The Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Decision Support coordinates the university’s institutional effectiveness evaluation and assessment processes; supports institutional data literacy; directs institutional research; and provides university analytics and reporting. The office further supports AU initiatives for student success, strategic planning, systems integration, resource allocation, decision-making, and compliance.
Graduation Rates, Retention Rates, and Student Diversity
Undergraduate
Retention Rates
| Retention |
2020-2021 |
2021-2022 |
2022-2023 |
| Full-Time, First-Year, i.e. Freshman |
77.9% |
72.7% |
77.8% |
Graduation Rates
| Fall 2017 Full-Time, First-Time Entering Cohort |
Number in Cohort |
Number of Completers |
% Graduating by August 2023 |
| Total |
799 |
466 |
58% |
| By Gender |
| Male |
356 |
183 |
51% |
| Female |
443 |
283 |
64% |
| By Ethnicity |
| Non-Resident Alien |
6 |
4 |
67% |
| Hispanic/Latino |
275 |
165 |
60% |
| American Indian or Alaskan Native |
4 |
3 |
75% |
| Asian |
16 |
13 |
81% |
| Black or African American |
85 |
41 |
48% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander |
1 |
1 |
100% |
| White |
336 |
202 |
60% |
| Two or more races |
27 |
16 |
59% |
| Race and ethnicity unknown |
49 |
21 |
43% |
| By Federal Grant or Loan |
| Pell Grant recipient |
371 |
219 |
59% |
| Stafford Loan recipient but no Pell Grant |
185 |
99 |
54% |
| Neither Pell Grant nor Stafford Loan recipient |
243 |
148 |
61% |
Master's and Post-Master's Certificate Programs
Retention Rates
| Degree |
Fall 2019 Entering Cohort |
Number Retained to Fall 2020 |
Number Completing within 1 Year |
Number Retained or Completed by Fall 2020 |
% Retained or Completed by Fall 2020 |
| School Social Worker Certificate |
11 |
4 |
6 |
10 |
91% |
| MA |
64 |
55 |
1 |
56 |
88% |
| MATL |
11 |
11 |
0 |
11 |
100% |
| MBA |
103 |
38 |
50 |
88 |
85% |
| MEL |
11 |
9 |
1 |
10 |
91% |
| MPA |
19 |
6 |
11 |
17 |
89% |
| MS |
43 |
30 |
9 |
39 |
91% |
| MSW |
446 |
242 |
153 |
395 |
89% |
Graduation Rates
| Degree |
Fall 2019 Entering Cohort |
Number Completing within 2 Years (2021) |
% Graduating within 2 Years |
Number Completing within 4 Years (2023) |
% Graduating within 4 Years |
| School Social Worker Certificate |
11 |
10 |
91% |
10 |
91% |
| MA |
64 |
37 |
58% |
53 |
83% |
| MATL |
11 |
11 |
100% |
11 |
100% |
| MBA |
103 |
78 |
76% |
85 |
83% |
| MEL |
11 |
10 |
91% |
10 |
91% |
| MPA |
19 |
14 |
74% |
16 |
84% |
| MS |
43 |
37 |
86% |
38 |
88% |
| MSW |
446 |
280 |
63% |
383 |
86% |
Doctoral Programs
Retention Rates
| Degree |
Fall 2017 Entering Cohort |
Number Retained to Fall 2018 |
% Retained to Fall 2018 |
| DSW |
10 |
8 |
80% |
| EDD |
45 |
39 |
87% |
Graduation Rates
| Degree |
Fall 2017 Entering Cohort |
Number Completing within 6 Years (2023) |
% Graduating within 6 Years (2023) |
| DSW |
10 |
7 |
70% |
| EDD |
45 |
29 |
64% |
Pass Rates on State and National Licensure Examinations
Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) and Board of Certification Exam (BOC) outcomes and pass rates
Aurora University’s first-time NCLEX-RN® pass rate in Illinois
| 2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
| 87% |
88% |
78% |
87% |
Aurora University’s first-time NCLEX-RN® pass rate in Wisconsin
| 2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
| 100% |
86% |
85% |
90% |
Aurora University’s first-time Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor ICB certification pass rate
| 2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
| Testing limited due to COVID |
95% |
81% |
82% |
Aurora University’s first-time NCTRC Certification Exam pass rate
| 2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
| 71%* |
64% |
74%* |
88% |
Aurora University’s edTPA pass rates in Illinois
*The pass rate presented represents a three year reporting period, as fewer than ten students participated in the exam.
**Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Illinois State Board of Education waived the edTPA requirement until January 1, 2024.
Post-Graduation Outcomes
Undergraduate Post-Graduation Outcomes
Graduate Post-Graduation Outcomes
83.0% of students completing a master's degree between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023 with known outcomes are employed or continuing their education*. This represents a knowledge rate of 95.5%, and includes outcomes as reported by students at the time of graduation or on LinkedIn or education picked up by National Student Clearinghouse in Fall 2023.
Doctoral Post-Graduation Outcomes
94.9% of students completing a doctoral degree between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023 with known outcomes are employed or continuing their education*. This represents a knowledge rate of 96.7%, and includes outcomes as reported by students at the time of graduation.
*Included in the employment/education calculation are full-time and part-time employment, internships, military service, volunteer service, and enrollment in post-secondary education.
Common Data Sets
Common Data Set 2024-25 (PDF)
Common Data Set 2023-24 (PDF)
Common Data Set 2022-23 (PDF)
Common Data Set 2021-22 (PDF)
Common Data Set 2020-21 (PDF)
Common Data Set 2019-20 (PDF)
Common Data Set 2018-19 (PDF)
Common Data Set 2017-18 (PDF)
Common Data Set 2016-17 (PDF)
Common Data Set 2015-16 (PDF)
Common Data Set 2012-13 (PDF)
Common Data Set 2011-12 (PDF)
Common Data Set 2010-11 (PDF)
Common Data Set 2009-10 (PDF)
Common Data Set 2008-09 (PDF)
Common Data Set 2007-08 (PDF)
Common Data Set 2006-07 (PDF)
Common Data Set 2005-06 (PDF)
Common Data Set 2004-05 (PDF)
Written Arrangement Disclosures
All instruction that awards academic credit is taught solely by Aurora University faculty either full-time or adjuncts.