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“Healthcare and liberal arts 15 miles from San Francisco”
Dominican University of California is a private Catholic-heritage liberal arts university on an 80-acre campus in San Rafael, Marin County — 15 miles north of San Francisco. Founded in 1890 by the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, the university now operates as a pluralistic institution open to students of all faiths. Dominican ranks #31 among Regional Universities West and #16 Best Value Schools West (U.S. News 2026), with a 9:1 student-faculty ratio and exceptional graduate outcomes: a 10-year median salary of $84,713, driven by strong nursing and occupational therapy programs. Signature offerings include a BSN nursing program, a 6-year accelerated BS+OTD occupational therapy pathway, and a nationally recognized dance program. The San Rafael campus provides easy access to San Francisco's healthcare and technology sectors (SFO airport 35 minutes). International students represent a very small community (under 1% of undergrads), so students seeking a large international peer community should note this when considering Dominican.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
—
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$52,161
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $52,161
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
