About 40 miles west of Chicago, Aurora is the state's second-largest city, and Aurora University has been there since 1912. The school started in 1893 in Mendota, Illinois. Today it is a private university known for social work, nursing, education and business, with a mostly residential undergraduate campus. Metra trains run from Aurora into Chicago Union Station.
Aurora, Illinois, United States
Official website: aurora.edu
1893, in Mendota, Illinois
Private university in Illinois
Aurora, since 1912
$27,000 – $30,000
International students, before scholarships
$13,000 – $17,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on aurora.edu before you apply.
BS Nursing
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 71
BS Business Administration
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 71
Master of Social Work
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
Social work and nursing programmes with local placements.
A residential campus within reach of Chicago.
Small classes taught by faculty rather than assistants.
Nursing graduates work in hospitals across the western Chicago suburbs.
Social work graduates join agencies and schools across Illinois.
STEM graduates can apply for extended OPT work in the US.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
The campus is a green residential site with brick halls, a student centre and sports fields, a short drive from downtown Aurora.
Aurora sits on the Fox River and is cheaper than Chicago. The Metra BNSF line gets you to downtown Chicago in about an hour.
Form I-20 issued by Aurora University
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Aurora admits on a rolling basis. International students should apply by June for fall or October for spring.
Most programmes start in the fall, and many also take students in spring.
It's the F-1 student visa. Get your I-20 from Aurora University first (they need your deposit and bank documents), then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and attend the visa interview. Book the interview early in peak season.
Nursing, computer science, business, social work and the MBA are popular. Undergraduates need secondary results and IELTS 6.0. Master's programmes need a bachelor's degree and IELTS 6.5.
Yes. Aurora gives merit scholarships to most first-year students, including international applicants. They are awarded at admission.
