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Aurora, Illinois skylinePhoto: Sea Cow · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Aurora

Aurora is home to Aurora University

Aurora University (4,169 students on campus) is inside the city. About 7% of Aurora’s residents are enrolled in college, above Illinois (6%).

Aurora University

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Aurora. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
7
38,357 students on campus
Nearest college
3.1 mi
Aurora University
Residents in college
7%
Above IL (6%)
Nearest community college
9 mi
Waubonsee · $3,504 tuition
Nearest public university
27.2 mi
Northern Illinois University · $13,248 in-state
Median household income
$94K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Aurora

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A university in AuroraAurora University has 4,169 students on campus in Aurora, 60% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 9 miles awayWaubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove: tuition and fees $3,504 a year for Illinois residents.In-state price at Northern Illinois UniversityLiving in Illinois, Northern Illinois University charges $13,248 in tuition and fees, the same for every student.Students are 7% of residentsAbove Illinois (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Aurora

Five private colleges within 12.3 miles, and two community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, Northern Illinois University, is 27.2 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miCollege of DuPageWaubonseeAurora UniversityAurora
University or collegeCommunity college
Aurora UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,169 on campus · In Aurora81%admitted$19knet price60%graduate$59kearningsNorth Central CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,649 on campus · 7.6 mi · Naperville77%admitted$21knet price64%graduate$60kearningsWaubonsee Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,090 on campus · 9 mi · Sugar Grove$11knet price39%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $3,504 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.DeVry University-IllinoisUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,101 on campus · 9.4 mi · Lisle · mostly online98%admitted$31knet price37%graduate$46kearnings96% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Earnings are reported for all 11 campuses that file with it.Benedictine UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,940 on campus · 10 mi · Lisle95%admitted$22knet price50%graduate$63kearningsWheaton CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,613 on campus · 12.3 mi · Wheaton87%admitted$27knet price85%graduate$64kearningsCollege of DuPageCommunity college · Public · 18,795 on campus · 12.5 mi · Glen Ellyn$7knet price25%graduate$47kearningsTuition and fees: $4,560 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Aurora’s median household income ($93,633) falls.

College of DuPage12.5 mi · Glen Ellyn · sticker $15,554 · tuition $4,560$12,717a year
Waubonsee Community College9 mi · Sugar Grove · sticker $19,336 · tuition $3,504$16,173a year
Northern Illinois University27.2 mi · Dekalb · sticker $28,851$17,612a year
Aurora UniversityIn Aurora · sticker $40,625$19,300a year
North Central College7.6 mi · Naperville · sticker $57,219$20,590a year
Benedictine University10 mi · Lisle · sticker $46,713$23,517a year
Wheaton College12.3 mi · Wheaton · sticker $59,263$24,176a year
DeVry University-Illinois9.4 mi · Lisle · mostly online · sticker $38,660$33,253a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Aurora UniversityNorth Central CollegeWaubonseeWheaton CollegeCollege of DuPageNorthern Illinois University
College of DuPage25% graduate$47k earnings$10k typical debt
Northern Illinois University49% graduate$58k earnings$22k typical debt
Waubonsee Community College39% graduate$45k earnings$7k typical debt
Aurora University60% graduate$59k earnings$20k typical debt
North Central College64% graduate$60k earnings$24k typical debt
Wheaton College85% graduate$64k earnings$23k typical debt
Benedictine University50% graduate$63k earnings$22k typical debt
DeVry University-Illinois37% graduate$46k earnings*$25k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: DeVry University-Illinois (11).

Majors

What students study in Aurora

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Aurora University, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 23%Business 22%Public administration 13%Psychology 8%Education 7%Parks & recreation 5%Everything else 21%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing216 graduates a year
$84k4 yrs out
Social Work175 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations163 graduates a year
$64k4 yrs out
Psychology, General102 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods83 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections76 graduates a year
$61k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness52 graduates a year
$49k4 yrs out
Marketing47 graduates a year
$65k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Aurora

Is Aurora a college town?

No. About 7 of every 100 Aurora residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Illinois (6). The largest campus in the city, Aurora University, has 4,169 students on campus.

What colleges are in Aurora?

Aurora University is inside the city. Waubonsee Community College is 9 miles away in Sugar Grove.

What is the closest community college to Aurora, and what does it cost?

Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, 9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,504 a year for Illinois residents; the federal net price, $11,442, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Northern Illinois University cost if we live in Illinois?

Tuition and fees are $13,248 a year in-state and $13,248 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,126 (under $30,000 income) to $21,834 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Aurora. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →