benedictine university accreditation

Degrees Offered at Benedictine University

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Benedictine University has a wealth of academic opportunities for its students including 59 undergraduate majors, 56 traditional undergraduate programs, 20 traditional undergraduate minors, and eight accelerated programs at the undergraduate level. For graduate and doctoral students, there are 34 graduate certificates, 23 programs, and four doctoral selections. Students can obtain many of these degrees virtually. Benedictine University is made up of five colleges.

  • The Goodwin College of Business
  • The College of Education and Health Services
  • The College of Liberal Arts
  • The College of Sciences
  • The School of Graduate, Adult and Professional Education

One of the more popular colleges at Benedictine University is the College of Liberal Arts. Students who enjoy innovative courses, as well as humanities and social sciences, will find the College of Liberal Arts to be ideal for exploring passions in the arts, literature, and music. Students can obtain a major or a minor as well as a master’s degree. Some of the most sought after programs include criminal justice, history, theology, studio art, and psychology. Students can also pursue writing and publishing as well as music or philosophy. For students who enjoy the arts but would prefer to obtain a discipline instead of a degree can pursue their minor in gender studies, graphic arts and design, social work, and Arabic.

About Benedictine University

Benedictine University was founded by monks in the city of Chicago in 1887. The very first building of Benedictine University Lisle campus was officially dedicated in 1901. Throughout the 1920s, new buildings and establishments were added to this location. Originally, the institution was committed to providing education to men but eventually extended services to ethnic groups and women by 1968. Benedictine University has expanded its reach by joining in partnership with a number of major organizations. These pairings have contributed to both national and international recognition for Benedictine.

Today, the university enrolls almost 10,000 students who are mainly from the city of Chicago as well as the state of Illinois. Benedictine University is comprised of all 50 American states and over 15 International countries. As a Catholic institution, Benedictine University takes pride in a number of intellectual traditions including remaining committed to faith and respecting the wisdom that has foundationally upheld the institution. Other values include the acknowledgment of goals as well as maintaining close relationships with the surrounding community and being committed to the sacramental values.

Students can participate in one of the 60 clubs located on campus. Entertainment is plentiful as there are constantly events, concerts, and special speakers that visit campus to provide students with enlightenment and a deeper understanding of the world around them. Benedictine University embraces diversity as well as inclusion. Students can find camaraderie by visiting the Student Union or going to an athletic event. The sports teams at Benedictine University participate at the NCAA Division III level. The campus is scenic and offers tree-lined walkways that are relaxing and lead to beautiful sunset views. Benedictine University also has a nature museum that students can visit at any time.

Benedictine University Accreditation Details

Benedictine University received accreditation from The Higher Learning Commission. The university also has other accreditation credentials.

  • 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 holds memberships with several organizations including:

  • The American Council on Education
  • The Council for Independent Colleges
  • The Association of Governing Boards
  • The National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
  • The Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities
  • The National Catholic Education Association
  • The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
  • The College Entrance Examination Board
  • The Associated Colleges of Illinois
  • The Associated Colleges of the Chicago Area
  • and more…

Benedictine University has also received approval from the Illinois Board of Higher Education as well as approval from the American Chemical Society.

Benedictine University Application Requirements

First-year students, as well as undergraduate students seeking admissions, can apply at any time. Benedictine University accepts applications on a rolling admissions basis and does not rely on a deadline for new applications. Students should send in applications prior to the start of the preferred semester. In order to be considered for admission students should have a minimum GPA of 2.5, and an SAT score of 1060 or an ACT score of at least 21.

Supplemental documents include official high school transcripts, a personal statement, and letters of recommendation from a high school counselor. International students are required to supply all of the same documents along with satisfactory TOEFL or IELTS scores. Students can either download an application or create an online account and send applications via the virtual portal.

Graduate students can either download a physical application or send an application via the online portal. Graduates should prepare official transcripts from an accredited institution, supplemental documents depending on the program of choice such as a goal statement, a letter of reference from an academic professional, satisfactory GMAT, MAT, GRE scores and a resume. International students should supply the admissions office with satisfactory TOEFL or IELTS scores.

All students seeking admissions must pay a $40 application fee.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Undergraduate students who are taking up to 18 credit hours at the Lisle campus will pay $34,290. Part-time students taking up to 11 credit hours at the Lisle campus will pay $1,090. Students participating in full-time courses at the Mesa campus will pay $22,400. Part-time students at the Mesa campus will pay $710 per credit hour.

Undergraduate students can receive a Benedictine Academic Scholar Award which usually ranges from $6,000 to $17,000 per year. Other student scholarships include the Catholic High School award which presents Catholic High School students with a $1,500 yearly award. Students who are members of the Scholars Program can receive awards of up to $22,400. In order to be eligible for these awards, students must meet a certain number of minimum requirements.

For graduate students, tuition varies based on the program of choice. For graduates pursuing an MBA, tuition will be $600 per credit hour. Other programs such as finance, public health, and taxation will be $700 per credit hour. For those participating in programs such as linguistics or integrated physiology, tuition will be $1,130 per credit hour. Certificate programs will be $700 per credit hour. Graduates must pay an administrative fee of $250.

Graduate students can apply to be eligible for an Alumni Scholarship or a Graduate Merit Scholarship. The Alumni Scholarship awards students with a one time $1,000 credit. Students must meet certain qualifications in order to be eligible for these scholarships.

Benedictine University has many campus locations that offer the same high-quality education throughout the curriculum.