Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Aurora University #342 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $64,521, placing Aurora University in the 64.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Aurora University sits in the 88.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting graduate outcomes that outpace what similar students earn at comparable institutions. --- Students at Aurora University earn about $12,028 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a result that stands out within the broader field of private nonprofit institutions and reflects the university's business-oriented program mix. Taken together, the composite ranking and earnings-beyond-expectations position signal that Aurora University delivers financial outcomes that consistently exceed what the entering student profile would predict.
Azimuth ranks Aurora University #342 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Aurora, IL, Aurora University enrolls roughly 3,974 undergraduates. Retention stands at 77.1% and the six-year graduation rate is 60.3%, reflecting a student body that largely completes what it starts. The composite is anchored in return on investment. Azimuth ranks Aurora University #408 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median Business-leaning outcomes, and earn about $12,028 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Aurora University in the 88.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university's concentration in Business — the dominant program family — helps orient graduates toward career paths with consistent labor-market demand. Access and affordability shape the composite's remaining contours. Aurora University sits in the 79.4 percentile for access and the 66.2 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 45.0% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 45.7% identifying as first-generation students. Mobility sits in the 54.7 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting how consistently graduates convert their degrees into durable earnings gains relative to comparable institutions.
Aurora University's published cost of attendance is $40,625. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $14,525, middle-income families pay around $15,431, and higher-income families pay approximately $24,595. Azimuth ranks Aurora University #483 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,318, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $19,500; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. See the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and Aurora University participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $64,521, median federal debt of $20,318 projects to a monthly payment of about $230 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Aurora University is a private nonprofit university in Aurora, IL, well suited for students drawn to business and professionally oriented fields who want a smaller institutional setting with a clear path to stable post-graduation earnings. Graduates earn about $12,028 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Aurora University in the 88.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median $64,521 four years after enrollment, placing Aurora University in the 64.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Aurora University enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 45.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 45.7% are first-generation — and the institution's completion outcomes for this group, reflected in a Pell completion rate of 62.2%, suggest it supports access-oriented students through to graduation. Median student debt at graduation is $20,318, a figure families should weigh against the institution's earnings trajectory when planning. Fit depends on two realistic filters: Aurora University's program mix centers on Business and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those seeking deep STEM or research-intensive programs may find a better match elsewhere. Higher-income families should note that net price at the upper income band is $24,595, which positions this as a mid-range private option rather than a low-cost alternative to public institutions.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Aurora University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Augsburg University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#10853 ranked) | MN | 82% | $58,829 | #10853 | Compare |
College Of The Holy Cross Similar quality tier (#10904 ranked) | MA | 18% | $90,543 | #10904 | Compare |
Grinnell College Similar quality tier in Midwest (#10915 ranked) | IA | 15% | $62,830 | #10915 | Compare |
Pace University Similar quality tier (#10918 ranked) | NY | 76% | $70,378 | #10918 | Compare |
Milwaukee School Of Engineering Similar quality tier in Midwest (#10837 ranked) | WI | 59% | $89,070 | #10837 | Compare |
Computer Science
28 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
158 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
31 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
27 graduates
Marketing
51 graduates
Aurora University's program mix is anchored in Business, with meaningful enrollment across education, social work, and health-related fields — a signature consistent with a regional private nonprofit serving the greater Chicago metro. Business accounts for 22% of graduates, followed by Education at 8% and Arts at 2%.
Across 28 programs serving roughly 1,233 students annually, the university concentrates its degree output in applied professional fields oriented toward stable, community-facing careers. The program with the strongest combined scale and earnings is Nursing, which anchors Aurora University's financial outcomes by pairing meaningful cohort size with solid four-year earnings.
Among the most popular programs, Social Work program graduates 203 students with median earnings of $55,546 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #14 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business Administration and Nursing round out the high-enrollment tier, reflecting the university's orientation toward human services and applied professional preparation.
For the highest early-career earnings, Nursing leads with median earnings of $84,022 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks it #194 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Digital Marketing and Business Administration follow, each delivering competitive early-career pay relative to the institution's regional peers.
The labor-market alignment of Aurora University's dominant program families reflects the demand profile of the greater Chicago metro and surrounding suburban markets, where education, healthcare, and business-services roles remain consistently in demand. Programs in education and social work are local-labor pathways where graduates typically enter regional employment rather than national high-mobility markets; business and management programs offer somewhat broader geographic reach.
For context on how these program families align with national wage trends, see the [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/).
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Aurora University's published cost of attendance is $40,625. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $14,525, middle-income families pay around $15,431, and higher-income families pay approximately $24,595.
Azimuth ranks Aurora University #483 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,318, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $19,500; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures.
See the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and Aurora University participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $64,521, median federal debt of $20,318 projects to a monthly payment of about $230 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $64,521, placing Aurora University in the 64.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,028 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Aurora University in the 88.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Aurora University #408 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to IL's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,990, the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential.
The earnings pattern at Aurora University is anchored in Business, which forms the core of the institution's degree output. Nursing stands out as the program combining strong cohort scale with solid four-year earnings — a key contributor to the institution's overall return profile.
Among the top programs by graduate volume, Social Work program graduates 203 students with median earnings of $55,546 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #14 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Business Administration and Nursing round out the higher-earning cluster, with graduates posting median four-year earnings of $64,446 and $84,022 respectively, both drawing from Aurora University's concentration in Business — which accounts for 22% of degrees — alongside Education at 8% and Arts at 2%.
