Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Aurora University

Aurora University's Liberal Arts program substantially outperforms the national field—landing in the 87th percentile for earnings—but sits squarely in the middle pack among Illinois schools. At $44,614 first-year earnings, graduates earn $8,300 more than the national median for this major, though they're $2,500 below the typical Illinois grad in the same field. The $27,000 debt load is exactly average nationally and actually lower than Illinois' median of $29,108, creating a manageable 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio.

The real question is what you're comparing against. If your alternative is a liberal arts program at most schools across the country, Aurora delivers solid value—better earnings with typical debt. But within Illinois, there's a wide spread: DePaul grads nearly double Aurora's earnings, though likely at much higher cost. Schools like Chicago State and Northeastern Illinois offer similar outcomes, suggesting Aurora fits the state's affordable public/private middle tier.

For families prioritizing accessibility (85% admission rate) and concerned about debt burden, this represents a predictable outcome: graduates leave with modest debt they can reasonably service. The 43% Pell-eligible population suggests Aurora serves first-generation students well enough. Just understand you're paying for steady employment over standout earnings—which for a general liberal arts degree may be exactly the point.