Founded in 1828, McKendree University. is a Private college. Located in Illinois, which is a city setting in Illinois, the campus itself is Suburban. The campus is home to 2,261 full time undergraduate students, and 641 full time graduate students.
The McKendree University Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 14:1. There are 100 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at McKendree University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
68%
Application Deadline
Application Fee
0
SAT Range
855-1110
ACT Range
20-24
Admissions at are considered Selective, with ,30% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 20 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
71% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 41% were in the top quarter, and 12% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at McKendree University.
6%
“We”re apathetic”
6%
“We know about current events and vote”
76%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
12%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
12%
“We save it for the classroom”
24%
“Sometimes, but not often”
35%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
29%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
35%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
65%
“I feel extremely safe”
6%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
12%
“We bought the gear”
82%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
19%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
38%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
44%
“We”re a very artistic group”
6%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
29%
“They keep regular office hours”
65%
“They”re always available”
6%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
53%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
35%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
6%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
12%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
24%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
47%
“We only party on weekends”
18%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
6%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
76%
“There might be people who do”
18%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
0%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
6%
“We”re apathetic”
6%
“We know about current events and vote”
76%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
12%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
12%
“We save it for the classroom”
24%
“Sometimes, but not often”
35%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
29%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
35%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
65%
“I feel extremely safe”
6%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
12%
“We bought the gear”
82%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
19%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
38%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
44%
“We”re a very artistic group”
6%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
29%
“They keep regular office hours”
65%
“They”re always available”
6%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
53%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
35%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
6%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
63 Students rated on-campus housing 3.5 stars. 14 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
57 Students rated off-campus housing 3.3 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
70 Students rated campus food 3.3 stars. 17 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
84 Students rated campus facilities 3.9 stars. 31 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
84 Students rated class size 4.6 stars. 68 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
82 Students rated school activities 3.8 stars. 37 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
82 Students rated local services 3.8 stars. 32 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
84 Students rated academics 3.8 stars. 27 % gave the school a 5.0.
McKendree University REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of McKendree University?
18 Students rated McKendree University
Sydney
I love McKendree University. I think it provides many great opportunities for all of its students. No matter who you are or what you are interested in, there is always something for everyone. Everyone that I know has always felt so included and loves the college.
Mikala
It is the perfect school for me. We are like a family, since it’s a small school everyone knows each other. Class sizes are small so there’s more one on one time with professors. Faculty is very supportive and helpful with every need, whether it’s financial, academic, personal, etc.
Katelyn
I love McKendree. There are things that could be improved, but then when aren't there. I absolutely adore my major department. The professors are great, and really want to work with you. The atmosphere on campus is great. I was really nervous when I started here two years ago, but with such a welcoming community I made friends fast.
M
McKendree is an amazing university with fantastic instructors and an awesome array of extracurricular teams and activities. Students are very friendly and involved on campus, with athletics being the school's main focus. This school also has a fantastic education program. Overall, I have absolutely loved my experience at McKendree.
Abigail
I feel like McKendree provides an essence that has been lost in larger universities. The atmosphere gives you the chance, the opportunities, and the privilege of learning in a safe and inclusive environment while not been afraid to truly voice your opinions and have them be hard. McKendree is a one-of-a-kind school and would be an excellent choice for any student who wants a small class size in a liberal arts environment.
jacob
It's a really good school for kids that don't want to be in a really big college. It's a small town but the community is really good. The class size is small which is good because the professors will know who you are and what you need to in order to pass. the campus is really friendly because everyone knows everyone. The food there is amazing for kids that need to bulk up for football, also the weight room is a mile away which is good because you can run or jog there to get the needed exercise. Overall this is meant for me because I know that I will get along with the students, professors, and coaches.
Demarco
McKendree is a small close net university that has professor that push you to be your best inside and outside the classroom. Teachers like Dr. LaMora and Dr. Salari that pushes the science department to our limits. Its not a big party school but there is always something to do. The class sizes are perfect. You really get that one to one connection with your professor. The dorms and the science building needs updating really badly but it gets the job done. Overall the tuition is high but the education is worth it.
amia
Hello my name is Amia Brooks i am a transfer Student at McKendree and i believe the school offers a lot of support and financial help which I love and you can get ahold of anyone very quickly . I do think students should try to get a car or find friends with a car to go to stores off campus . The class sizes are very good my science class the max is only 25 and the admission office is very helpful . I think 75% of the school plays a sport or is in a club which basically means everyone is involved and very welcoming.
jaylon
Although McKendree is an expensive private school they offer many scholarships to help the cost. Plus it being a small school there is help all the time, the library is actually open 24/7 to help a student who may have waited to the last second to study. The campus life is amazing, any student will not feel lost in the crowd. McKendree is a great school and I am glad I am here!
Travon
Great growing school. Lot's of opportunity and potential for growth in every way. The instructors and staff work hard and care about students. They want to see everyone succeed in their goal to graduate and they put forth the effort to help as much as they can.
Chase
As a whole, McKendree is a great school to attend. There are two major issues with the school. First, the traditional dorms are incredibly old and it is not uncommon for something to malfunction at any point in time. Second, the dining options are not great. The food in the dining hall is almost inedible at times, and the hours that you can go in and eat are very limited. It is made up for slightly for the food up in the restaurant on campus. This food is made to order and always tastes great. It is unfortunate that it is a little pricey though. Though those can create some issues, the school and its atmosphere are great. I have made great relationships with all my professors and have had many opportunities to sit down and talk with the president of the university, as well as the Vice President of Student Affairs. There is always something to do on campus as the campus activities board is always putting on fun events that are a lot of fun to get involved in. Our sports teams always have good crowds at their games and people are always loud to cheer on our team. With the new places on campus that have been put in to give students more places to study and hangout with friends, there is somewhere for everyone to go no matter what you may be trying to do.
Jalen
Its a great smaller school that can help an individual get help from a teacher or administrational help. Everybody on the campus enjoys helping and is very connected with the schools activities. The environment is safe for the students and their is a lot of tradition.
Dewey
It's a "liberal sports college", as I like to call it. The emphasis is on sports, not on the academics. Things are generally good enough but it is better to become accustomed to disappointment, even when you are very tolerant of accommodations. The school likes to sweep scandals under the rug, and maintain a perfect image with its marching band, show choir, and football game. The teachers in the science/math department and the few friends I have made from the art/performance departments are the highlights of McKendree. Many of the administration are apathetic and out-of-touch. Most students are there for sports and engage in their own exclusive culture. The Hettenhausen Theatre is wasted on such a school as McKendree.
Ifeolu
McKendree University is basically a high school on a college level, where students know each other and also each others business. The school has faculty that cares about their students whether it is just a gen ed class or your major class. They want to see you succeed regardless of your race, sexual identity, income, it does not matter to them, what matters is that they can see you graduate and they can take pride in knowing that they got to educate you. Housing is nice dependent upon what you are used to and where you decide to live. They have housing that is for people who are used to having a roommate and comfortable with having a smaller simplistic room but they also have suite style housing where each student can have their own room and they even offer off campus housing in apartments they bought and added onto themselves. Access to malls and food places is a short drive on the interstate and it is nice to be close to a major city like St. Louis, which is only about 45 minutes away, so you can always have something to do on the weekends or on extended breaks. On campus food at the cafeteria is sub par but that is expected with any school who has Sodexo as their main food provider. Campus life could use a little bit of a social push to get more student involvement and to get students to meet new students even if they already have made friends.
Andrea
I classes are very small. I enjoy this simply because you arnt just a number you are a person and the professors know your name and it's more personal. With that I don't feel as intimidated to ask questions or approach after class to get answers or situations handled. On their other hand it's very groupy and hard to find fun things to do.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for McKendree University is 68%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
I wish I could have told myself as a high school student that I should embrace change, instead of resisting it. Entering college with the perception that these four years, or more, is simply a time of transition from high school to a career is completely false. Being a college student is the greatest opportunity for metamorphosis that any individual can have. I spent the first two months of college in bitterness and anxiety because I was torn between everything that I had regarded as valuable in the past, versus everything in the world that excited me and inspired me yet?was not the easy path to take. I wish I could have said, ?Jessica. Nothing will be definite or simple. Nothing will go as you plan. You will be angry. You will be lost. You will fight with your parents. But, you will also become a better person. You will develop and grow. You will learn to do what is true, not necessarily practical. You will also make your parents proud. Don?t search for yourself. Don?t dwell on what you can?t change. You will be truly happy for the first time in your entire life.?
Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.
Mckendree is the kind of college that will change your life, help you to believe in yourself that you can make a difference in the world, and will offer you the most amazing set of professors, advisors, and administators, always trying to reach out to the students, going above and beyond everyone's expectations.
I love the smaller campus. This is because you get to know everyone so much easier and see familiar faces everyday. Class sizes are very small which allow for optimum learning experiences and everyone is very friendly.
If my responses seem odd, it is because I am at the Louisville KY campus where most students are working and have families to take care of. The Kentucky campus schedules classes so that those who work full time can attend class. There are no extra curricular activities and no additional facilities such as pools and tennis courts. Classes are small and intimate. Many of the professors also work in the fields that they teach. There is also opportunity for on-line classes.
What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?
McKendree University is a great school with endless possibilities. It has a great location where it is only twenty minutes from downtown St. Louis. But McKendree University is stuck in Lebanon, IL. Not that Lebanon is not a great little town, but it is little. It has a population of around 5,000 people. And being me, the fun, out-going girl, a small school can be a little cramped with the dreams a girl has for the future. That would be the only downfall that McK has, the size of the school and the hometown location.
My classmates are diverse not only in sex but also in age and race and while many play a variety of sports and participate in a number of activities, making friends and connections between people is very easily done.
What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?
The debate team! McKendree, a small private school in downstate Illinois, with an undergraduate class of 2,304, has a small, but powerful debate team. McKendree has won eighteen Pi Kappa Delta National Championships, nine teams advance to final rounds at the National Parliamentary Debate Association Championship Tournament, four teams finish in the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence Top Fifty, four teams attend the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence, eighteen events qualify for the American Forensic Association national individual events tournament, and has had ten events advance to elimination rounds at the National Forensic Association national tournament!
The academics at McKendree are not as highly valued as some of the extra-curricular events on campus and that is a bit bothersome for me. I feel that because it is a University, then most funds should be put into the Educational side not the Athletic side of the university. Other than that though, we have a great staff! The professors are fantastic and are well educated in their areas of specialty and that is very good. Also, some of the teachers are known all over the United States, and some world Wide so that provides a bit more of a sense of comfort knowing how good our professors really truly are.
What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?
I do not know of many stereotypes of McKendree Students in general.The only one I aware of is the 20/80 theory. We have 20{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the students doing 80{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the activities and things on campus.
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
99% of students attending McKendree University receive some sort of financial aid.
44% were awarded federal grants.71%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.
