Dominican University of California is a small private institution in San Rafael, in Marin County just north of San Francisco. It's Catholic and liberal arts-focused, which means you get a small college experience with Northern California access. The campus is beautiful; the location is expensive (Marin is wealthy).
Class sizes are small. Faculty engagement is real. The student body is more diverse than typical Catholic colleges, with strong programs in nursing, education, and business. You're close enough to San Francisco for internships and culture without being in the urban grind.
The catch is tuition—private liberal arts schools don't discount much, even with financial aid. Dominican works for students who value small classes, Catholic values without rigidity, and proximity to the Bay Area's opportunities.