Post-Graduation Outcomes

Aurora University participates in the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) First-Destination Survey on an annual basis. These post-graduation outcomes track graduates’ first-destination up to six months after completing their degree. Graduating students are reported based on their primary status after graduation and results are collected and reported in accordance with the NACE Standards and Protocols. Specifically, percentages reported below are based on information self-reported by students, collected from the National Student Clearinghouse, and student social media profiles (e.g., LinkedIn, Facebook, Bold.Pro).

Each class is comprised of a full-year cohort of students who graduated from July 1 through June 30 of the subsequent calendar year. For example, the Class of 2025 includes students completing their degree between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. NACE has aligned this definition to that used by the U.S. Department of Education in gathering educational statistics for the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).

Undergraduate Post-Graduate Outcomes

Outcomes for Aurora University’s undergraduate class of 2025 indicate that 87% of students with known outcomes have secured next steps following graduation, a majority of which are either employed (61%) or enrolled in a program of continuing education (24%). The data provided represents a knowledge rate of 97% with known outcomes for 1,213 of the 1,240 baccalaureate recipients.

Of the 24% of students who are enrolled in a program of continuing education, 69% are doing so at Aurora University.

Class of 2025
(July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025)
Undergraduate
(Knowledge Rate: 97%)
Post-Grad Outcomes Categories Number of Students Percent of Students
Employed* 744 61.3%
Continuing education 286 23.6%
Seeking employment/continuing education 161 13.3%
Other next steps** 22 1.8%
Graduates with known outcomes (includes all 5 categories above) 1213 100%
Unknown post-grad outcomes 27 2.2%
Total number of graduates (includes unknown category above) 1240 -


*Included in the employment calculation are full-time and part-time employment, post-grad internships, freelance, entrepreneur, and temporary/contracted work

**Included in the other next steps calcuation are military service, volunteer service, and students not seeking next steps post-graduation

Salary for Full-Time Employment by Degree
Degree Less than $40,000 $40,000 - $60,000 Greater than $60,000
Bachelor of Arts (Non-Education) 20% 52% 28%
Bachelor of Arts (Education) 7% 93% 0%
Bachelor of Science 30% 48% 22%
Bachelor of Science in Nursing 17% 16% 67%
Bachelor of Social Work 12% 76% 12%

Top institutions of those continuing education:

  • Aurora University
  • Capella University
  • Lewis University
  • Loyola University Chicago
  • Midwestern University
  • Northern Illinois University
  • Roosevelt University
  • The Chicago School
  • University of Illinois Chicago
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Top employers:

  • Advocate Health
  • Aldi
  • Association for Individual Development
  • East Aurora School District 131
  • Endeavor Health
  • Enterprise Mobility
  • Fox Valley Park District
  • Northwestern Medicine
  • Plainfield School District 202
  • State Farm
  • West Aurora School District 129

Top industries:

  • Education
  • Financial
  • Healthcare
  • Recreation
  • Retail
  • Sales
  • Social Work

Undergraduate Post-Graduation Outcomes Snapshot (PDF)

Graduate and Doctoral Post-Graduation Outcomes
Class of 2025
(July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025)
Graduate
(Knowledge Rate: 96%)
Doctoral
(Knowledge Rate: 100%)
Post-Grad Outcomes Categories Number of Students Percent of Students Number of Students Percent of Students
Employed* 799 88.7% 19 100%
Continuing education 12 1.3% 0 0%
Seeking employment/continuing education 79 8.8% 0 0%
Other next steps** 11 1.2% 0 0%
Graduates with known outcomes (includes all 5 categories above) 901 100% 19 100%
Unknown post-grad outcomes 36 3.8% 0 0%
Total number of graduates (includes unknown category above) 937 - 19 -


*Included in the employment calculation are full-time and part-time employment, post-grad internships, freelance, entrepreneur, and temporary/contracted work

**Included in the other next steps calcuation are military service, volunteer service, and students not seeking next steps post-graduation