McKendree University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Lebanon, Illinois. It enrolls 1,752 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
57/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes31
Value36
Affordability41
Selectivity59
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 71.7%, McKendree University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
71.7%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether McKendree University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
0.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending McKendree University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $24,717 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$24,717
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
34%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
42%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$34,740
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,742
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,284
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,710
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,980
Total Cost of Attendance
$48,845
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$21,928
$30,001 – $48,000
$21,432
$48,001 – $75,000
$21,041
$75,001 – $110,000
$28,333
Over $110,000
$29,066
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,00010%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$23,250Medianpercentile
$26,50075%percentile
$34,17790%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,878
↓ $7,372
No Pell $17,000
↓ $6,250
Dependent students $16,363
↓ $6,887
Independent students $16,215
↓ $7,035
Female students $18,000
↓ $5,250
Male students $13,000
↓ $10,250
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($23,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
55% of full-time students who enrolled at McKendree University graduate within six years, and 68% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
55%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
68%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered McKendree University earn a median of $58,572 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$58,572
Earning > $25K
84%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$47,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$53,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$42,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$50,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$54,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,400, about 12% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
22.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 83% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
McKendree University is home to 1,752 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 33% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,752
Part-Time
7%
First-Generation
33%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 53.7%941
International 10.2%179
Black 9.1%160
Other 5.1%90
Hispanic 4.7%82
Asian 0.7%13
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at McKendree University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbLebanon, Illinois
Housing
Mostly residential1,056 beds on campus
Adult Learners
13%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
McKendree University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
45 distinct programs across
18 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at McKendree University is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$63M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$64,752
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
67 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
22
33%
$73,201
Associate Professors
16
24%
$68,719
Assistant Professors
17
25%
$59,341
Instructors
3
4%
$56,097
Lecturers
6
9%
$54,003
No Rank
3
4%
$42,459
Pros & Cons of McKendree University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how McKendree University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Frequently Asked Questions about McKendree University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about McKendree University.
Is McKendree University hard to get into?
Admissions at McKendree University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 71.7%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at McKendree University?
McKendree University has an acceptance rate of 71.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does McKendree University cost?
The average net price after aid at McKendree University is $24,717 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is McKendree University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $58,572 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $24,717 per year. That's roughly 2.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is McKendree University known for?
McKendree University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Business Administration, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do McKendree University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering McKendree University are $58,572, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is McKendree University accredited?
Yes. McKendree University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend McKendree University?
McKendree University enrolls 1,752 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at McKendree University?
McKendree University graduates 55% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is McKendree University a public or private college?
McKendree University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is McKendree University located?
McKendree University is located in Lebanon, Illinois.
What programs does McKendree University offer?
McKendree University offers 45 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Business Administration, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at McKendree University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at McKendree University is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Other colleges in Illinois share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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