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Dominican University of California

Apply for first-year
Dominican University of California campus
All are welcome at Dominican!

Dominican is a top-ranked private, non-profit university in San Rafael, CA, 12 miles north of San Francisco. With a broad range of majors from health care and natural sciences to business, education, humanities and the arts, you can be sure that all programs have a distinctly current curriculum. You’ll experience highly engaging personal coaching and mentoring along with many opportunities for internships, community projects, global learning, clinicals, field research and much more. You will be ready for your dream job or grad school. 

Whatever your goals, it's our privilege to help you achieve them!
Accepts first-year applicationsWestPrivateSuburbanSmall (2,000 and under)Co-Ed
Virtual Tour

Academic programs

  • Design
  • Research
  • Science
  • Technology
  • Liberal Arts
  • Business
  • Education
  • Nursing
  • Communication
  • Music
  • Art & Design
  • Finance/Accounting
  • Government/Political Science
  • Health Science
  • Performing Arts
  • Social Science
  • Psychology
  • Computer Science
  • Public health

Student experience

  • Athletics
  • Co-op/Internship Opportunities
  • Disability Services
  • Intramural/Club Sports
  • LGBTQIA Services
  • Military/Veteran Services
  • On-Campus Housing
  • ROTC Program
  • Study Abroad
  • Undergraduate Research
  • Veteran Fee Waiver
  • Distance/online learning

Application information

First-year

Applying to Dominican is as easy as 1 - 2 - 3:
  1. Complete the Common Application
  2. Upload your essay
  3. Submit your official transcripts
Dominican is test-optional, so tell us if you want your test scores considered (and if you do, make sure to send them).

Transfer

The transfer admissions process at Dominican is easy and seamless, and our counselors are here to help you. We evaluate several factors, including academics, leadership both inside and outside the classroom, recommendation from a teacher, counselor or community leader and your personal essay. 

For most majors, we accept applications year-round.

Transfer Students: 
Spring Deadline: January 5
Fall Deadline: August 1 

Nursing Transfer Students: 
Spring Deadline: September 1 
Fall Deadline: March 1

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Additional information

Scholarships and Financial Aid - With more than 99% of Dominican students receiving financial aid, it’s not at all unusual for the real cost of a Dominican degree to be less than that of a state school. Dominican offers many forms of financial assistance. Ask your counselor about merit- and need-based scholarships and find out if you qualify for additional financial aid by completing the FAFSA! Our school code is 001196. Submit it by March 2 if you want to be considered for state aid like Cal Grant.

Visit us

If you’re like most of our students, you’ll fall in love with our beautiful (and very safe) campus. Come schedule a tour and meet with an admissions counselor. Or sign up for any of our events designed to highlight our academic programs and guide you through the admissions process. Visit our website to learn more. Get ready for awe-inspiring views, hiking and mountain biking trails among Redwoods and sparkling reservoirs nearby. The Bay Area is also home to 38 Fortune 500 companies and more than 29,000 non-profits. In total, there are more than 4 million jobs here.

Had you told me when I came to Dominican, I’d be shooting an NBA game, and then I’d be working professional sports when I graduated, I’d say you’re crazy. The opportunities I have had. The people I’ve met. The memories I’ve made, and the relationships I have are all going to last me the rest of my life, and I wouldn’t change a single thing about it.