Retention Rates
Undergraduate Degree-Seeking Cohort
The full-time, first-time degree-seeking cohort represents students at the undergraduate level who enrolled full-time at Aurora University in a Bachelor’s degree program for the first time as of the institution’s fall census date. This definition is consistent with that used by the U.S. Department of Education in gathering educational statistics for the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The fall-to-fall retention rate for full-time, first-time degree-seeking students is listed below for the past five academic years.
| Fall-to-Fall Retention | 2024-2025 | 2023-2024 | 2022-2023 | 2021-2022 | 2020-2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time, First-Time (i.e. Freshman) | 78.8% | 76.9% | 77.8% | 72.7% | 77.9% |
Graduate Cohort by Degree Type
Fall-to-fall retention rates for the fall 2024 entering graduate cohort by degree program are listed below. For each degree program listed, this includes the number of students in the entering cohort, the number retained or completed by fall 2025, and the total percent who retained or completed by fall 2025.
Fall-to-Fall Retention Rates for Master's and Post-Master's Certificate Programs
| Degree | Fall 2024 Entering Cohort | Number Retained to Fall 2025 | Number Completing within 1 Year | Number Retained or Completed by Fall 2025 | % Retained or Completed by Fall 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Social Worker Certificate | 9 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 78% |
| Master of Arts | 8 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 63% |
| Master of Arts in Teaching | 42 | 21 | 16 | 37 | 88% |
| Master of Business Administration | 101 | 25 | 73 | 98 | 97% |
| Master of Educational Leadership | 28 | 23 | 1 | 24 | 86% |
| Master of Public Administration | 21 | 12 | 3 | 15 | 71% |
| Master of Science | 38 | 7 | 26 | 33 | 87% |
| Master of Science in Nursing | 27 | 25 | 0 | 25 | 93% |
| Master of Social Work | 366 | 230 | 101 | 331 | 90% |
Doctoral Cohort by Program
Fall-to-fall retention rates for the fall 2024 entering doctoral cohort by education program are listed below. For each specialty listed, this includes the number of students in the entering cohort along with the number and percent retained to fall 2025.
Fall-to-Fall Retention Rates for Educational Doctoral Programs
| Degree | Fall 2024 Entering Cohort | Number Retained to Fall 2025 | % Retained to Fall 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Administration, EdD | 5 | 5 | 100% |
| Instructional Leadership, EdD | 2 | 2 | 100% |