This article does that with Benedictine University, in Lisle, Illinois. It will not tell you whether it is the right school for your family—no one but your family can know that. But it will give you a map of what the federal data reveals: who studies there, how much it costs, how difficult it is to get in, and what happens to students after they enroll.
Who This University Is
Benedictine University is a private, nonprofit, four-year institution that offers programs through the doctoral level. The federal system that classifies colleges and universities in the United States (Carnegie) identifies it as a master’s university with larger programs. That tells you the scale of its academic ambitions: it is not a small, single-level college; it is an institution that offers bachelor’s degrees as well as graduate programs.
There is an important detail behind that: based on its 2019-20 classification, Carnegie describes it as primarily nonresidential. That label applies when fewer than 25 out of every 100 undergraduate students lived in institution-owned housing, or when fewer than half attended full time—the data does not say which of the two conditions applied, nor does it mean there are no residence halls. If your child will commute every day, what you need to add to the real budget is not just tuition: it is the bus, gas, and hours spent traveling.
There is another Carnegie data point, from 2021, that is worth noting if your child is coming from another college: this school is among the institutions that enroll many transfer students. That does not say how many credits they bring with them or how many are lost in the transition. If that is your child’s path, ask in writing, before enrolling, which courses will count and which will not.
Where it is. Benedictine University is in Lisle, Illinois, in DuPage County, within the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metropolitan area. Its Census code places it in a suburb: within the urbanized area, but outside the principal city. If your child plans to live at home, do not rely on what the map says: drive the route on a weekday, at the exact time of your child’s classes. The actual travel time is almost never what Google Maps promises.
As for special designations, Benedictine University is not listed as a historically Black college or university (HBCU), a tribal college or university, or a land-grant institution. Of the 3,012 colleges and universities in this directory, 138 have at least one of those three labels; this one has none. That does not tell you which students it serves or how your child will feel there. Ask directly: what cultural centers currently exist, which student organizations are active, and—if you can—speak with someone who already attends.
The Community’s Actual Size
Benedictine University had 2,989 students enrolled in the most recent official fall count. It is a medium-sized school—between 1,000 and 4,999 students—and compared with the other 941 selective, private, four-year schools in this dataset, its size is among the most common: neither one of the large schools nor one of the small ones.
But that overall number hides something that matters: it is divided between 1,842 undergraduate students and 1,147 graduate students. If your child is starting a bachelor’s degree, the relevant number is 1,842, not the total of nearly 3,000. A large part of this school consists of people who have already completed a bachelor’s degree and are pursuing graduate study.
Who else is in the classroom? Among undergraduates, 21 out of every 100 students identified as Hispanic or Latino in the fall of 2023. Compared with the other 941 similar selective private schools, that figure falls in the top quarter: three out of four schools in that group reported an equal or lower proportion. They are not a majority, but they are not an unusual presence either. Still, that comparison does not account for the part of the country where the school is located—and here, near Chicago, that matters.
The rest of the picture: the balance between men and women is nearly even, with 48 out of every 100 being women. Adults ages 25 to 64 are a minority, only 8 out of every 100. And 75 out of every 100 first-time students reported living in Illinois when they applied. Above all, it is a local community.
How the Academic Year Works
The calendar follows semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks each. The school reported to the government that it accepts two forms of prior credit: AP exams and what IPEDS calls credit for life experience—independent study, work experience, licenses, certifications, and even military training. It also enrolls high school students in college courses for credit through a formal dual-enrollment program.
Here is a hard truth that can save you a headache: saying that the school accepts AP does not mean it awards credit for every exam. The data does not say what scores are required, how many credits are awarded, or whether those credits count toward your child’s specific degree. Ask for the equivalency evaluation in writing before enrolling. Do not include the savings in your budget until you have it in hand.
What can students study there? In the most recent reported year, the school awarded 537 bachelor’s degrees across 23 fields of study. But the distribution is uneven: business and management accounted for 192 of those 537 degrees, or 36 out of every 100. Compared with 942 similar schools, it has one of the broadest offerings by number of fields of study represented. Even so, “23 fields” does not mean 23 majors with active students—a row may report zero. If your child has a specific major in mind, ask about it directly, not about the general catalog.
About class size. The official ratio is 13 students for every full-time-equivalent faculty member. It is a low ratio in general terms, but compared with similar schools it is above the median—not in the lowest group. And take note: this figure does not indicate the actual size of a classroom. It is an institution-wide average, not a promise about your child’s first-year class.
What the School Says It Offers Beyond the Classroom
Benedictine University reports several structured academic pathways: study abroad, undergraduate research alongside a faculty member, a complete program that can be taken only in the evenings or on weekends, developmental education with and without credit, and preparation and certification programs for those who want to become teachers. The school’s reporting of these opportunities does not tell you how many spots are available, how much they cost, or whether your child would qualify. The doors exist; getting through them requires asking questions.
What Admission Is Like
Benedictine University does not have open admission: it reviews certain components before saying yes. Of nine possible considerations, only one is required: the high school GPA. Other things help if you submit them—class rank, completion of the required college-preparatory coursework, the essay, letters of recommendation, a portfolio or skills exam, and the English-language exam where applicable—but the report does not say how much weight each one carries. The application fee, incidentally, is $0.
How selective is it, really? In the most recent cycle, of the 2,788 first-time applicants, 2,153 received an offer of admission: 77 out of every 100. Compared with 942 similar selective private schools, that figure ranks near the middle, slightly above the halfway point. Seven or eight out of ten are admitted. That does not make admission automatic, but it does give your child a real reason to apply rather than leaving it until the last minute. Remember: this is the figure for a single cycle. When it is your child’s turn, check the number for the applicable year.
And here is something that confuses many families: out of every 100 admitted students, only 16 ultimately enrolled. That does not mean the school is bad—the federal record does not say why each person made the choice they did. It simply means that receiving the letter is not the same as deciding to attend. What others decided tells you nothing about what your family will be offered. Wait for your own letter with the net price before drawing conclusions.
As for standardized tests, the SAT and ACT are not required. Fewer than 1 out of every 100 enrolled students submitted an SAT score. That figure does not indicate whether the score was used for admission, scholarships, or nothing at all.
About transferring out. Of the cohort that entered in 2017, only 1 out of every 100 transferred to another school without finishing here. That is a low figure compared with similar schools. The fact that few students leave does not tell you how many graduate—that is a separate calculation, which we examine later.
The List Price, Without the Spin
At Benedictine University, among 69 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $19,282. Among 50 students from the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $23,587; among 85 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $28,307. For dependent students, the range combines their parents’ income with their own.
The difference between the average for the lowest-income group (69 students) and the highest-income group (85 students) is $9,025. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship, the average was $24,570.
$19,282 was the average net price for the lowest-income families in academic year 2022-23. That does not mean it is what your family will pay. It helps you determine whether it is worth requesting the financial aid letter.
None of these figures is a quote for your child. The income ranges in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, the in-state or in-district rate is used. The overall average for students with grants or scholarships, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships. The figure that matters is the one in the financial aid letter sent to you. In the meantime, use the net price calculator on the school’s website.
How Students Pay: Grants, Loans, and Aid
95 out of every 100 students at this school receive some grant or aid that does not have to be repaid. Here, receiving something is the norm, not the exception. Among recipients, the average for the year was $19,608. And 39 out of every 100 students receive a Pell Grant, the federal aid for low-income families.
Do not read a high number as a personal promise. It is what happened to other students in a specific year. Ask in writing which applications must be completed, what the deadlines are, and what happens to the grant or scholarship if grades fall.
About loans. 49 out of every 100 undergraduate students took out a federal loan that year. Among those who borrowed, the average amount per borrower was $6,440. Here, financing with debt is the norm, not the exception. If your child borrowed a similar amount each year during the four years of a bachelor’s degree, the total would be around $25,760, not including interest. Do that calculation before the first signature, not at the end. And remember: that average covers only federal loans in the student’s name. It does not include anything the parents may borrow, credit card debt, or the total debt your child would have upon graduating—that figure is not in this report.
The institution also offers an installment tuition payment plan, in case that helps manage cash flow during the year.
Campus Life, Athletics, and Support
Benedictine does have its own housing, and it does not require all first-time students to live there—that rules out a universal requirement; it does not mean that no program has one. It also offers meal plans, although the number of meals per week varies by the plan selected. The reported maximum housing capacity is 498 students. The existence of housing does not guarantee an available bed: ask for the current year’s rate, the application deadline, and whether a place is guaranteed or you will be put on a waiting list.
As for ROTC, the school reports an opportunity with the Army branch. The Navy and Air Force are not marked. Their absence does not mean they are impossible options; it means you need to ask directly.
In athletics, Benedictine competes at the intercollegiate level and is affiliated with both the NCAA and the NAIA, with reported participation in football, basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. If your child is interested in playing, write directly to the coach: ask whether there is a place available, which division the team competes in, and whether that sport offers scholarships.
As for distance education, the school offers it at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, but only 5 out of every 100 undergraduate students take all their classes online. The rest take at least one class in person.
The library operates with paid staff, and its annual spending exceeds the $100,000 threshold tracked by the government; it has physical and digital collections and participates in interlibrary lending. Reported support services include combined academic and career counseling, employment services for current students and graduates, participation in the Yellow Ribbon program for veterans, a dedicated point of contact for military families, and a published webpage describing services for students with disabilities.
What Happens to Students: Staying, Progressing, and Graduating
This is where it is worth sitting down and taking your time, because these figures carry the most weight in a decision.
Of the 415 full-time, first-time students in the cohort that entered in 2022, 69 out of every 100 were still enrolled here or had already graduated one year later. Compared with similar selective private schools, this figure falls toward the bottom: seven out of ten of those schools retained a greater proportion of their cohort. This rate does not distinguish between those who remain enrolled and those who have already graduated, nor does it explain what happened to everyone else. Not being counted as retained does not mean someone gave up: that person may have transferred, paused their studies, or changed direction for reasons this data does not capture.
Graduation, using two different time frames. Of the 420 full-time students who entered in 2017, 214 had earned a degree from this school six years later: 51 out of every 100. Nearly half and half. Using the four-year time frame, the figure falls to 38 out of every 100—a gap of 13 points that shows how many needed additional time. Compared with similar schools, it falls below the group’s midpoint.
It is not a verdict on your child. It is the historical outcome of an entire cohort. Before deciding, ask directly what specific support the school provides to help students finish on time, and how long the particular degree your child is considering takes on average.
The eight-year measure tells you something else. Of a cohort of 1,182 students who entered between July 2015 and June 2016—including part-time students and those who already had prior college experience—58 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from this school eight years later. Among those who received a Pell Grant, the figure falls to 52 out of every 100, ten points lower than among those who did not receive one. And specifically among those who entered as full-time, first-time students, the figure was 48 out of every 100, also lower than the broader average.
That difference involving Pell students is worth asking the school about directly: what counseling they are assigned, whether emergency aid is available, and whether internal grants and scholarships are renewed from year to year. Ask for the answers in writing.
What You Decide, What Your Child Decides, What the School Decides
The school’s role is to admit students, offer aid, and clearly state its requirements. Your child’s role is to study, explore, write the essay, and take responsibility for their part of the process. Your role is not to live your child’s college life. But it is your role to understand the family’s finances, read the financial aid letter carefully, ask the uncomfortable questions before signing, and offer support without taking away the responsibility that now belongs to your child.
You now know, from real numbers rather than brochures, what kind of university Benedictine University is: medium-sized, selective but accessible, with a notable Latino presence for its type of school, a high list price but a net price that does not rise as sharply across families with different incomes, and graduation outcomes that hover around half of each cohort.
This is one piece of the map, not the entire map. Combine it with what your child wants to study, what your child has accomplished so far, and what your family can and is willing to pay. A real plan grows from that combination—not from this list alone.
Source note: The information in this article comes from IPEDS and the United States Department of Education, using data from the most recent reports available (primarily the 2022-23 and 2023-24 cycles, as well as historical retention and graduation cohorts as indicated). Best College Aid does not represent Benedictine University or the United States government; this article is an informational resource, not personalized admissions advice.