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Benedictine University
About Benedictine University
Benedictine University is a Catholic school originally founded in 1887 by the Benedictine Monks of St. Procopius Abbey in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. It now has numerous campuses and programs: four campuses in Illinois, one campus in Arizona, numerous online programs, and two international programs—one in China and one in Vietnam. Its main campus remains close to its roots and is located in suburban Lisle, Illinois, just outside of Chicago.
Type
4 yr
Private not-for-profit 
Tuition
Student-to-Faculty Ratio
11:1
Financial Aid Percent
83%
Graduation Rate
50%
Status
Accredited
Why Consider Benedictine University?
Benedictine University’s envisions itself as a thought leader in Catholic higher education and strives to provide a transformative and integrative educational experience grounded in Benedictine values. The school aims to help students shape lives of meaning and purpose as engaged citizens who also care for the earth. People of diverse faiths and cultures are welcome at Benedictine University, and overall, the school works to promote the common good.
Here are some other great reasons to consider attending Benedictine University to pursue your graduate degree:
Benedictine University’s Values
Benedictine University uses its courses, campuses, and programs to fulfill its mission and instill in its students certain values. Overall, it values teaching students how to build a just society and live lives of holiness, particular amidst modern society’s many challenges. The schools embraces the following key values of the Catholic Church:
- The idea that human life is sacred and precious.
- The belief that human beings are not only sacred, but social.
- The belief that human rights must be protected and responsibilities met.
- The idea that humans must pay attention to how the poor fair.
- The idea that the economy must serve people, not the other way around.
- The belief in solidarity—that we are one human family, no matter our perceived or real differences.
- The belief that we are stewards of God’s creations.
Benedictine University’s Location Options
Benedictine University offers on campus options to its graduate students. For students who want to attend on campus, there are several options. The school’s main campus is the Benedictine University Lisle, IL location, situated in a suburb just outside of Chicago. Otherwise, depending on their programs, on-campus students can attend the Benedictine University at Springfield, IL or the Benedictine University Mesa, AZ Branch Campus.
Online Options at Benedictine University
Benedictine University Online offers options for graduate students who work full-time or otherwise require the flexibility and convenience of online programming. Online students can choose from five master’s degree programs, five graduate certificate programs, and four dual degree programs.
Benedictine University Faculty and Class Size
In fall 2016, Benedictine University employed 144 full-time instructors and 441 part-time instructors. One hundred percent of the school’s instructors devoted themselves to providing instruction; none were required by the school to focus on research or public service activities.iii Faculty at Benedictine University emphasize the Catholic Social Teaching’s key themes when designing curricula, policies, and activities.
At Benedictine University, there are 12 students to every one instructor, and seventy percent of the school’s classes have fewer than 20 students.iii
Benedictine University’s Rankings
In 2018, U.S. News ranked Benedictine University #223 (tie) in National Universities and gave it an overall score of 27 out of 100.i In 2017, its online nursing program tied for #73 in the Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs category. For the seventh consecutive year, Forbes magazine named Benedictine University among “America’s Top Colleges” in 2017. That same year, The Chronicle of Higher Education ranked the school #8 among the fastest growing colleges in the country for private nonprofit doctoral schools between 2005 and 2015.ii
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Mission, Vision and Values
A Catholic, but all-inclusive academic community, Benedictine University dedicates itself to teaching, learning, scholarship, service, truth, and justice. Its mission and plan for fulfilling are inspired by the Catholic intellectual tradition, the principles of wisdom in the Rule of Saint Benedict, and the social teachings of the church.Admissions:
For entrance into graduate programs, the Benedictine University admissions requirements are as follows:
- Meet with an Admissions Counselor at the School of Graduate, Adult, and Professional Education to learn about the graduate admissions process in depth (this meeting is optional)
- Submit an online or printed Benedictine University application
- Request to have all transcripts from previous schools sent to Benedictine University
- Submit additional materials upon request, such as:
- A personal statement
- A letter of reference
- High school transcripts (in some cases)
- Official ACT and SAT scores (in some cases)
Once you’ve submitted your application package in full, an Admissions representative will contact you directly by phone with your admissions status.
General Information
- Special Learning Opportunities: Undergrad Distance, Grad Distance
- Credit Accepted: Dual credit, Credit for life experiences, Credit For Military, Advanced placement(AP) credits
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Research Universities
- Religious Affiliation: Roman Catholic
Faculty
- There are 523 full-time faculty
- 481 Part-time instructional faculty
Student Services
- ROTC Services
- Study Abroad Services
- Weekend Evening College Services
- Remedial Services
- Academic Career Counseling Services
- Employment Services for Students
- Placement Services Completers
- Library Services
Enrollment, Attendance, Retention Rates and Graduation
Benedictine University has a total graduate enrollment of 2216
Graduate attendance rate of 83% part-time and 17% full-time
For the years 2017-2018 Benedictine University awarded: 18 associates, 820 bachelor's degrees, 1080 master's degrees, 31 doctor's degrees - research/scholarship
Graduate attendance rate of 83% part-time and 17% full-time
For the years 2017-2018 Benedictine University awarded: 18 associates, 820 bachelor's degrees, 1080 master's degrees, 31 doctor's degrees - research/scholarship
Financial Aid
Benedictine University financial aid is available to qualified students. To see if they qualify, applicants must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Once qualified, students can receive:
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
- Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans
Students can also apply for private loans and scholarships through institutions outside of Benedictine University. Financial aid can be used to pay Benedictine University tuition and other expenses related to attending school.
Accreditation is a process conducted by a qualified institute independent from colleges and universities across the country. Sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Education, accreditation entities review school’s programs, curricula, and other components of education to ensure that they fulfill schools’ promised level of quality and rigor.
Benedictine University has institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission and has since 1958. It has additional programmatic accreditation from:
- The Illinois State Board of Education, Teacher Certification Section
- The Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association
- The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Benedictine University is a member of nearly 25 organizations, such as the American Council on Education, The National Catholic College Education Association, the National League for Nursing, and others.
Student Reviews
- The school is full of many supportive people who genuinely care for each other. You just really need to join something that interests you and then you'll be able to find some great friends. People seem very chill for it being considered a top university. Definitely a calmer atmosphere compared to schools like Stanford and Berkeley.
- The university provides the best of both academics opportunities as well as extracurricular activities in order to help their students explore and/or grow their skills on a specific or variety of fields. Their goal is to get their students involved in what they love in order to grow and expand the students knowledge.
- Overall, I love being a student at USC. On campus, I am a research assistant, a newspaper writer, and a dancer on the competitive hip-hop team. I've met a wide variety of students at USC, some who astound me with their intelligence and hobbies. I love talking to my professors during their office hours. The downsides to being a USC student is that a lot of things are inordinately expensive, the tuition keeps rising (unnecessarily), and the area around it is not super nice.
Campus Locations
- Benedictine University: Online
- Benedictine University: Lisle, IL5700 College Rd, Scholl 145, Lisle, IL, 60532
Benedictine University offers 24 master’s degree and certificate programs in online, on-campus, or hybrid formats. It also offers four doctorate degree programs. These programs are offered in five areas: Business, Health Care and Human Services, Teacher Education, Information Technology, and Professional Development and Learning.
Benedictine University Program Highlights: The M.B.A.
Benedictine University offers a Master of Business Administration degree online, on-campus, or through a hybrid format. In the 2016-2017 school year, 434 of the school’s 1,080 students who earned master’s degrees did so in business administration and management.iii This makes the program one of the school’s most popular.
The M.B.A. at Benedictine University helps students understand managerial roles in corporate and human services organizations. A combination of quantitative and qualitative courses teach learners how to meet the demands of contemporary business leadership in today’s complex, uncertain business environment. In their programs, students gain practical knowledge and competence.
The M.B.A. curriculum focuses on the following:
- Courses that provide the framework for advanced business knowledge
- Courses that emphasize the managerial process and leadership skills
- Electives that fit students’ interests
In addition, students in the M.B.A. program can pick at least one concentration from more than 20 areas such as leadership, finance, or business analytics.
