships and aid

For 2026–27, published full-time undergraduate tuition is $54,441 for fall and spring, before fees and living expenses. Dominican estimates direct university charges at about $55,876 for a commuter living with family or off campus, and $72,245 for a student living on campus, including the listed meal plan and housing. Nursing students incur an additional $750 clinical-lab fee per semester once they enter the nursing program. Part-time tuition is $2,270 per unit in fall and spring. These figures are pre-aid estimates; use the university’s current cost and tuition schedule and request an individualized net-price estimate.

New full-time first-year students are automatically considered for renewable merit awards. For 2026–27, the listed annual awards range from $16,000 to $28,000 for non-nursing majors and $9,000 to $22,000 for nursing majors, with amounts tied to weighted high-school GPA and other application factors. The Pell Cal Promise may cover remaining tuition after other aid for eligible Pell- and Cal Grant-qualified first-year or transfer students who finish a non-nursing bachelor’s degree on the stated four-year or two-year schedule; awards are limited. Federal Pell, SEOG, California Cal Grant, work-study, and additional scholarships may also apply. These awards have specific conditions and may change, so have Financial Aid confirm the full written package, renewal rules, and net cost. The scholarship and grant page details current eligibility.

Campus, contact and student comments

The main campus is at 50 Acacia Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901. WSCUC also lists active additional instructional locations associated with BioMarin and the Buck Institute in Novato, LINES in San Francisco, and Marin Ballet in San Rafael; these are program-related locations, not a substitute for confirming where a particular course meets. Call the university at (415) 457-4440. Business Services publishes weekday office hours of 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; schedules vary by department, so arrange an appointment before traveling. The university’s directions and contact page has campus access details.

Student comments describe a close-knit environment: reviewers often value small classes, accessible professors, academic support, and the green, peaceful campus. Common reservations include limited weekend activity, dining quality, older facilities, and the cost of attendance. Those are personal experiences rather than universal conditions, and they may differ by residence, program, or year. Visit during a regular class day and speak with students in your intended department. In light of the current WSCUC warning and identified teach-outs, ask specific questions about program continuity and the university’s financial plan. Applicants can review application steps and apply.