Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
San Rafael, California
95.6% Acceptance Rate
Dominican University of California — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
95.6%Acceptance Rate
3.66Avg GPA
1194Avg SAT
26Avg ACT
$68,620Annual Cost
$84,713Grad Salary
29.6%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
95.6%
Avg GPA
3.66
Avg SAT
1194
Avg ACT
26
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1070–1291
ACT Middle 50%
22–30
Need-Based Aid
29.6% receive Pell
Dominican University of California is a private, liberal arts university that emphasizes the integration of faith, scholarship, and community service. Admissions are holistic, weighing academic merit against the applicant's alignment with the university's mission to foster whole-person development and active, ethical leadership. The university looks for students who demonstrate high intellectual curiosity and a genuine commitment to values-based education and service to others.
For prospective students, the best strategy is to highlight participation in church, youth group, or community service initiatives during high school, as these reflect the university's core emphasis on service-learning. A strong application includes evidence of leadership or sustained extracurricular engagement that demonstrates the student's readiness to participate in a diverse, community-focused campus culture. A compelling personal statement should discuss how the student's personal values align with the mission of the university and how they intend to contribute to its intellectually active and supportive environment.
Dominican University of California Acceptance Rate
Admission at Dominican University of California is inclusive by design. 95.6% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 95.6% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.66 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.46 – 3.65
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.21
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Dominican University of California Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Dominican University of California follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
DUofC reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (2025/11/15 (priority date for merit scholarship consideration)) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
DUofC GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at DUofC is 3.66. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.36 and 3.66? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.86–4.06.DUofC GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective, with solid academic performance as the expectation.
Recommended Strategy: A clear, defined strength in one activity or research area matters more than breadth.
This range is a rough map. Where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application.:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.66 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.46 – 3.65
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.26 – 3.45
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.25
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Nursing and Health Science/Pre-Occupational Therapy applicants must submit an additional essay on their motivation and intended professional contribution, on top of the general personal essay.
- Nursing transfer deadlines (September 1 spring, March 1 fall) are earlier than Dominican's general transfer deadlines (January 5 spring, August 1 fall).
- Criminal background checks are not considered during OT program admissions, but could later affect NBCOT certification eligibility, clinical fieldwork placement, or state licensure.
- Dominican offers a 5.5-year accelerated BS Psychology/MS Occupational Therapy combined degree requiring full-time, weekday attendance at the San Rafael campus.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself. A 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average. The trajectory tells its own story.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at DUofC
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Dominican University of California's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Dominican University of California (DUofC) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at DUofC. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into DUofC Without SAT or ACT?
DUofC considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Dominican University of California Average SAT Score: 1194
Admitted students at Dominican University of California average a 1194 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1194 — Less Competitive
A 1194 average leaves meaningful room above it for a competitive application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1291 SAT or 30 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Dominican University of California allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1070? A retake is worth it at DUofC. Two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 582 | 545 | 618 |
| SAT Reading | 599 | 525 | 673 |
| SAT Composite | 1194 | 1070 | 1291 |
A score under 1070 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1291+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1200
Can I get into Dominican University of California (DUofC) with a 1300 SAT?
At 1300, your SAT is squarely in DUofC's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file. GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
Dominican University of California (DUofC) ACT Requirements
DUofC's admitted students average an ACT of 26.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 26 — Competitive
An average of 26 is a respectable, above-average national benchmark.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 26 | 23 | 28 |
| ACT English | 25 | 20 | 29 |
| ACT Composite | 26 | 22 | 30 |
Can I get into Dominican University of California with a 30 ACT?
At 30, you're in the top quarter of DUofC's admitted class by ACT score. That's a real advantage, but admissions still reads GPA, essays, and activities alongside it.
The ACT's four sections, English, Math, Reading, and Science, are each scored independently on a 1–36 scale, and admissions staff do notice a lopsided breakdown. If one section trails the others significantly, that's worth addressing before you apply, particularly for STEM programs where Science carries extra weight.
Beyond the number itself, DUofC weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily. The ACT opens the door, and the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for DUofC
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Getting into DUofC is the easy part. What matters next is using placement testing, advising, and available resources to set up a strong first year.
Submit the extra Nursing/OT essay as a distinct piece, not a rehash of your main essay
Dominican requires Nursing and Health Science/Pre-Occupational Therapy applicants to submit an additional essay specifically addressing why you want to major in the field and what contributions you'd make to the profession - separate from your general personal essay. Write this as a genuinely distinct piece focused on professional motivation and contribution, rather than repeating your main essay's narrative with a few nursing-specific words swapped in.
Know your nursing transfer deadlines are different from general transfer deadlines
Dominican's general transfer deadlines are January 5 (spring) and August 1 (fall), but Nursing transfer applicants face separate, earlier deadlines of September 1 (spring) and March 1 (fall). If you're transferring specifically into nursing, mark these earlier nursing-specific dates rather than the general transfer calendar, since missing the nursing deadline by relying on the general one could cost you an entire admission cycle.
Understand that a criminal background won't block OT admission - but could block your eventual license
Dominican explicitly does not consider criminal background checks during admissions decisions for the Occupational Therapy program, but a felony conviction could still restrict clinical fieldwork placements, affect NBCOT certification exam eligibility, and impact state licensure down the road. If you have a criminal history, get admitted without that barrier, but research NBCOT and California OT licensure requirements directly and early, since the real gate here comes later in the pipeline, not at admission.
Submit your IB course syllabi to two departments if you're pre-nursing or pre-OT
Pre-Nursing and Pre-Occupational Therapy IB students must submit syllabi both to the discipline in which the course is offered (e.g., Biology or Chemistry) and separately to the Nursing department for content-equivalency assessment - a dual-submission requirement most other majors don't face. If you're an IB student targeting one of these two programs, prepare and send syllabi to both departments simultaneously rather than assuming one submission covers both reviews.
Expert Insight:
A specific and easy-to-miss detail is that a criminal background, while not a factor in Dominican's OT admissions decision itself, can still block the actual practice of occupational therapy later - a prospective student with a criminal history who is admitted without issue could later discover during their NBCOT certification exam application or state licensure process that the same background now poses a real barrier to actually working in the field.
DUofC Profile
Full Name
Dominican University of California (DUofC)
City
San Rafael
State
California
ZIP Code
94901-2298
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission (WASCSR)
Is a DUofC Degree Worth It?
At $68,620/year against a $84,713 median graduate salary, DUofC is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation. The numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $79,200, and graduates see a 3.34% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from DUofC Cost?
Listed tuition runs $68,620/year at DUofC. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land typically much lower.
At DUofC, 29.6% receive a Pell Grant and 54.8% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming DUofC on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a DUofC Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, DUofC graduates report a median income of $84,713, about 109% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Dominican University of California. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | 1154 | 23 |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1182 | 25 |
| Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA | 1150 | 24 |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | 1149 | 23 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, GA | 1178 | 25 |
| Spelman College | Atlanta, GA | 1184 | 24 |
| Toccoa Falls College | Toccoa Falls, GA | 1155 | 23 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Dominican University of California. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | Willimantic, CT | 1200 | NA |
| University of New Haven | West Haven, CT | 1190 | NA |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Dominican University of California. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA | 1224 | 26 |
Degree Programs at DUofC
Bachelor Degree Programs
Masters Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About DUofC Admissions
Graduates of Dominican University of California earn a high median salary of $84,713/year, varying by field.
Tuition at Dominican University of California runs high, at roughly $68,620+/year, so financial aid planning matters.
29.6% of Dominican University of California students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income, and filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Dominican University of California's acceptance rate is 95.6%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Dominican University of California students is 3.66, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.36 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Dominican University of California. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.26 or below makes admission tougher at Dominican University of California, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
Dominican University of California weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1194, and within the 1070–1291 range, keeps you competitive.
Dominican University of California follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before 2025/11/15 (priority date for merit scholarship consideration). That's Dominican University of California's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out, plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
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