AU recognized among Illinois’ best colleges and nation’s top performers in social mobility

Aurora University is once again earning recognition in higher education.

For the third consecutive year, the university is among the top 10 institutions on the U.S. News & World Report 2027 Best Colleges in Illinois list, alongside Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and others. This continued recognition underscores AU’s commitment to academic quality and to helping students succeed in college and beyond.

Along with maintaining its position among Illinois colleges, AU advanced one place in the national ranking of Top Performers on Social Mobility, improving to #21. This distinction reflects the university’s longstanding mission to expand access to education and help students from diverse backgrounds achieve their goals. By fostering an inclusive learning environment and providing support throughout students’ college experience, AU helps turn educational opportunities into lasting success.

For more than four decades, the U.S. News & World Report Best College rankings have helped millions of students and families explore their college options. Among the most widely recognized in higher education, the 2027 rankings evaluated more than 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities, using up to 17 measures of academic quality and graduate success.