Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences

Power Your Potential

Choosing the next step after high school can be overwhelming. Dominican’s associate program, located at our Chicago Campus, offers the support you need to succeed. In just two years, you’ll earn your degree with a career-focused concentration while you live and learn alongside a cohort of your fellow trailblazers in the vibrant Pilsen neighborhood. Upon graduation, you can transition seamlessly into our top-ranked bachelor’s degree programs or graduate ready for a career. Request more information.

What You'll Learn

Dominican’s associate degree goes beyond typical two-year programs with a unique job-ready focus. Our curriculum was developed with direct input from employers, ensuring you'll develop the skills you need to succeed. But learning isn’t contained in the classroom. You’ll use the city as your campus, gaining hands-on experience at sites throughout Chicago on a set day each week. After graduation, you’ll be seamlessly accepted into our top-ranked bachelor’s degree programs, should you choose to continue your studies.

Stand Out in Your Career Search

Throughout the program, you’ll gain exposure to a wide variety of companies and have countless opportunities to network with Chicago’s top employers. We’ll make our connections your connections so that you graduate with an established network. You’ll also build critical thinking skills through a rigorous liberal arts curriculum, uniquely preparing you for the job market. 

Upon graduation, you’ll be seamlessly accepted to our high-impact bachelor’s degree programs should you choose to continue your studies. Not interested in a bachelor’s degree? That’s OK, too. As part of the program, you’ll choose a concentration in one of four in-demand areas, including cybersecurity, nursing assistant, translation and interpretation or legal studies. Through specialized coursework and hands-on experiences, you’ll gain the skills you need to excel in your field of interest. 

Live and Study in Pilsen

In year one of the program, you’ll enjoy apartment-style living at La Casa Residence Hall, located steps away from the CTA Pink Line. You and a roommate will share a floor with eight other students, building community in the shared study spaces and kitchen. Nearly everything you need, from laundry to academic support resources, is located on-site. As part of the program, you’ll receive a UPass to help you explore the city without additional out-of-pocket expenses. In year two, you’ll have the ability to live wherever suits your lifestyle—at home, on your own or on our River Forest campus, with shuttle service to Pilsen provided. 

Financing Your Degree

Recognized as the #1 Best Value School in the Midwest by U.S. News and World Report, Dominican University is committed to making higher education accessible. Our associate degree is designed to be a low-cost, high-impact program for students with limited financial resources. Your net cost of attendance may be as low $5,500 before student loans. Your out-of-pocket costs will include the cost of your tuition, your room and board, a daily meal plan, laptop and UPass for convenient transportation around the city. Loans and payment plans are available to assist students in financing their education. Learn more about tuition and aid.

Personalized Support On-Site 

This isn’t your traditional two-year program. Dominican’s associate degree program offers extensive support both in the classroom and beyond. From academic counseling to career coaching, experienced, full-time faculty will craft a personalized success plan and support your progress—every step of the way. On-site resources extend well beyond your coursework and include help with basic needs (food, housing and social service), technological assistance, financial wellness, mental health assistance and more.

Built-In Support Network

When you join Dominican, you join a community committed to your success. You won’t find this level of support at any community college. Our program is cohort-based, which means you’ll join a community that will follow you through the same two-year experience, building a network of support with students who share similar experiences and backgrounds. Nearly 50% of Dominican students are the first in their family to attend college and more than 70% of undergraduates are students of color. 

This is so much more than an associate degree. It’s a pathway to your future. An invitation to a community—a family—who will help you chart your course while empowering you to create lasting change. It’s where you belong. Let’s get started!