Catholic School CompassTrue north for Catholic families.
Aurora University: Aurora College Complex
Photo: Teemu08, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

College · Catholic life on campus

Aurora University

  • LocationAurora, IL
  • Type and sizePrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 5,935 students
Official website

Aurora University is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

Aurora University's Wackerlin Center for Faith and Action lists a Catholic religious advisor, Fr. Robert Gonnella, who regularly leads Mass in Lowry Chapel.

Mass, confession, and adoration

Confirm with the parish

Mass 1

  • Monday7:15 AMLowry Chapel · Listed only for Monday, October 5 and Monday, October 19, 2026 on the events calendar.

Times come only from official parish, chaplaincy, or school pages, and can change with the season. Last verified Oct. 12, 2026.

Sources for these times (1)
  1. Events | Wackerlin Center for Faith and Actionaurora.edu/student-life/wackerlin/engage/events.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Monday, October 5 – Catholic Mass Lowry Chapel | 7:15 a.m.”
    Catholic Mass is listed for Monday, October 5, 2026, at 7:15 a.m. in Lowry Chapel.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Aurora University, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miHoly Angels Roman Catholic Church: 0.8 mi1Our Lady of Good Counsel Roman Catholic Church: 2.1 mi2Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church: 2.1 mi3Saint Nicholas Catholic Church: 2.4 mi4Saint Michaels Eastern Rite Catholic Church: 2.5 mi5Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church: 2.6 mi6Aurora University (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Holy Angels Roman Catholic Church — 0.8 mi
  2. Our Lady of Good Counsel Roman Catholic Church — 2.1 mi
  3. Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church — 2.1 mi · 436 East Downer Place, Aurora
  4. Saint Nicholas Catholic Church — 2.4 mi · 308 High Street, Aurora
  5. Saint Michaels Eastern Rite Catholic Church — 2.5 mi
  6. Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church — 2.6 mi

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Catholic life scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

N/ACatholic life on campus: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Catholic life on campus

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Yes (The university's Chaplain's Office lists a Catholic religious advisor who serves the Wackerlin Center and leads Mass on campus.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Spiritual and Religious Life | Wackerlin Center for Faith and Actionaurora.edu/student-life/wackerlin/chaplain/index.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “In the Catholic tradition, Fr. Robert Gonnella serves as a religious advisor for the Wackerlin Center for Faith and Action, regularly leading Mass in Lowry Chapel.”
      A priest serves as the Catholic religious advisor for the Wackerlin Center and regularly leads Mass in Lowry Chapel.
      “Fr. Robert Gonnella, Catholic Religious Advisor chaplain@aurora.edu”
      Fr. Robert Gonnella is the Catholic religious advisor and can be reached at chaplain@aurora.edu.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryPart-time or shared priest (Fr. Robert Gonnella is listed as the Catholic religious advisor.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Spiritual and Religious Life | Wackerlin Center for Faith and Actionaurora.edu/student-life/wackerlin/chaplain/index.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “In the Catholic tradition, Fr. Robert Gonnella serves as a religious advisor for the Wackerlin Center for Faith and Action, regularly leading Mass in Lowry Chapel.”
      A priest serves as the Catholic religious advisor for the Wackerlin Center and regularly leads Mass in Lowry Chapel.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Weekday Mass at the campus ministry1–4 weekdays (Mass is listed on two Mondays in October 2026 only.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Events | Wackerlin Center for Faith and Actionaurora.edu/student-life/wackerlin/engage/events.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Monday, October 5 – Catholic Mass Lowry Chapel | 7:15 a.m.”
      Catholic Mass is listed for Monday, October 5, 2026, at 7:15 a.m. in Lowry Chapel.
      “Monday, October 19 – Catholic Mass Lowry Chapel | 7:15 a.m.”
      Catholic Mass is listed for Monday, October 19, 2026, at 7:15 a.m. in Lowry Chapel.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Scheduled confession at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)Within 1 mile of campusComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adoration1 to 5 times a week (1 weekly times documented: 1 Mass, 0 confession, 0 adoration.)Computed from the verified Mass, confession, and adoration times listed on this page (each day a time is offered counts once).

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • A priest is listed as the Catholic religious advisor and regularly leads Mass in Lowry Chapel.
    Sources (1)
    1. Spiritual and Religious Life | Wackerlin Center for Faith and Actionaurora.edu/student-life/wackerlin/chaplain/index.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “In the Catholic tradition, Fr. Robert Gonnella serves as a religious advisor for the Wackerlin Center for Faith and Action, regularly leading Mass in Lowry Chapel.”
      A priest serves as the Catholic religious advisor for the Wackerlin Center and regularly leads Mass in Lowry Chapel.
  • Catholic Mass is listed on the university's Wackerlin Center events calendar.
    Sources (1)
    1. Events | Wackerlin Center for Faith and Actionaurora.edu/student-life/wackerlin/engage/events.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Monday, October 5 – Catholic Mass Lowry Chapel | 7:15 a.m.”
      Catholic Mass is listed for Monday, October 5, 2026, at 7:15 a.m. in Lowry Chapel.

Concerns

None recorded.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

The Catholic center

Wackerlin Center for Faith and Action (Chaplain's Office)

  • Facilities: study space

Source: aurora.edu, verified Oct. 12, 2026, aurora.edu, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

2 groups and regular activities · 1 on campus, 0 off campus, 1 location not published

Liturgy and prayer 1

  • Catholic Mass in Lowry ChapelOn campus
    Mondays at 7:15 a.m. (listed for October 5 and October 19, 2026)
    Catholic Mass led by the university's Catholic religious advisor, listed on the Wackerlin Center events calendar.
    aurora.edu, aurora.edu, aurora.edu

Faith formation 1

  • Catholic religious advising
    The Chaplain's Office offers religious advising for students of the Catholic tradition through the Catholic religious advisor.
    aurora.edu

Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the parish. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

Catholic campus ministry

Sources (2)
  1. Spiritual and Religious Life | Wackerlin Center for Faith and Actionaurora.edu/student-life/wackerlin/chaplain/index.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “In the Catholic tradition, Fr. Robert Gonnella serves as a religious advisor for the Wackerlin Center for Faith and Action, regularly leading Mass in Lowry Chapel.”
    A priest serves as the Catholic religious advisor for the Wackerlin Center and regularly leads Mass in Lowry Chapel.
    “Throughout the year, the Chaplain’s Office offers numerous religious gatherings on campus for a variety of faiths.”
    The Chaplain's Office offers religious gatherings on campus.
  2. Wackerlin Center for Faith and Action | Aurora Universityaurora.edu/student-life/wackerlin/index.html · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Location: 430 S. Evanslawn Ave.”
    The Wackerlin Center for Faith and Action is located at 430 S. Evanslawn Ave.
    “Students gather here to study together, slow down and reflect, volunteer to serve, engage in allyship and advocacy, and seek support from our staff.”
    Students gather at the Wackerlin Center to study and reflect.

Reach out

Contact details for Fr. Robert Gonnella (Catholic Religious Advisor) and the campus ministry are available to signed-in users.

Sign in Create a free account

We keep campus ministers’ emails behind sign-in to protect them from spam.

My rating and notes

Sign in or create a free account to rate this school privately, keep notes, and save it to your list.

Academic Excellence

CAcademic Excellence: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
59 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.60%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.77%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,076 · ACT 25
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.18 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$5,125

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
4,098
Total students5,935
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$18,838
Cost of attendance (per year)$40,625
Median federal debt at graduation$20,318
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
60%
First-year retention77%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$58,709
Admission rate81%
Students receiving Pell grants45%
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT1076
SAT reading & writing470–580
SAT math430–570
ACT composite21–29
Test policyConsidered but not required

Value index: 62 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Local Church

Diocese of Rockford

The Most Reverend David J. Malloy, Bishop of Rockford

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: usccb.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

Diocese determined from the county, using the diocese’s county list (Wikipedia). Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is Aurora University a Catholic college?
No. Aurora University is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by Wackerlin Center for Faith and Action, Catholic religious advising and Mass.
Where is Mass celebrated at Aurora University?
Mass is listed at Lowry Chapel. Days and times are on this page; please confirm with the parish or campus ministry before you go.

Reviews

Personal experiences from signed-in readers. Reviews are moderated automatically and never change a school’s grades.

No reviews yet.

Sign in to write a review.

More in Illinois · Illinois rankings