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Aurora University

Private Nonprofit Graduate Good 70/100

Aurora University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Aurora, Illinois

About Aurora University

Aurora University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Aurora, Illinois. It enrolls 3,974 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: aurora.edu

Acceptance: 80.9%
Graduation: 63.6%
Net Price: $18,838
Median Earnings (10yr): $58,709
Enrollment: 3,974
Student : Faculty: 18:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good

70/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 55

Value 64

Affordability 67

Selectivity 34

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 80.9%, Aurora University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

80.9%

Easy

SAT Range (25th–75th)

900 – 1150

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

21 – 29

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Aurora University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable ↓ 1.6 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Aurora University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $18,838 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$18,838

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

45%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

47%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees: $29,170
Room & Board (on-campus): $13,580
Room & Board (off-campus): $4,626
Books & Supplies: $1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus): $3,510
Other Expenses (off-campus): $3,780
Total Cost of Attendance: $40,625

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$14,525
$30,001 – $48,000

$14,089
$48,001 – $75,000

$15,431
$75,001 – $110,000

$19,300
Over $110,000

$24,595

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$3,750

10% percentile

$7,500

25% percentile

$20,318

Median percentile

$26,000

75% percentile

$32,100

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $16,750 ↓ $3,568

No Pell $15,000 ↓ $5,318

Dependent students $15,000 ↓ $5,318

Independent students $20,000 ↓ $318

Female students $15,733 ↓ $4,585

Male students $15,000 ↓ $5,318

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,500, less than completers ($20,318), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

64% of full-time students who enrolled at Aurora University graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

64%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

77%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Aurora University earn a median of $58,709 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$58,709

Earning > $25K

84%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$41,900

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$54,000

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$39,000

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$47,400

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$49,400

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $12,100, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 13.8 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Strong. 83% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Aurora University is home to 3,974 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 46% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

3,974

Part-Time

First-Generation

46%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

Hispanic 42.5% 1,690

White 38.7% 1,538

Black 6.3% 249

Other 3.3% 130

Asian 3.2% 128

International 0.8% 30

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Aurora University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large Suburb Aurora, Illinois

Housing

Partly residential 789 beds available

Adult Learners

14% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

Aurora University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 48 distinct programs across 19 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

5 Programs

Public Administration

Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)
Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)
Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)

7 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Marketing $69K ($50K–$93K)

4 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Health/Medical Preparatory $62K ($43K–$83K)
Rehabilitation $56K ($40K–$74K)

3 Programs

Recreation & Fitness

Kinesiology $55K ($39K–$73K)
Kinesiology $55K ($39K–$73K)
Parks $50K ($38K–$64K)

2 Programs

Computer Science

Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)
IT Administration $85K ($59K–$118K)

3 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Design $51K ($33K–$71K)
Drama & Theatre $40K ($25K–$55K)
Music $43K ($26K–$59K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Aurora University is 18:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty

18:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Endowment

$181M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$80,516

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

123 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	19	15%	$100,397
Associate Professors	47	38%	$81,535
Assistant Professors	46	37%	$74,481
Lecturers	11	9%	$67,056

Pros & Cons of Aurora University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Aurora University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body

CONS

Class sizes are on the higher side
Modest first-year retention

Best for: Based on the data, Aurora University is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.

Frequently Asked Questions about Aurora University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Aurora University.

Is Aurora University hard to get into?

Aurora University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 80.9%.

What is the acceptance rate at Aurora University?

Aurora University has an acceptance rate of 80.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Aurora University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Aurora University scored between 900 and 1150 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

What ACT score do you need for Aurora University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Aurora University scored between 21 and 29 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Aurora University cost?

The average net price after aid at Aurora University is $18,838 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Aurora University worth it?

Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $58,709 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $18,838 per year. That's roughly 3.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Aurora University known for?

Aurora University is best known for its programs in Social Work, Nursing, Social Work. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Aurora University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Aurora University are $58,709, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Aurora University accredited?

Yes. Aurora University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend Aurora University?

Aurora University enrolls 3,974 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Aurora University?

Aurora University graduates 64% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Aurora University a public or private college?

Aurora University is a Private Nonprofit institution.

Where is Aurora University located?

Aurora University is located in Aurora, Illinois.

What programs does Aurora University offer?

Aurora University offers 48 distinct programs. The most popular include Social Work, Nursing, Social Work.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Aurora University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Aurora University is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.