For some, the four-year, living-in-the-dorm college experience is not the best fit.
“It’s easy to get lost in the shuffle at college, and that’s why Dougherty Family College is so unique, because students don’t get lost here,” said Erica Embury, associate director of admissions at Dougherty Family College (DFC). “We are designed specifically for students looking for a very supportive environment for those first years of college.”
DFC opened in 2017 and is a two-year college located within the University of St. Thomas’s downtown Minneapolis campus. It offers an associate degree and a rigorous curriculum including leadership development, mentoring from St. Thomas faculty, and paid internships. It is a fit for students who ultimately aspire to attend a four-year bachelor's degree program. Classes at DFC are the same general core courses all undergraduates at St. Thomas take during their first two years.
“We put student support into what I would consider three different buckets: personal support, academic support, and financial support, which is a huge one, because finding a college that comes at an affordable price tag these days can be difficult,” Embury added.
All students at DFC work towards earning their Associate of Arts (AA) in liberal arts. It provides general education and skills in the arts, humanities, and social sciences, while also serving as the first two years of a bachelor's degree. This allows students to complete their general education requirements before transferring to a four-year college or university to complete their studies.
For students interested in studying science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics, DFC has a STEM pathway so students can take upper-level math and science courses at the St. Paul campus.
Embury said her favorite aspect of DFC is the cohorts. Essentially, each student is assigned to a cohort, a group of 20 to 25 students who take all their classes together for their first full year at DFC. “It fosters that sense of community, that sense of belonging, and I think that is why DFC is so successful because students feel at home and have a place and people who support them. It’s my favorite part of DFC, the cohorts,” Embury added.
The fall 2026 application for DFC is now open, and there are also two upcoming opportunities for students and parents to learn more. Saturday, Sept. 27, is an information session perfect for those starting to learn more about their college options.
For seniors who are making decisions, the Experience DFC Event on Thursday, Oct. 16, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. offers tours and the ability to experience what it’s like to be a DFC student.
Learn more about DFC and register here.