Benedictine University

Gaining admission to Benedictine University is broadly accessible, though institutional rankings in US News have slid over recent evaluation cycles. The university held a rank of 221 in 2019 before moving to 299 in 2022. For the 2025 admissions cycle, the school admitted nearly all who applied, posting an overall acceptance rate of 95.2%, which is higher than 91% of peer private research universities. This high acceptance rate indicates that the vast majority of applicants receive an offer of admission. However, the university experiences modest drawing power among admitted students. In 2025, its yield rate was 15.6%, showing that fewer than one in six admitted students decided to enroll. For prospective applicants, these figures mean that the university presents minimal admissions barriers, while most admitted students ultimately evaluate and pursue other collegiate options.

Benedictine University maintains an admission test policy that is optional, with scores considered if submitted. Published score ranges belong to 2022. Among enrolled students that year, the middle range of ACT composite scores spanned from 19 to 28. Standardized test submission was limited, as 10 percent of entering freshmen submitted SAT scores and 17 percent submitted ACT scores. High school transcript records from the 2021–2022 academic year show that incoming freshmen presented varied secondary school preparation; while most students earned grades at or above a B average, more than a quarter entered with marks below that level. For prospective applicants, these academic figures indicate that admission is broadly accessible to students demonstrating steady classroom performance. Candidates presenting consistent secondary school coursework or mid-level standardized testing credentials can approach the application process with confidence.

Academic degrees at Benedictine University are heavily clustered in health sciences, business, and social science programs. In 2025, the university conferred 468 bachelor's degrees, with the top three programs accounting for 40.8% of all undergraduate awards. The largest bachelor's fields were general biology, general psychology, and business administration. At the graduate level, degree production was similarly concentrated in business administration, management information systems, and public health. In national program rankings, public health was ranked 202 in 2026 by US News, while undergraduate psychology held a rank of 529 in 2027. Neither program ranks among the top national tiers. In terms of early-career compensation, 2023 earnings data show strong returns in select areas, led by human resources management and services with median first-year earnings of $82,054. For applicants, the university functions primarily as a workforce-oriented institution where students concentrate in practical professional disciplines.

Benedictine University enrolled a total of 2,917 students in 2025 across its undergraduate and graduate divisions. The student body displays substantial racial and ethnic diversity, particularly within the undergraduate classes where White, Hispanic, and Asian students make up the primary demographic cohorts. Among the first-year undergraduate cohort, Asian students numbered 100, representing 22.2% of entering freshmen. By contrast, international representation remains small, with international freshmen numbering 4, or 0.9% of the first-year group. Continuing undergraduate and transfer cohorts reflect similar patterns, while graduate programs enroll a diverse domestic population alongside modest shares of Asian and international scholars. For prospective applicants, the campus community provides a predominantly domestic environment with significant representation from diverse regional backgrounds.

Benedictine University exhibits a clear demographic separation between its undergraduate and graduate populations. In 2025, undergraduates were overwhelmingly of traditional collegiate age, with students aged 20 to 21 making up 38% of the undergraduate body, followed by those aged 18 to 19 at 33%. This creates a conventional daytime campus environment where most bachelor's degree seekers advance directly from high school. Conversely, the graduate division serves an older, post-baccalaureate population, where students aged 25 to 29 formed the largest cohort at 27.5%. For applicants, this structure means undergraduate campus life is shaped primarily by young adults pursuing initial degrees, while graduate programs accommodate working adults balancing professional careers.

International students represent a modest proportion of the enrollment at Benedictine University, with differing trajectories across academic levels. In 2025, international students comprised 3.6% of the undergraduate population, reflecting a gradual increase from earlier years and placing the school higher than 45% of peer private research universities. At the graduate level, international enrollment has trended lower over time, with international students making up 2.9% of graduate students in 2025. Among degree recipients in 2025, international representation remained minimal, accounting for a minor fraction of bachelor's degrees and fewer master's awards. Where international graduates do concentrate, they are found primarily in business disciplines. At the bachelor's level, Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other recorded the largest international concentration at 12.5% of its graduates, while science programs had minimal international presence. For international applicants, these patterns indicate a predominantly domestic student environment with limited international presence outside specific business and clinical programs.

Prospective students exploring Benedictine University can consider several other higher education options within the surrounding region of Illinois. Located just 6.4 kilometers away, Wheaton College is ranked 57 among National Liberal Arts Colleges. For those considering regional private universities, Aurora University is situated 13.1 kilometers from campus and holds a rank of 262 on the National Universities list, while University of St Francis sits 17.0 kilometers away with a rank of 276. Closer to the city center, University of Illinois Chicago is located 23.9 kilometers away and is ranked 95 among National Universities. These neighboring institutions provide families with varied choices in institutional mission, program structure, and campus setting across suburban and urban Chicago.

Campus safety indicators at Benedictine University have shown improvement over the past decade. The crime rate per 1,000 students decreased from 8.9 in 2016 to 3.2 in 2025, reaching its lowest point in the recorded period. An examination of incident categories from 2023 to 2025 shows that campus security activity was dominated by internal alcohol and substance violations rather than violent crime. Specifically, across that three-year timeframe, the university recorded 85 disciplinary referrals for liquor law violations and 24 disciplinary referrals for drug law violations. More serious offenses occurred at low frequencies during those same years, including isolated reports of dating violence, burglary, and sexual assault. For prospective students and their families, the safety data indicate that reported security concerns on campus primarily involve student conduct policy enforcement rather than pervasive community violence.