Aurora University has been named among the most beautiful college campuses in the United States, according to a 2026 list by U.S. News & World Report.
Joining the ranks of colleges like Princeton University and Harvard, it was the only school in Illinois to make the list.
This is not the first time Aurora University has been recognized for its campus and grounds. In 2024, for example, the school was named on a similar U.S. News list, according to the university.
A year earlier, the university was awarded the Grand Award in the small university and college grounds category by the Professional Grounds Management Society, which in particular recognized the university’s sustainable practices — like its rain garden providing a habitat for pollinators, birds and other wildlife, and the green roof management of its campus’ STEM building.
At nearly 40 acres, Aurora University’s notable campus features include its red tile roofs on all of its major buildings and its formal entrance lined with more than 50 Greenspire linden trees and more than 140 Dakota Pinnacle Asian birch trees, according to the university.
The U.S. News list also highlights the school’s Eckhart Hall, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Eckhart Hall was one of the school’s original buildings when it first opened in 1912, according to the university.
“Though our campus is small, it’s known for its beauty because our community takes pride in every detail,” Aurora University President Susana Rivera-Mills said in a statement provided to The Beacon-News. “Students, faculty and staff all share in the responsibility of keeping it clean and welcoming, and our grounds crew works tirelessly in every season to ensure it remains a place where people love to learn and gather.”
mmorrow@chicagotribune.com
