Aurora University
Aurora University reported $184.7 million in revenue and $177.2 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $86.85 went to program services, $12.03 to management and general costs and $1.12 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 77.3% of the total. Government grants made up 17.4%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $577,981 (PRESIDENT). 78 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 23% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $177MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $185MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 86.9% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.0% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.1% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.06 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 18.5% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 17.4% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 77.3% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $577,981 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.33% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 78 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 13.3 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 20 of 20 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseAurora University (au) provides post-secondary education and related activities and support services to 4,629 undergraduate students and 2,674 graduate students in aurora, illinois as well as on-line and various other locations. During the year, au graduated 1,240 students with bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees and 956 students with graduate degrees including education, social work and business. As part of its mission, the university offers cultural and educational opportunities to its students, faculty, staff and the neighboring community
Aurora University has residence hall capacity of 685 beds on its aurora campus. Food service for students and staff is provided at three locations on the aurora campus, additionally, a bookstore on the aurora campus sells textbooks, supplies and miscellaneous convenience items to students, faculty and staff
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $540,972 | $0 | $37,009 | $577,981 |
| EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $348,603 | $0 | $46,003 | $394,606 |
| TREASURER & SVP FOR BUSINESS & FINANCE Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $306,594 | $0 | $27,714 | $334,308 |
| SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR ENROLLMENT AND MARKETING Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $291,121 | $0 | $38,448 | $329,569 |
| HEAD FOOTBALL COACH Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $275,154 | $0 | $39,140 | $314,294 |
| Former VP Academic Affairs Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $287,486 | $0 | $18,294 | $305,780 |
| SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $260,768 | $0 | $32,068 | $292,836 |
| Former University President Former, 0.0 hrs/week | $185,658 | $0 | $0 | $185,658 |
78 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Aurora University (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.2M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b20 · 20 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 51,796
- Volunteers Part I, line 620
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Risepoint LLC Online Class Management | $5,672,068 |
| SOUTHEAST SERVICE SSC Facilities Service Management | $4,965,526 |
| WILEY EDUCATION SERVICES LLC Online Class Management | $4,375,033 |
| COMPASS GROUP USA Food Service Management | $3,681,586 |
| BOLDT CONSTRUCTION Construction | $2,348,397 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 31 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
17 private foundations reported grants to Aurora University totaling $240K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Aurora University's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Aurora University, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Aurora University spent in FY2025, $86.85 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- St Edwards UniversityAustin, TX · revenue $184M · programs 87.4% · FY2025
- University ImpactProvo, UT · revenue $185M · programs 96.7% · 2024
- St John Fisher UniversityRochester, NY · revenue $184M · programs 80.1% · FY2025
- Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach CountyBoynton Beach, FL · revenue $186M · programs 97.1% · FY2025
- Southwestern Medical FoundationDallas, TX · revenue $183M · programs 90.2% · 2024
Questions people ask
How much of Aurora University's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Aurora University reported that 86.9% of its $177.2 million in expenses went to program services, 12.0% to management and general and 1.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Aurora University pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Aurora University reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $577,981, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Aurora University get its money?
Of $184.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 18.5% came from contributions and grants (including 17.4% from government grants) and 77.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Aurora University a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 36-2166964 as a 501(c)(3) organization (school), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202640579349300949 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202530749349300708 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202411369349312301 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202301359349305260 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202210809349300856 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202130549349300848 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 36-2166964: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.