Degree Programs Available at Aurora University
Aurora University appears in our ranking of the 50 Most Affordable Online Colleges with High Graduation Rates.
Located in Aurora, Illinois, Aurora University offers degree programs for students from across the country and for students from overseas. Undergrads can pick both a major and a minor and sign up for an endorsement program. The university offers a bilingual education endorsement for teachers who want to work with English as a second language students. A Bachelor of Science in Accounting program teaches students about finance and economics and prepares them to take the CPA and other licensing exams after they finish graduate school. Some of the traditional undergrad degree programs available from Aurora University allow students to major in areas that include chemistry, human and animal studies, professional writing, psychology, therapeutic recreation, and other fields.
Students can also earn one of 10 degrees from Aurora University online. There are four options for undergrads and six options for graduate students. The university has a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program that looks at how social workers help clients and the fields within this subject. Students can study business administration, criminal justice or general studies through the university’s online system. Graduate programs that students can complete online include Master of Social Work (MSW) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs. The university also offers degree programs in homeland security, exercise science, math education, and public administration online.
Aurora University now offers 30 traditional degree programs for graduate students on its main campus and its Woodstock campus. The university’s social work program includes both a general track and tracks in public administration, divinity and business administration. These programs allow students to study two different related fields without requiring that they spend three or more years working on their degrees. The recreation administration program helps students learn the ins and outs of running a recreational company such as an athletic complex. Some of the other areas graduate students can study include math, nursing, education, counseling and applied behavior analysis.
About Aurora University
Aurora University is a small, private university that offers opportunities for both online and traditional students. Founded in 1893 as the Mendota Seminary, it used some of the foundations established by the Adventist Christian Church to train religious leaders and professionals. The seminary only lasted for a few years before becoming Mendota College, which is also when it established its liberal arts curriculum. It took the name Aurora College in honor of the car company that was in Chicago at the time. The college became Aurora University in the 1970s after ending its church affiliation. It now owns the former campus of George Williams College, which it uses as a training camp in the summer and as a full campus during the school year.
A third campus in the Aurora University is one that it calls the Woodstock campus. Located in the Illinois city of the same name, this campus offers several graduate programs. Graduate students and undergrads can also earn their degrees online through Aurora. Traditional students will find a variety of opportunities available to them in Chicago, including internships with leading organizations and co-op programs offered by top employers. Across its multiple campus and online offerings, Aurora University has an enrollment of more than 5,500 students.
Aurora University Accreditation Details
Prospective students will find that Aurora University has the accreditation that lets them get financial aid and the accreditation that prepares them for their future endeavors. The accreditation that applies to its financial aid packages comes from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). This is a general form of accreditation that covers all of the university’s degree and certificate programs. Aurora also has full accreditation for its nursing and teaching programs.
Aurora University Application Requirements
Aurora University pairs prospective students with admissions reps to help them understand how to apply and to get some help once they submit their applications. Students can also learn more when they request information online or attend an open house. Aurora does not have an application deadline and uses a rolling admissions policy, which allows students to start classes at the beginning of any semester. This policy also gives students more time to work on and submit their applications. Undergrads only need to submit their transcripts and an ACT/SAT score along with the application. The university will accept digital transcripts that their schools send too.
Graduate students can also attend open houses, which let them meet with their future professors and sit in on classes. Though the university does not have any specific admissions requirements for graduate students, its programs do. Those requirements may include having a GPA of at least 3.0 and/or two years of professional experience. Most of its business programs give priority to students who have some experience in the field. Students will also need to use the graduate school application and select a program from the list provided. They will need to submit transcripts to show that they completed their bachelor’s degrees and have the grades required for those programs.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Aurora University allows undergrads to enroll as part-time students and pay $690 for each semester hour of classes they take. Full-time undergrads pay $12,000 each semester and can take up to 17 semester hours of classes for this rate. The average amount that students pay for room and board is $5,690 per term. This gives them a meal plan that provides them with 15 meals a week and a dorm room that they share with one other person. Graduate students pay rates established by their programs. The rate ranges from $500 per semester hour for those in a math or education program up to $800 per semester hour for digital marketing majors.
One way in which students can pay their costs is with a payment plan. The university offers payment plans for all types of students and does not charge them interest on the amount they owe. Before signing up for a payment plan, students should submit the FAFSA to apply for financial aid. They may work for the university, get grants and/or receive loans. The university’s scholarship for first-year students gives incoming freshmen between $3,000 and $15,000 a year and allows them to renew their awards. Scholarships are just one of the ways that Aurora University helps students afford the cost of their degree programs.