First Graduates from Dominican University’s Chicago Campus Earn Degrees

Chicago, IL-As Dominican University celebrates its 125th anniversary, students in the inaugural class of the university's Chicago Campus in Pilsen marked their own milestones in higher education when they walked across the commencement stage in May.

Fifteen students received an Associate of Arts degree from Dominican University during the undergraduate ceremony May 10 at the Rosemont Theatre.

The graduates are members of the very first cohort of the Chicago Campus' associate's degree program, which was launched in 2024 to expand access to higher education and equip students with job-ready skills for their future. Each Chicago Campus student chose a career-focused concentration that was embedded within their AA program: certified nursing assistant, legal studies, cybersecurity or translation and interpretation.

Prior to commencement, a pre-graduation day celebratory event was held just for the students on the Pilsen campus. This occasion lauded their accomplishments in higher education so far and marked their transition to a bachelor's degree program at Dominican's River Forest campus or another college or university, or their first steps into the workforce. Whatever they choose as their next steps, each student is equipped with the real-world skills they gained through their Dominican education.