Aurora University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Aurora University is a private research university in Aurora, Illinois, serving roughly 3,974 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 80.85% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $58,709 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $29,170
- 2024 Average Net Price: $18,838 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 80.85% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 3,974 92.1% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 60.32%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities
- First-Generation Students: 45.7%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 2.9% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 0.9% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 24.7%
- Average SAT Score: 1076
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,629
- Applicants (IPEDS): 5,264
- Room & Board: $13,580 annual estimate
Aurora University: what the data shows
Common questions about Aurora University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Aurora University?
Aurora University is located in Aurora, IL (ZIP 60506-4892).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is Aurora University public or private?
Aurora University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Aurora University cost?
Published tuition: $29,170.
Average net price after aid: $18,838.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $14,525 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $14,089 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $15,431 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $19,300 |
| $110,001+ | $24,595 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $116,680.
How hard is it to get into Aurora University?
Admission rate: 80.85%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1076 and midpoint ACT 22.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Aurora University?
Total enrollment: 3,974 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 4,629 students.
Graduate enrollment: 1,817 students.
About 92% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Aurora University?
150%-time completion rate: 60.32%.
First-year retention: 77.1%.
What do graduates of Aurora University earn?
Median earnings: $51,237 six years after entry; $58,709 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $20,318.
44.95% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Aurora University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Social Work (749 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (313 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (192 completions)
- Psychology, General (100 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies (68 completions)
- Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, Other (68 completions)
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General (53 completions)
- Elementary Education and Teaching (52 completions)
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology (51 completions)
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General (46 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Aurora University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 80.85%; completion rate 60.32%; median earnings $58,709 at 10 years; net price $18,838. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$29,170
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Aurora University was $29,170.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$18,838
2024 Value
In 2024 Aurora University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $18,838.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$75,352 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$18,838 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$116,680 4-Year Tuition
$13,580 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,200 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$43,950 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$175,800 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Aurora University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
44.95% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
47.36% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Aurora University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Aurora University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $20,720 | $20,720 | $17,075 |
| 2014 | $21,320 | $21,320 | $16,460 |
| 2015 | $22,080 | $22,080 | $17,494 |
| 2016 | $22,830 | $22,830 | $17,557 |
| 2017 | $23,520 | $23,520 | $17,220 |
| 2018 | $24,260 | $24,260 | $17,613 |
| 2019 | $25,060 | $25,060 | $17,215 |
| 2020 | $25,600 | $25,600 | $16,994 |
| 2021 | $26,760 | $26,760 | $17,285 |
| 2022 | $27,420 | $27,420 | $18,815 |
| 2023 | $28,220 | $28,220 | $18,992 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
80.85% Acceptance Rate
5,264 Total Applicants
4,482 Students Admitted
829 First-Time Students Enrolled
18.50% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1076
ACT Average: 22
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Aurora University reported total enrollment of about 3,974 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 33% male and 67% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (42.5%), White (38.7%), and Black or African American (6.3%). About 44.95% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 45.7% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
92.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Aurora University in 2024 is 3,974 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 4,629 students. Graduate enrollment is about 1,817 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
77.1%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Hispanic or Latino at 42.5%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
49.54% 100% Completion Time
60.32% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 49.54% of students graduating from Aurora University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Social Work: 11% male / 89% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 53% male / 47% female
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 15% male / 85% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Aurora University.
Return on Investment
$20,318 Median Student Debt
$58,709 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
34.61% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
679.13% Return on Investment
3.5 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Aurora University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 45 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Social Work: 749 completions
2. Business Administration and Management, General: 313 completions
3. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 192 completions
4. Psychology, General: 100 completions
5. Criminal Justice/Safety Studies: 68 completions
6. Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, Other: 68 completions
7. Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 53 completions
8. Elementary Education and Teaching: 52 completions
9. Exercise Science and Kinesiology: 51 completions
Most popular programs at Aurora University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Aurora University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Aurora University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 24.7%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $9,142
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $5,125
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Aurora University is a private non-profit institution located in Aurora, IL, classified as Doctoral/Professional Universities. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Social Work, Business Administration and Management, General, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. Enrollment is approximately 3,974 students. Student body composition includes Hispanic or Latino (42.5%), White (38.7%), Black or African American (6.3%). The admission rate is 80.85%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1076. The 150%-time completion rate is 60.32%. Approximately 44.95% of students receive Pell Grants. About 45.7% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities
Location
Aurora, IL 60506-4892
Region: Great Lakes
Insights and Analysis
Aurora University provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Aurora University located?
Aurora University is located in Aurora, IL.
What is Aurora University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Aurora University is 80.8% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 5,264 applicants and 4,482 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Aurora University cost?
Reported tuition is $29,170 and average net price is $18,838 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $13,580 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Aurora University?
Aurora University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 4,629 students, Hispanic or Latino (42.5%), White (38.7%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Aurora University?
About 45.7% of students at Aurora University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Aurora University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Aurora University reports midpoint SAT about 1076 and midpoint ACT about 22.
What do graduates of Aurora University earn?
Median earnings are $51,237 six years after entry and $58,709 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Aurora University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 60.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Aurora University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $20,318.
Is Aurora University public or private?
Aurora University is a private nonprofit institution located in Aurora, IL.
Is Aurora University an HBCU?
No. Aurora University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Aurora University a tribal college?
No. Aurora University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Illinois college costs
- Illinois colleges by ROI
- Great Lakes regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Illinois
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.