Academic Affiliations
Updated: January 2024
AU has special agreements with other educational organizations that allow students to receive academic credit or admission benefits for various programs and tracks.
Articulation Agreement: A contract arrangement between Aurora University and another institution which provides for the acceptance of the credits of either, by either in transfer, in satisfaction of the requirements for an academic credential.
Affiliation Agreement: A contract arrangement between Aurora University and another institution which does not provide for the acceptance of the credits of either, by either in transfer, but rather commits one or the other institution to an enrollment benefit such as streamlined application.
Health Professions School Agreements
Type of Agreement: Affiliation
Aurora University’s agreement with Illinois College of Optometry will allow qualified students to obtain their Bachelor of Science in Health Science from AU and Doctor of Optometry degree from ICO in seven years through a 3+4 program. To qualify, AU Health Science majors must be full-time students who meet GPA, prerequisite coursework, and OAT score guidelines. Students interested in this program should contact AU's Pre-Medical Professions Advisor.
Type of Agreement: Affiliation
Aurora University’s affiliation with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM)’s Early Acceptance Program allows qualified students to be accepted into the Doctor of Dental Medicine program while they are still an undergraduate at AU. Most students will spend four years at AU and four years at LECOM. Students may apply for early admittance to LECOM’s program as a high school senior or an AU freshman or sophomore (having earned less than 65 credit hours). LECOM’s D.M.D. program is available in Florida. Students interested in this program should contact AU's Pre-Medical Professions Advisor. To learn more about LECOM's early acceptance program, click here.
Type of Agreement: Affiliation
Description:
Aurora University’s affiliation with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM)’s Early Acceptance Program allows qualified students to be accepted into the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program at LECOM while they are still an undergraduate at AU. Most students will spend four years at AU and four years at LECOM’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. Students may apply for early admittance to LECOM’s program as a high school senior or an AU freshman or sophomore (having earned less than 65 credit hours).
Type of Agreement: Articulation
Description:
Aurora University’s affiliation with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM)’s Early Acceptance Program allows qualified students to be accepted into the Pharm.D. program and reserve a seat while they are still an undergraduate at AU (4+4 program). Most students will spend four years at AU and four years at LECOM’s School of Pharmacy.
Qualifying students may pursue the 3+4 option and start their graduate studies at LECOM, during their senior year at AU. Completion of the first-year coursework at LECOM will be applied to the student's AU bachelor's degree course requirements.
Students may apply for early admittance to LECOM’s program as a high school senior or an AU freshman or sophomore (having earned less than 65 credit hours). LECOM’s Pharm.D. program is available in Pennsylvania, Florida, and online. Students interested in this program should contact AU's Pre-Medical Professions Advisor. To learn more about LECOM's early acceptance program, click here.
Type of Agreement: Affiliation
Description:
Aurora University’s agreement with Loyola University Chicago allows qualified Pre-Health Profession and Health Science students to receive priority admission and guaranteed seats to Loyola University Chicago’s Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health: Master’s in Healthcare Administration.
Type of Agreement: Affiliation
Description:
Aurora University’s agreement with Loyola University Chicago allows qualified Pre-Health Profession and Health Science students to receive priority admission and guaranteed seats to Loyola University Chicago’s Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health: Master’s in Public Health.
Type of Agreement: Affiliation
Description:
Aurora University’s agreement with Loyola University Chicago allows qualified Pre-Health Profession and Health Science students to receive priority admission and guaranteed seats to Loyola University Chicago’s Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health: Master’s in Medical Laboratory Science.
Type of Agreement: Affiliation
Description:
As of the matriculating class of Fall 2023, Midwestern University will guarantee interviews for qualifying students to enter graduate programs for:
- clinical psychology
- dental medicine
- occupational therapy
- optometry
- osteopathic medicine
- pharmacy
- physical therapy
- physician assistant studies
- podiatry
- speech-language pathology
- veterinary medicine
To qualify, students must meet both general and program-specific requirements. Students interested in this program should contact AU's Pre-Medical Professions Advisor.
Type of Agreement: Articulation
Description:
Aurora University is a member of National University of Health Sciences' Advanced Scholars Program. This special affiliation means that AU Pre-Chiropractic students who complete the required course work and maintain a 3.0 grade point average can gain admission to National University's doctor of chiropractic medicine program. In this rigorous, fast-track program, students start their graduate studies at National University in Lombard, Illinois, during their senior year at AU. Completion of the first-year coursework at National University will be applied to the student's AU bachelor's degree course requirements. Students interested in this program should contact AU's Pre-Medical Professions Advisor.
Type of Agreement: Affiliation
Description:
AU has an agreement with Rush University in Chicago guaranteeing AU pre-med students who want to pursue a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) and meet the entrance requirements an interview through Rush Medical College’s Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Early Admission program. Rush receives more than 7,000 applications each year and interviews only about 5 percent of applicants.
Rush sends its doctors and professors to AU’s campus each semester to educate students about the rigors of medical school, the expectations for a successful medical school applicant, and the interview process. Rush also offers AU students summer research opportunities and volunteer opportunities at Rush and its partner organizations.
Type of Agreement: Affiliation
Description:
Aurora University's agreement with Rush University’s College of Health Sciences in Chicago will provide as many as two qualified AU students per fall term guaranteed admission to the MS in Clinical Nutrition program. The selected students will complete a 4+2 degree program, earning a BS in Exercise Science and an MS in Clinical Nutrition in just six years.
Type of Agreement: Affiliation
Description:
Aurora University's agreement with Rush University’s College of Health Sciences in Chicago will provide as many as two qualified AU students per fall term guaranteed admission to the MS in Medical Laboratory Science program. The selected students will complete a 3+2 degree program, earning a BS in Health Science and an MS in Medical Laboratory Science in just five years.
Type of Agreement: Affiliation
Description:
Aurora University's agreement with Rush University’s College of Health Sciences in Chicago will provide as many as two qualified AU students per fall term guaranteed admission to the MS in Respiratory Care program. The selected students will complete a 3+2 degree program, earning a BS in Health Science and an MS in Respiratory Care in just five years.
Type of Agreement: Affiliation
Description:
Southern College of Optometry will guarantee interviews for qualifying students. To qualify, students must meet GPA, prerequisite coursework, and OAT score guidelines. Students interested in this program should contact AU's Pre-Medical Professions Advisor.
Type of Agreement: Affiliation
Description:
Aurora University's agreement with University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine at Rockford (UICOM-R) will provide as many as five qualified AU seniors per year guaranteed admission to the Master of Science in Medical Biotechnology program. Students who are accepted into UICOM-R's Guaranteed Admission Program will also receive the advantages of a waived GRE examination requirement and application fee, as well as submitting only one letter of recommendation as opposed to the three normally required.
Type of Agreement: Affiliation
Description:
The University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine will guarantee as many as three qualified AU Pre-Veterinary students interviews per academic year.
To qualify, students must be enrolled at AU or within one year of graduation at the time of application, meet all admission requirements into the College of Veterinary Medicine, have completed a bachelor’s degree from AU at the time of matriculation, and demonstrate the attributes, experiences, metrics, motivation, and personal qualities for successful development into veterinary medicine professionals.
Law School Agreements
Type of Agreement: Affiliation
Description:
DePaul University will guarantee as many as three qualified AU seniors direct admission to its law school and a minimum of $12,000 scholarship per academic year. Any undergraduate major is eligible.
To qualify, students must do the following:
- Take at least two of the following courses: Business and Law Regulation, Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Criminal Evidence and Procedure, Healthcare Policy and Law, or Sport Law.
- Maintain a full-time undergraduate student status of at least 12 credit hours each semester
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 throughout their undergraduate years.
- Complete the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), achieve a score of at least 152, and submit their complete application, including LSAT score.
- Complete a baccalaureate degree prior to entry into DePaul.
Type of Agreement: Articulation
Description:
This program permits highly motivated AU students to earn their combined bachelor’s and law degrees in as little as six years. Students are eligible to apply for admission to Marquette University Law School during their junior year at AU. Admitted students complete their senior year at Marquette. The first-year law school curriculum dually counts toward the last year of their undergraduate degree and the first year of law school. Completion of the first-year coursework at Marquette Law School will be applied to the student's AU bachelor's degree course requirements.
To be eligible for the accelerated law degree program, interested students must complete the following steps:
- Officially declare an interest in the 3+3 program with AU’s Director of Pre-Law Mark Petersen no later than their junior year.
- Complete all general education and major requirements at AU before starting law school.
- Apply for admission to Marquette University Law School, including taking the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
- Meet the admission standards for Marquette University Law School.
Type of Agreement: Affiliation
Description:
The Northern Illinois University College of Law Aurora University Diversity Pipeline Agreement prepares AU students for law school through mentorship experiences with AU faculty and NIU Law faculty, students, alumni, and admission staff.
Each year, one exceptional NIU Law Aurora University Pipeline participant will be awarded the designation of NIU Law Aurora University Scholar. This program offers the student a 100% tuition waiver for the first year and a 75% tuition waiver for the second and third years. The tuition waiver does not include the institution charge/fees.
To qualify, students must meet both AU and NIU College of Law requirements. Students interested in this program should contact AU’s Director of Pre-Law Mark Petersen.
Agreements into AU Programs
AU has established partnerships with other schools to assist degree-seeking students with planning ahead to earn their degree at Aurora University. In addition to the agreements below, AU has partnered with several community colleges to outline courses for students to take toward their associate’s degree that can be transferred for credit toward their bachelor's degree at AU. Please visit our 2+2 and transfer plans page to learn more.Type of Agreement: Articulation
Description:
Any student who has completed a transferable associate in arts, associate in science or associate in science and arts degree at COD with a minimum GPA of 2.25 GPA, submits required application and supporting documentation, and meets all other admission requirements, will automatically be admitted to AU at the junior level and will be deemed to have met AU’s lower division general education requirement.
2+2 Program Transfer Pathways are available to support the satisfaction of essential prerequisite courses at COD, for the following AU programs: BA in Sport Management, BS in Exercise Science, and BS in Exercise Science/MS in Athletic Training 3+2.
Type of Agreement: Articulation
Description:
A pathway is available to support the satisfaction of essential prerequisite courses and admission requirements for the AU MS in Athletic Training two-year program.
Type of Agreement: Articulation
Description:
2+2 Program Transfer Pathways are available to support the satisfaction of essential prerequisite courses at WCC, for the following AU programs: BS in Exercise Science, and BS in Exercise Science/MS in Athletic Training 3+2.
Cross-Registration Programs
AU is a member of the Council of West Suburban Colleges Consortium (CWSC) and the Council of Independent Colleges Consortium (CIC). As a member, AU maintains cross-registration agreements with other schools in the CWSC and CIC, which allow degree-seeking students to have access to a broad selection of academic offerings.
Courses taken at other schools in the Council of West Suburban Colleges Consortium or CWSC (North Central College and Benedictine University) may be applied to Aurora University programs without violating the AU residence requirement. Cross-registration is permitted with permission of the other school and in accordance with terms of an agreement among all member schools. Prior approval of the student’s AU advisor and the University Registrar is required on the cross-registration form before registering at one of the other institutions. Cross-registration is available during the regular academic year (fall and spring terms). Tuition is paid to the home school and grades are recorded at the home school without the necessity of applying for a transcript. Through this program, degree-seeking students at each of the member schools have access to a broad selection of academic offerings and scheduling options. Contact the Office of the Registrar for eligibility information and special registration forms.
Courses taken at other schools in the Council of Independent Colleges Consortium or CIC may be applied to Aurora University programs without violating the AU residence requirement. Cross-registration is permitted with permission of the other school and in accordance with the terms of the CIC agreement. Interested students must contact their Crouse Center advisor for requests. Prior approval of the student’s AU advisor and the Registrar is required along with the student's request to be cross-registered before the student is registered at one of the other institutions. Cross-registration is available during the fall, spring, and summer terms. Tuition is paid to AU and grades are recorded at AU without the necessity of applying for a transcript. Through this program, degree-seeking students have access to a broad selection of academic offerings in online courses. Contact the Crouse Center for Academic Advising for eligibility information and special registration forms.