What is the acceptance rate at Aurora University?

Aurora University's acceptance rate is approximately 81% (Aurora, IL), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.

What SAT score do you need for Aurora University?

Admitted students at Aurora University typically score 900–1150 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

How much does Aurora University cost?

At Aurora University, the average net price (after aid) is about $18,838 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.

How many undergraduates attend Aurora University?

Aurora University enrolls approximately 3,974 undergraduate students.

Where is Aurora University located?

Aurora University is located in Aurora, IL.

Aurora University: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Cost — QuantAdmit

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Aurora University

Aurora, ILprivate nonprofitaurora.edu

Acceptance

81%

SAT 25–75

900–1150

Avg net price

$18,838

Earnings (10 yr)

$58,709

Graduation rate

60%

Admit rate has ranged 82%–87% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.

Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.

Aurora University is a small, accessible private university in Illinois with an 81% acceptance rate and a focus on practical undergraduate programs. Known for its peaceful campus and strong community vibe, AU offers over 60 majors, a test-optional admissions policy, and a 58% six-year graduation rate. Its students enjoy quirky campus events like 'create-your-own stuffed animal' nights and benefit from generous financial aid (77% receive aid averaging $31,013).

Admission requirements

Test-optional — scores considered if submitted

Required

Grade point average
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)

Considered (not required)

High school transcript
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)

Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.

More details

Undergrad enrollment: 3,974
In-state tuition: $29,170
Out-of-state tuition: $29,170
Notable Quirk: ‘Create-your-own stuffed animal’ campus events
Acceptance Rate: 81%
6-Year Graduation Rate: 58%
Freshman Retention Rate: 77%
Avg. Financial Aid Package: $31,013
Students Receiving Financial Aid: 77%

Outcomes & value

Median earnings (10 yr): $58,709
Value (earnings ÷ net price): 3.1×
Median debt at graduation: $20,318
Graduation rate: 60%
First-year retention: 77%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr): 62%
Pell (lower-income) share: 60%
First-generation share: 46%
Endowment / student: $13,592

Financial health

2.8 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard

U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.

Top-earning majors

Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$62,661
Business/Commerce, General$50,105
Finance and Financial Management Services$48,682
Accounting and Related Services$47,200
Marketing$46,087
Business Administration, Management and Operations

Campus & location

Campus safety

On-campus violent crimes (2024): 2
Per 1,000 students: 0.50

On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.

Climate

Pleasant days / yr: 84
Summer high: 82°F
Winter low: 21°F
Annual rain: 46.7"
Annual snow: 28.9"
Natural-hazard risk: Relatively High

Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.

Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility

Research output

Institutional h-index: 70
Scholarly works: 1,311

Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.

Economic mobility

Mobility rate: 1.1%
Bottom → top quintile: 15%
From bottom quintile: 7%

Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.

Quick answers

What is the acceptance rate at Aurora University?: Aurora University's acceptance rate is approximately 81% (Aurora, IL), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Aurora University?: Admitted students at Aurora University typically score 900–1150 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Aurora University cost?: At Aurora University, the average net price (after aid) is about $18,838 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Aurora University?: Aurora University enrolls approximately 3,974 undergraduate students.
Where is Aurora University located?: Aurora University is located in Aurora, IL.

Admissions

Aurora University is decidedly not selective, with an 81% acceptance rate (4,353 admitted out of 5,384 applicants in recent data). The middle 50% of admitted students score between 900-1160 on the SAT or 17-24 on the ACT, though AU is test-optional—applicants can choose to omit standardized scores entirely. The admissions process uses the Common Application, and the vibe is welcoming: AU explicitly states it does not have an open-admission policy but operates with near-open accessibility.

prepscholar.com bigfuture.collegeboard.org catalog.aurora.edu petersons.com collegeraptor.com aurora.edu