McKendree University
Lebanon, Illinois · Private Nonprofit · 71.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 51/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
McKendree University scores 51 (Below Average Value). McKendree University is a private United Methodist liberal arts institution in Lebanon, Illinois, enrolling about 1,752 students - situated between St. Louis and the Metro East region. Sticker tuition is $34,740 and net price is $24,717. Average six-year earnings of $39,200 and median ten-year of $58,572 trace a gradual upward trajectory. The 65% repayment rate is low and is the single most concerning metric: it suggests a significant portion of borrowers are not making progress against principal, pointing to income-driven repayment utilization or early delinquency. Median debt of $23,250 is moderate. Nursing - graded B - and accounting and mathematics programs are the ROI leaders. Business administration, kinesiology, marketing, and psychology carry D-grade ratios that require honest evaluation at McKendree's net price. The 33.6% Pell rate reflects a mixed socioeconomic student body drawing from the St. Louis metro and rural southern Illinois.
McKendree University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $34,740/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $34,740/yr |
| Average net price | $24,717/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $98,868 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $58,572 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $246 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 53.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,752 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $34,740/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $24,717/year, or roughly $98,868 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $21,928/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $29,066/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,250, which works out to about $246 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,200) and comes to 0.59, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $21,928 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $21,432 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,041 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $28,333 |
| $110,001+ | $29,066 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income students (under $30,000) pay $21,928 net. Four-year investment approaches $87,700. With average six-year earnings of $39,200 and a 10.1-year payback, the math is tight even for completers, and the 53% completion rate means many low-income students will not reach graduation. Aggressive scholarship negotiation and employer tuition support for working students are essential mitigants.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001 - $75,000 band pays $21,041 net - slightly lower than the lowest bracket, another sign of flat aid distribution. Four-year cost approaches $84,000. Middle-income families are at the most financially vulnerable point at McKendree's price: too high-income for maximum Pell, too low-income to absorb $85,000 without borrowing. Program selection is critical - nursing or accounting graduates can make this work; psychology or kinesiology graduates face a harder path.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $29,066 net - roughly $116,000 over four years. For high-income families, McKendree's differentiation is its Methodist identity, specific campus community, and athletic conference affiliation rather than raw ROI metrics.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at McKendree University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $61,173 | C |
| Psychology | $37,892 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $52,784 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $79,916 | B |
| Biopsychology | $58,057 | B |
| Marketing | $65,696 | D |
| Teacher Education | $43,707 | C+ |
| Sociology | $52,428 | C |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $69,002 | C+ |
| Accounting | $61,361 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing (27 graduates) earns $73,156 at one year and $79,916 at four years, with $26,534 median debt and a 0.36 ratio - B grade. McKendree's nursing program feeds the substantial St. Louis healthcare market (BJC HealthCare, SSM Health, Mercy) and regional Illinois hospital systems.
Accounting
Accounting (13 graduates) earns $55,313 at one year and $61,361 at four years, with $21,500 median debt and a 0.39 ratio (B grade). Students who earn CPA licensure typically see stronger earnings acceleration in years three through five. McKendree's proximity to St. Louis accounting firms is a genuine asset for internship and entry-level placement.
Mathematics
Mathematics (9 graduates) earns $51,157 in year one - strong for a liberal arts math track - with $21,750 median debt and a 0.43 ratio (B grade). Small cohort size limits the statistical reliability, but the directional signal is positive for quantitative-track students at McKendree.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (51 graduates - the largest cohort at McKendree) earns $43,339 at one year and $61,173 at four years, with $25,312 median debt and a 0.58 ratio (C grade). Business is the backbone of McKendree's enrollment but occupies middle-ROI territory. The St. Louis metro's diverse corporate base - healthcare, defense, manufacturing, financial services - provides placement but the school's modest brand recognition limits access to recruitment programs.
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
Management Sciences (14 graduates) earns $45,899 at one year and $69,002 at four, with $21,203 median debt and a 0.46 ratio (C+ grade). This analytics-adjacent business track shows stronger four-year earnings growth than general business administration. Students with quantitative skills who choose this track over standard business management appear to see a meaningful earnings premium by year four.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 60.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 64.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 65.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 71.7% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How McKendree University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 71.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,752 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 33.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,069 |
McKendree admits 71.7% of applicants. ACT and SAT score ranges are not published for the current data vintage. The admission rate suggests a moderately selective process with room for self-selection.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
McKendree's completion rate is 53.3% and three-year repayment rate is 65%. The repayment rate is the most actionable concern - it suggests the school would benefit from enhanced financial counseling and income-driven repayment guidance at and before graduation.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| McKendree University (this school) | 51 | $24,717 | $58,572 |
| Augustana College | 67 | $22,736 | $62,971 |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | 51 | $16,813 | $49,378 |
| Taylor University | 50 | $24,865 | $52,198 |
| Nazareth University | 49 | $29,357 | $56,458 |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | 21 | $49,790 | $40,151 |
Who Thrives Here
McKendree suits students seeking a Methodist-affiliated small liberal arts environment with close faculty relationships and access to the St. Louis metropolitan job market. Athletics and campus community are emphasized. Nursing and health sciences students get the best program-level ROI. Business and accounting students benefit from St. Louis corporate proximity. Students interested in kinesiology, psychology, or social sciences should plan for graduate or professional school, as undergraduate earnings in those fields at McKendree's price point do not produce positive near-term ROI without advanced degrees.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for McKendree University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $24,717 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $58,572 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: a three-year loan repayment rate of 64.9% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $23,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
McKendree University: Common Questions
Is McKendree University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. McKendree University scores 51/100 on our ROI scale. At $24,717 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $58,572 ten years after entry, so it takes about 10.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does McKendree University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $24,717 a year, or roughly $98,868 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do McKendree University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $58,572 ten years after enrolling, roughly $16,772 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off McKendree University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 10.1 years for McKendree University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do McKendree University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,250, against average earnings of $39,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at McKendree University?
The six-year graduation rate is 53.3%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.