Dominican University Earns National Recognition for Transfer Student Support and Success

River Forest, IL-Dominican University's excellence in creating supportive pathways for community college students to seamlessly transfer to a four-year bachelor's degree program has earned the institution praise from Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

Dominican was named to Phi Theta Kappa's 2026 Transfer Honor Roll, which recognizes excellence and success in transfer pathway development and how well institutions support students-from admission to graduation. The Transfer Honor Roll is one of the country's most comprehensive recognitions of transfer excellence.

Dominican is one of only 275 colleges and universities to have earned honor roll status this year.

"This distinction proves and solidifies our consistent commitment to the success of our transfer students," said Sherry Anton, director of transfer admission at Dominican University. "We recognize each transfer student's success at their community college, and we know they will continue that success and achievement at Dominican."

Dominican was assessed based on the strengths of its transfer student success outcomes; financial assistance for students; recruitment and admissions practices; credit mobility and degree applicability; and campus engagement and overall student support.

Institutions that complete the PTK Connect institutional profile receive a Transfer Friendliness Rating. The Transfer Honor Roll recognizes the top-performing institutions based on this comprehensive evaluation.

"This recognition is about much more than transfer agreements," said Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, president and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa. "Successful transfer happens when institutions intentionally design policies, practices, and campus cultures that help students thrive after they arrive. These colleges have demonstrated that transfer student success is not accidental. It is a strategic priority."

Anton notes that Dominican, which has partnerships with all 50 Illinois community colleges, "is transfer-friendly" from the moment a prospective student expresses interest in the university, and one-on-one support begins immediately.

"We encourage students to meet with our transfer team either in person or virtually to discuss where they are at in their journey," she said. "Our team also visits partner community colleges throughout the year to discuss with prospective students how Dominican fits their long-term graduation plan."

Students looking to transfer to Dominican are connected to vital information on the transfer of credits and academic plans. They are also directed to the university's Career Center, which allows transfer students to begin their career path and receive expert advice as they progress through their education.

Events hosted during Transfer Week, a national event held each October, and attendance by Dominican University representatives at transfer fairs throughout the area further help to reach prospective students and solidify connections.

The university's comprehensive efforts are showing clear results as transfer student appointments at Dominican have consistently been on the rise in recent years.

"Our growth in completed applications is evident, which shows us that our transfer students are more prepared and engaged to enroll at Dominican," Anton said.

About Dominican University
Founded in 1901, Dominican University is a comprehensive, coeducational Catholic institution with campuses in River Forest and Chicago. The university offers an associate of arts in liberal arts and sciences; bachelor's and master's degrees through the Rosary College of Arts, Education, and Sciences, the College of Business, Information Studies, and Technology, and the Borra College of Health Sciences; as well as doctoral programs in information studies, applied social justice and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.

As Chicago's premier Catholic Hispanic-Serving Institution, Dominican is consistently recognized as a leader in academic excellence and value. U.S. News & World Report ranks Dominican University in the top 25 of Midwest regional master's level universities, and #1 in Illinois for Best Value and ensuring the social mobility of its graduates. Learn more at dom.edu

About Phi Theta Kappa

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society recognizes the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helps them grow as scholars and leaders. Recognized by the American Association of Community Colleges as the official honor society for two-year colleges, PTK also serves as the nation's largest honor society in higher education, with more than 4.5 million members and nearly 1,200 chapters in 11 countries, including approximately 220,000 active members in colleges today. Through scholarships, leadership development, and transfer and career pathways, PTK helps students turn their potential into opportunity. Learn more at ptk.org.