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McKendree University

#1101 in US ranking Lebanon, IL
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Programs:
4 years or more

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Cost

Cost / year
$50,105
Tuition & fees
$35,430
Avg. aid
$22,834
Receiving aid
97%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
72%

Outcomes

Graduation rate
53%
Median salary
$48,634
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of McKendree University?

McKendree University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Institutional accreditation applies to the university as a whole and is an important consideration for federal financial-aid eligibility and the recognition of its degrees.

Some professionally oriented programs may also be subject to separate approval or specialized accreditation. That is particularly important for students pursuing nursing, teaching, or another occupation requiring a license: institutional accreditation alone does not establish that a particular program meets every licensing requirement in every state. Before enrolling, students should check the status of their specific program and the rules of the jurisdiction where they expect to work.

Accreditation also does not guarantee that another college will accept a course in transfer. Receiving institutions decide whether credits fit their own curricula and degree requirements.

What are the admission requirements at McKendree University?

First-year applicants generally submit an undergraduate application and a secondary-school record showing graduation or an accepted equivalency credential, such as a GED. McKendree considers high school GPA and coursework; it does not have an open-admission policy.

Reported admissions requirements do not make SAT or ACT scores, class rank, recommendations, or completion of a designated college-preparatory program mandatory for general first-year admission. Applicants should nevertheless check the requirements for their intended program and for any scholarship they hope to receive. Students educated in a language other than English may need to document English proficiency; TOEFL is among the reported proficiency requirements.

In the reported admissions cycle, McKendree admitted 2,199 of 3,066 first-year applicants, an acceptance rate of about 72%. That describes a past applicant pool, not an individual applicant's odds. Applicants should verify the current term's deadlines and whether a particular program has an earlier application or selection process.

What are the application fees and waivers at McKendree University?

Applicants should check the charge, if any, displayed in their chosen McKendree application before submitting it. An application charge is separate from an enrollment deposit, orientation expense, or tuition bill, and charges can differ by application route or applicant category.

Students facing financial hardship should ask admissions about a fee waiver before paying or submitting an application that requests payment. They should also confirm whether graduate, international, or program-specific applications follow the same policy as the general undergraduate application. The amount shown in the active application is more useful for budgeting than a fee quoted for an earlier admission cycle.

What types of ROTC programs are available at McKendree University?

McKendree reports access to Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC through cooperating host institutions, rather than describing those units as programs operated directly on its Lebanon campus. Participation may therefore involve travel, scheduling across institutions, and enrollment procedures beyond McKendree's normal course registration.

Interested students should establish which host unit currently accepts McKendree participants, where training occurs, and how ROTC courses count toward their degree. ROTC scholarships have separate selection rules, and commissioning ordinarily entails a military service commitment. An applicant should review the applicable branch's current scholarship and service terms before treating ROTC as a way to finance college.

What are the requirements for transfer students at McKendree University?

McKendree accepts transfer applicants and generally considers credits earned at other accredited institutions. Transfer students may enter in the fall, spring, or summer, subject to the schedule and requirements of their intended program.

Applicants should be prepared to provide official transcripts from every college attended. High school records may also be requested depending on an applicant's prior college work or program. Admission to McKendree and acceptance of individual courses are different decisions: a course can be transferable without satisfying a particular major requirement. The university also reports accepting eligible CLEP, DSST/DANTES, and American Council on Education credit recommendations, subject to its evaluation rules.

Before committing to enroll, transfer applicants should request a written evaluation showing how prior work applies to general education, the major, and remaining degree requirements. Those entering nursing, education, or another sequenced program should ask specifically about prerequisite equivalencies, course availability, and the amount of study that must be completed at McKendree.

What types of study abroad programs are available at McKendree University?

McKendree students interested in study abroad should work with the university to identify an approved international experience that fits their degree plan. Options can differ in length, destination, academic credit, and whether they are university-led or arranged through another provider.

Approval before departure matters. Students should determine how courses will appear on a McKendree transcript, whether they satisfy major or general-education requirements, and how participation affects their expected graduation date. Costs may include travel, housing, insurance, and program fees in addition to tuition. Financial aid does not automatically cover every overseas program, so students should obtain a program-specific cost and aid review before making a deposit.

McKendree University Admissions Factors

Acceptance rate
72%

Acceptance rate vs. median

This school
72%
Illinois
77%
US
78%

19% of admitted students enrolled (413 of 2,199)

McKendree University Admissions

Applicants
Total: 3,066
Admission
Total: 2,199
Enrolled
Total: 413
Women
Men

How to Apply to McKendree University

Early Decision

No

Early Action

No

McKendree University First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 239
Out-of-state: 105
International: 54

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 414
Transfer: 300

McKendree University Admission Requirements

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Computer required

No

Computer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution

No

Secondary school GPA

Required

Secondary school rank

Neither required nor recommended

Secondary school record

Required

Completion of college-preparatory program

Neither required nor recommended

Recommendations

Neither required nor recommended

Formal demonstration of competencies

Neither required nor recommended

Admission test scores

Neither required nor recommended

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language

Required

Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Neither required nor recommended

Open admission policy

No

Dual credit

No

Credit for life experiences

No

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

Orientation program

Yes

Disabilities services

Yes

Off-campus study

Yes

ROTC-Army

ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institution

ROTC-Air Force

ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institution

Study abroad

Yes

Weekend/evening college

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

No

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

Yes

McKendree University Transfer Acceptance Rate

Generally accepts credits

Yes

Accept ACE recommendation for credit

Yes

Possible transfer

Fall, Spring, Summer

Data last updated on November 5, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.