Dominican University
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Dominican University provides instruction to students seeking an Associates, Undergraduate or Graduate degree (some doctorate and certificates), and administers all of its programs without discrimination of race, color, gender, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, age, marital status, or sexual orientation. As a Sinsinawa Dominican sponsored institution, Dominican University prepares students to pursue truth, give compassionate service, and to participate in the creation of a more just and humane world.
- Income
- $136.4 million
- Spending
- $136.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- -1.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 85%
- Employees
- 1,689
- Volunteers
- 231
- Highest pay
- $465,793, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 24% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2528 of 31 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $86.0 million spent. Instructional Support includes areas related to teaching, research, mentoring and advising at the River Forest and Chicago Campuses. The University provides rigorous education in an intellectually integrated, mission-centered educational environment with hundreds of avenues for its students at the undergraduate and graduate levels to explore career interests and experience diverse cultures and international environments. At its River Forest campus, the university offers more than 50+ undergraduate degree options, 25+ graduate degrees, and doctoral degrees in Information Studies, Applied Social Justice, and Educational Leadership. The university offers an associate's degree coupled with a living-learning community at its Chicago Campus. Certificates, adult-education and work-force development certificates are also offered. Students have direct access to Chicago's professional network. Students benefit from hands-on research opportunities, demanding academics, personal attention and deep interactions within small class sizes. Career-enhancing opportunities include pre-professional programs. Full-time, part-time, evening and online classes are offered.
- $13.4 million spent. Academic Support Services are provided under the leadership of the Provost's team of the university, and it supports the instructional areas of the university. Faculty are supported by the Center for Teaching Excellence whose mission is to assist faculty at all stages of their career as it relates to their role as teachers, student mentors, advisers, scholars, and citizens of the community and the university. Faculty committees exist to allow input and transparency into core decisions of the university. The Faculty Senate provides a central voice for all faculty. The Rebecca Crown Library provides library services to students, faculty, staff and the community. The Information Technology and the Registrar's Offices provide resources to students that are directly aligned with the students' academic needs.
- $15.0 million spent. In direct support to students, Student Services is comprised of the Office of Enrollment Management (Admissions), Financial Aid Office, Dean of Students Office, Student Success and Engagement, and Athletics. The Vice President for Enrollment Management oversees the Admissions, Stars Connect, and Financial Aid offices. The Admission's team is responsible for recruiting new and transfer students for the River Forest and Chicago campuses. By complying with federal and state regulations, the Financial Aid Office is responsible for packaging financial aid for students based on limits set by federal and state governance, and/or the university's policies. Most students receive some form of institutional scholarships or grants. External audits are conducted by various agencies for financial application and for financial aid. The Dean of Students and Student Success and Engagement Offices, which include (Wellness, Advising, Career Services, and Student Activities) work closely with students to prepare for holistic experiences. Training, tutoring, and various areas of support are the many resources that are provided. Career services help to prepare students for employment during and after their academic tenure. The Athletic Director oversees the university's 13 athletic sports and applies gender equity among the sports. The Athletic Department provides intercollegiate competition opportunities for student athletes of the university regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or orientation.
- $4.6 million spent. Auxiliary services include student housing, campus dining, and the Performing Arts Theater at River Forest and Chicago campuses. The university offers four residence halls in River Forest, and one living-learning community in Chicago. Housing includes a variety of options ranging from single, double and triple rooms to suites. Students who live in the residence halls are expected to purchase the campus meal plan; some specific exceptions are allowed. The Performing Arts Theater offers a variety of musical and theater productions, many led or managed by students. The theater productions are integrated with the Undergraduate Theater Program which supports their theater curriculum. Many students participate in the performances, assist with stage crew set up and tear down, and ticket collections.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.
Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1946.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.