Dominican vs. AQ

Comparable Facts

Compare Dominican University in River Forest, IL with Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Dominican University is larger than AQ based on total student enrollment (3,803 students vs. 1,157 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dominican University is located in River Forest, IL (Large Suburban setting); Aquinas College is in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting).
• Dominican University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dominican University 12:1; Aquinas College 10:1.

Dominican vs. AQ Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dominican or AQ? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Dominican University than AQ ($13,402 vs. $18,018).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aquinas College are 8.1% lower than at Dominican University ($11,680 vs. $12,716).
• Aquinas College is 3.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Dominican (about $1,240 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $38,978.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.2% higher at AQ than at Dominican University (about $1,240 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $38,978.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Dominican University as at Aquinas College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 9% larger than aid received by Dominican University students ($33,535 vs. $30,756).

Dominican vs. AQ Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Dominican or AQ? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between AQ and Dominican.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Aquinas College (1030) is 40 points higher than at Dominican (990).
• Incoming AQ students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 21 at Dominican).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dominican University 880/1100; Aquinas College 910/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dominican University 16/26; Aquinas College 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dominican - Test optional; AQ - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dominican Aug 31, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Dominican students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at AQ (3.52).
• Dominican has a higher acceptance rate (90.3%) than AQ (89.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.1% at Dominican vs. 11.8% at AQ.

Dominican vs. AQ Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dominican and AQ? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Dominican University's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Aquinas College's (52%).
• Graduates from Dominican University earn a median of about $8,000 more per year than AQ graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,000 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dominican University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than AQ graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, Dominican graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AQ graduates ($258 vs. $268).
• More Dominican graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AQ students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.