McKendree University

What McKendree University does

McKendree University is a private, non-profit institution of higher education founded in 1828 in Lebanon, Illinois, operating as Illinois' oldest college and the oldest institution in the U.S. with continuous ties to the United Methodist Church. The university serves approximately 2,442 students across 1,787 undergraduates and 655 graduate students through a College of Arts and Sciences and three professional schools (Business, Education, and Nursing & Health Professions), offering 50+ undergraduate majors, 11 graduate programs, and 2 doctoral programs, with 83 full-time faculty delivering a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 100% of courses taught by faculty. McKendree delivers education across multiple modalities — residential on-campus instruction, online asynchronous programs for working adults, and community college transfer pathways — while maintaining specialized accreditations (HLC, CCNE, IACBE, CAATE) and 11 consecutive years of Military Friendly School designation.

The university's revenue model is anchored by tuition and fees, room and board (88% of first-year students live on campus across 6 residential communities), philanthropy and annual giving campaigns, and administration of federal student aid and VA benefits. Pricing is tiered by delivery format (on-campus vs. online), residency (Clear Path reduced tuition for Southern and Central Illinois residents), and student type, with over $16M in institutional aid awarded annually and 97-98% of graduates employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months. Distribution is multi-channel: regional campus enrollment at the 118-acre Lebanon site, online self-serve channels, community college articulation agreements for transfers, EducationUSA partnerships (400+ centers in 170 countries) for international recruitment, and dedicated military/veteran services. The technology stack is built on standard higher-ed SaaS (Ellucian CRM Recruit, Ellucian Student Self-Service, Coursedog, Jotform, Sodexo, BKSTR) with no proprietary AI or platform products disclosed beyond an Applied AI academic major.

Name

McKendree University

Legal name

McKendree University

Website

https://mckendree.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1828

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

McKendree University is a private non-profit university in Lebanon, Illinois, founded in 1828, serving 2,442 students through 50+ undergraduate majors and graduate programs delivered on-campus and online, with diversified tuition, housing, philanthropy, and aid administration revenue streams.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Affiliated Private Research Universities (EDAHABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Teacher Education Universities (Licensure & M.Ed.) (EDAHALAG), Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts) (EDAIAIAC)

Keywords

• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate education programs
• Online higher education
• Liberal arts college
• Nursing education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lebanon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, with differentiated pricing for online programs and in-person instruction. Transfer students receive average institutional awards of nearly $20,000 annually.
2. Room and Board: On-campus housing and dining services revenue from residential students. 88% of first-year students live on campus, and the university operates 3 traditional halls, 3 suite-style, and 2 apartment-style facilities.
3. Philanthropy and Annual Giving: Annual Fund contributions from alumni, parents, and friends; endowed scholarships; estate and planned giving; athletic boosters; and one-time giving campaigns like One McKendree Giving Day.
4. Government Grants and Financial Aid Administration: Administration of federal student aid programs including Title IV, VA benefits (Yellow Ribbon Program), and state grant programs. Processing fees and student loan servicing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

McKendree University is a private, non-profit institution of higher education delivering undergraduate bachelor's degrees (50+ majors), graduate master's and doctoral programs, and online degree pathways across liberal arts, business, education, and nursing & health professions. Courses are taught on a 118-acre residential campus in Lebanon, Illinois and through asynchronous online formats for working adults, supported by NCAA Division II athletics, performing arts venues, and library and student success services.

Product overview

McKendree University is a private university offering a comprehensive educational portfolio structured around a College of Arts and Sciences and three professional schools (School of Business, School of Education, School of Nursing & Health Professions). The university delivers undergraduate programs through 55+ majors and 41 minors, graduate programs including master's and doctoral degrees, and extensive online learning options designed for working adults. Academic offerings span applied artificial intelligence, business administration, healthcare management, nursing, education, sciences, humanities, and professional studies. The university also operates the Hettenhausen Center for the Arts (The Hett) for performing arts and community events, Bearcat Athletics NCAA Division II sports, Holman Library with research services, and the Student Success & Advising Center supporting student academic achievement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bearcats: The athletic teams and mascot of McKendree University, known as the Bearcats.

Products and services

• Undergraduate Programs Bachelor's degree programs across 50+ majors and 41 minors offered on the Lebanon campus and online, including business administration, nursing, education, sciences, humanities, and professional studies. Designed for traditional first-year students, transfer students, and adult learners.
• Graduate Programs Master's, specialist, and doctoral degrees including MBA, MHA, MSN, MAED, MAT, MSAT, EdD, EdS, and DNP, offered on campus and online for working professionals and career advancers.
• Online Programs Online undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business, nursing, education, and healthcare management, delivered in flexible asynchronous format for working adults and non-traditional students.
• School of Business Business school offering BBA and MBA programs with specializations in accounting, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, healthcare management, human resources, management, marketing, sport management, and supply chain management. Accredited by IACBE.
• School of Education Education programs including elementary, secondary, and K-12 education degrees; BSEd, BME, MAED, MAT, EdS, EdD degrees; and alternative certification pathways for paraprofessionals.
• School of Nursing & Health Professions Nursing and health profession programs including BSN, RN to BSN, MSN, DNP, MSAT in athletic training, exercise science, and healthcare administration. CCNE accredited nursing programs.
• College of Arts and Sciences Liberal arts division housing programs in biology, chemistry, computer science, psychology, history, English, environmental studies, mathematics, social sciences, and visual and performing arts.
• Applied Artificial Intelligence Program Undergraduate major and minor in applied artificial intelligence preparing students for careers in AI development, implementation, and ethics.
• Bearcat Athletics NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics program with 37 sports teams including basketball, football, wrestling, baseball, softball, soccer, and volleyball.
• Hettenhausen Center for the Arts Performing arts center hosting distinguished speaker series, student performances, film series, and technical productions; available for rental and community events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of undergraduate students employed or enrolled in graduate school within 6 months of graduation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

AI capability3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• EducationUSAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with U.S. State Department network of 400+ advising centers in 170 countries to recruit international students. EducationUSA centers assist local students in finding appropriate U.S. higher education institutions.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Millikin University: Small private Illinois university of similar scale offering undergraduate and graduate programs with a comparable career-outcomes orientation. Competes for the same regional Illinois student pool.
• Lindenwood University: Private faith-affiliated (Presbyterian) university in the St. Louis metro area with comparable enrollment scale and NCAA Division II athletics. Directly competes in the same St. Louis catchment region.
• Greenville University: Private, faith-affiliated (Free Methodist) comprehensive university in Illinois with comparable size, residential focus, and similar faith-based enrollment positioning. Directly competes for the same faith-conscious Midwest student segment.
• Illinois College: Small private Illinois liberal arts institution with similar scale, residential focus, and historic roots; competes directly with McKendree for in-state undergraduate applicants.
• Quincy University: Private Catholic-affiliated university in Illinois with comparable enrollment scale, faith-based identity, and mix of undergraduate and graduate programs targeting similar Midwest students.
• Aurora University: Private Illinois university with similar enrollment scale, mix of undergraduate and graduate programs, and a comparable online program portfolio serving working adults.
• Benedictine University: Private Catholic-affiliated Illinois university with comparable enrollment, professional schools (business, nursing, education), and online program mix. Competes in the same Illinois private-university segment.
• North Central College: Private Illinois liberal arts college with comparable size and academic profile; competes for the same Illinois undergraduate market.

Broad incumbents

• Southern New Hampshire University: Large national online-focused university competing for the same adult learner and online undergraduate segments where McKendree is building presence. A scaled incumbent in online higher education.
• Maryville University: Larger private university based in the St. Louis metro that has aggressively scaled online programs in business, nursing, and healthcare. Operates in the same geographic market and competes for online adult learners.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mckendreeu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/McKendreeUniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/107185104115
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mckendree-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/mckendreeu

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about McKendree University