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Benedictine University

Lisle, Illinois 60532-0900

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Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

Business-focusedHealth sciencesTight-knitSuburban

Known for business

Benedictine University is a private institution in Lisle with particular strength in business and health sciences.

A small campus of 1.8K undergraduates with a 13:1 student-faculty ratio. The suburban location offers a balance of campus life and nearby amenities.

51% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $63,446 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $23,529.

Established
1887
Motto
Ut In Omnibus Glorificetur Deus
Mascot
Eagle,Redhawk
Type
Private university
Conference
National Association of
Division
Division III

Plan Your Visit

77%Acceptance
SAT Avg
1,817Students
13:1Student:Faculty
51%Grad Rate
$63,446Earnings 10yr
$23,529Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate77.2%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$34,290
Room & Board$10,266
Books & Supplies$1,900
Total Cost of Attendance$46,548
Average Net Price$23,529
Median Debt at Graduation$22,500
Monthly Payment (10yr)$239

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$19,282
$30–48K$19,035
$48–75K$23,587
$75–110K$27,639
$110K+$28,307

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

51.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

1.0%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$17,500

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

13

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

3

Burglary

1

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

4

Drug Arrests

3

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (89)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

69%

Below Average

Student Body

Undergrads
1,817
Gender Split
48% / 52%
Women / Men
First Generation
34%
Pell Grant Recipients
39%

Race & Ethnicity

White 42%
Black 9%
Hispanic 21%
Asian 21%
Two+ 3%
Int'l 2%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate50.9%
Freshman Retention69.2%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$50,222
10 Years$63,446

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

More About This School

Varsity Sports — Eagles

TennisLacrosse

History & Fun Facts

  • History Benedictine University, also called BenU, was founded in 1887 as St.
  • While the school was called a college from its founding, it did not begin offering post-secondary courses until after it moved from Chicago to rural Lisle in 1901.
  • It became fully accredited in 1957 and, as the area around it transitioned from rural to suburban, it grew substantially.
  • Also in 1957, the institution's high school component began operating independently of the college and is now called Benet Academy.
  • The college became fully coeducational in 1968, though the first female, Joan Hewitt, graduated in 1953.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

100Average

Estimated from IL state average + suburban adjustment

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 30"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Chicagopop. 2.7M
25 mi(43 min)
Milwaukeepop. 570K
88 mi(153 min)
Indianapolispop. 880K
172 mi(298 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

ORD Chicago O'Hare17 mi
MKE Milwaukee81 mi
IND Indianapolis171 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA873 mi · ~25h 13m drive
New York, NY735 mi · ~21h 14m drive
Hartford, CT794 mi · ~22h 56m drive
Providence, RI858 mi · ~24h 47m drive
Albany, NY735 mi · ~21h 14m drive
Syracuse, NY615 mi · ~17h 46m drive
Rochester, NY543 mi · ~15h 41m drive
Buffalo, NY477 mi · ~13h 47m drive
Philadelphia, PA687 mi · ~19h 51m drive
Pittsburgh, PA432 mi · ~12h 29m drive
Harrisburg, PA593 mi · ~17h 8m drive
Newark, NJ726 mi · ~20h 58m drive
Washington, DC615 mi · ~17h 46m drive
Baltimore, MD627 mi · ~18h 7m drive
Atlanta, GA590 mi · ~17h 3m drive
Charlotte, NC598 mi · ~17h 17m drive
Raleigh, NC656 mi · ~18h 57m drive
Miami, FL1195 mi · ~34h 31m drive
Orlando, FL990 mi · ~28h 36m drive
Tampa, FL1007 mi · ~29h 5m drive
Nashville, TN394 mi · ~11h 23m drive
New Orleans, LA825 mi · ~23h 50m drive
Richmond, VA638 mi · ~18h 26m drive
Chicago, IL25 mi · ~43 min drive
Detroit, MI262 mi · ~7h 34m drive
Minneapolis, MN341 mi · ~9h 51m drive
St. Louis, MO244 mi · ~7h 3m drive
Kansas City, MO388 mi · ~11h 13m drive
Indianapolis, IN172 mi · ~4h 58m drive
Columbus, OH294 mi · ~8h 30m drive
Cleveland, OH331 mi · ~9h 34m drive
Milwaukee, WI88 mi · ~2h 33m drive
Dallas, TX784 mi · ~22h 39m drive
Houston, TX924 mi · ~26h 42m drive
Austin, TX959 mi · ~27h 42m drive
San Antonio, TX1032 mi · ~29h 49m drive
Los Angeles, CA1718 mi · ~49h 38m drive
San Francisco, CA1831 mi · ~52h 54m drive
San Diego, CA1707 mi · ~49h 19m drive
Seattle, WA1714 mi · ~49h 31m drive
Portland, OR1734 mi · ~50h 6m drive
Denver, CO894 mi · ~25h 50m drive
Phoenix, AZ1427 mi · ~41h 13m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1234 mi · ~35h 39m drive
Honolulu, HI4225 mi · ~122h 3m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Deadline Calendar

Benedictine University Application Checklist

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