Statement of Accreditation Status
as of February 23, 2020
Benedictine University
5700 College Road
Lisle, IL 60532
(630) 829-6000
http://www.ben.edu
*Previous names: Saint Procopius College to Illinois Benedictine College (1971) to Benedictine University (1996)
The information on this page describes the accreditation relationship between this institution and the Higher Learning Commission. General information about the Commission and the accreditation process is provided at the end of this document. In addition, links to definitions are provided for many of the terms used.
Accreditation Information
Current status: Accredited
| Accreditation granted: | 03/28/1958 |
Most recent reaffirmation of accreditation: 2016 - 2017
• Action Letter (PDF)
Next reaffirmation of accreditation: 2026 - 2027
Upcoming or In-Progress Reviews
| Date | Event | Description |
| 07/19/2021: | Assurance Review | |
| 2026 - 2027: | Comprehensive Evaluation | |
Most Recent History with the Commission
| Date | Event | Description |
| 02/27/2017: | Comprehensive Evaluation | Interim Report Requested - Moved the report due date from 6/1/18 to 12/3/18 to allow more time for the institution to compile the information on a project of this size. |
| 12/16/2009: | Reaffirmation of Accreditation (AQIP) | |
General Institutional Information
This section provides brief, general information about the institution’s organization and scope. The information is self-reported by the institution through the annual Institutional Update to the Commission. Additional information can be found at nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ or on the institution’s web site noted above.
Control: Private NFP
Degree programs (number in each category): Associates (1), Bachelors (59), Masters (22), Doctoral (4)
Certificate programs (number offered): 15
Off-Campus Activities (This listing was last updated: 08/15/2019; the information may not be current.) The institution’s accreditation includes courses and programs at:
| In-State: | Campuses: | None.
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| Additional Locations: | Indian Trail Junior High School - Addison, IL; Westfield Professional Development Center - Algonquin, IL; Community Unit School District 300 - Algonquin, IL; Griffith Laboratories - Alsip, IL; Arlington Heights School District 25 - Arlington Heights, IL; Winston Campus Elementary - Arlington Heights, IL; Waubonsie Valley HS Green Campus - Aurora, IL; Batavia Fire Station #1 - Batavia, IL; Bellwood Learning Center - Bellwood, IL; West 40 Intermediate Center - Bellwood, IL; Kildeer Countryside School District 96 - Buffalo Grove, IL; Burbank Fire Department - Burbank, IL; Whitney Young Magnet High School - Chicago, IL; Morton College - Cicero, IL; Town of Cicero Community Center - Cicero, IL; Hinsdale South HS - Darien, IL; Eisenhower Junior High School - Darien, IL; Richland Community College - Decatur, IL; Alan B. Shepard Middle School - Deerfield, IL; Illinois Central College East Peoria Campus - East Peoria, IL; Peoria Regional Office of Education - Edwards, IL; Elgin Fire Departrment Station 6 - Elgin, IL; Elgin Community College - Elgin, IL; Geneva Community HS - Geneva, IL; College of DuPage - Glen Ellyn, IL; Marquardt School District #15 - Glendale Heights, IL; University Center of Lake County - Grayslake, IL; Proviso West High School - Hillside, IL; West 40 Intermediate Service Center No. 2 - Hillside, IL; Hinsdale Central HS - Hinsdale, IL; Libertyville High School - Libertyville, IL; Adlai E. Stevenson High School - Lincolnshire, IL; Kennedy Junior School - Lisle, IL; Lisle Police Department - Lisle, IL; Lincoln Land Community College - Litchfield, IL; TH Wade Foundation Center/Rock of Ages Baptist Church - Maywood, IL; Moser Center - Naperville , IL; All Saints Catholic Academy - Naperville, IL; Naperville Central High School - Naperville, IL; Oak Brook Village Police Department - Oak Brook, IL; Fenwick HS - Oak Park, IL; Orland Fire Protection District - Orland Park, IL; Harper College - Palatine, IL; Illinois Central College North - Peoria, IL; UnityPoint Health â Methodist - Peoria, IL; Plainfield South HS - Plainfield, IL; Triton College - River Grove, IL; Rockford Police Department - Rockford, IL; Lukancic Middle School - Romeoville, IL; Memorial Medical Center - Springfield, IL; Memorial Center for Learning and Innovation - Springfield, IL; Lake County Sherriff's Police - Waukegan, IL; University Center Waukegan - Waukegan, IL; West Chicago Middle School District 33 - West Chicago, IL; Lyons Township High School South - Western Springs, IL; St Francis HS - Wheaton, IL; Wood Dale Junior High - Wood Dale, IL; Jefferson Junior High School - Woodridge, IL; Inland Realty Group - Yorkville, IL; | |||
| Out-of-State: | Campuses: | Benedictine University at Mesa - Mesa, AZ; | ||
| Additional Locations: | Glendale Community College - Glendale, AZ; Communiversity at Queen Creek - Queen Creek, AZ; Rio Salado Community College - Tempe, AZ; | |||
| Out-of-U.S.: | Campuses: | None. | ||
| Additional Locations: | Dalian Medical University - Dalian, CHINA; University of Economics and Business - Vietnam National University, Hanoi - Hanoi, VIET NAM; University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH) - Ho Chi Minh City, VIET NAM; University of Economics and Law - Ho Chi Minh City, VIET NAM; Shenyang University of Technology - Shenyang, CHINA; Shenyang Jianzhu University - Shenyang, CHINA; Bing Duong University - Thu Dau Mot City, VIET NAM; | |||
| Location | Campuses | Additional Locations |
| In-State: | None. | Indian Trail Junior High School - Addison, IL; Westfield Professional Development Center - Algonquin, IL; Community Unit School District 300 - Algonquin, IL; Griffith Laboratories - Alsip, IL; Arlington Heights School District 25 - Arlington Heights, IL; Winston Campus Elementary - Arlington Heights, IL; Waubonsie Valley HS Green Campus - Aurora, IL; Batavia Fire Station #1 - Batavia, IL; Bellwood Learning Center - Bellwood, IL; West 40 Intermediate Center - Bellwood, IL; Kildeer Countryside School District 96 - Buffalo Grove, IL; Burbank Fire Department - Burbank, IL; Whitney Young Magnet High School - Chicago, IL; Morton College - Cicero, IL; Town of Cicero Community Center - Cicero, IL; Hinsdale South HS - Darien, IL; Eisenhower Junior High School - Darien, IL; Richland Community College - Decatur, IL; Alan B. Shepard Middle School - Deerfield, IL; Illinois Central College East Peoria Campus - East Peoria, IL; Peoria Regional Office of Education - Edwards, IL; Elgin Fire Departrment Station 6 - Elgin, IL; Elgin Community College - Elgin, IL; Geneva Community HS - Geneva, IL; College of DuPage - Glen Ellyn, IL; Marquardt School District #15 - Glendale Heights, IL; University Center of Lake County - Grayslake, IL; Proviso West High School - Hillside, IL; West 40 Intermediate Service Center No. 2 - Hillside, IL; Hinsdale Central HS - Hinsdale, IL; Libertyville High School - Libertyville, IL; Adlai E. Stevenson High School - Lincolnshire, IL; Kennedy Junior School - Lisle, IL; Lisle Police Department - Lisle, IL; Lincoln Land Community College - Litchfield, IL; TH Wade Foundation Center/Rock of Ages Baptist Church - Maywood, IL; Moser Center - Naperville , IL; All Saints Catholic Academy - Naperville, IL; Naperville Central High School - Naperville, IL; Oak Brook Village Police Department - Oak Brook, IL; Fenwick HS - Oak Park, IL; Orland Fire Protection District - Orland Park, IL; Harper College - Palatine, IL; Illinois Central College North - Peoria, IL; UnityPoint Health â Methodist - Peoria, IL; Plainfield South HS - Plainfield, IL; Triton College - River Grove, IL; Rockford Police Department - Rockford, IL; Lukancic Middle School - Romeoville, IL; Memorial Medical Center - Springfield, IL; Memorial Center for Learning and Innovation - Springfield, IL; Lake County Sherriff's Police - Waukegan, IL; University Center Waukegan - Waukegan, IL; West Chicago Middle School District 33 - West Chicago, IL; Lyons Township High School South - Western Springs, IL; St Francis HS - Wheaton, IL; Wood Dale Junior High - Wood Dale, IL; Jefferson Junior High School - Woodridge, IL; Inland Realty Group - Yorkville, IL; |
| Out-of-State: | Benedictine University at Mesa - Mesa, AZ; | Glendale Community College - Glendale, AZ; Communiversity at Queen Creek - Queen Creek, AZ; Rio Salado Community College - Tempe, AZ; |
| Out-of-U.S.: | None. | Dalian Medical University - Dalian, CHINA; University of Economics and Business - Vietnam National University, Hanoi - Hanoi, VIET NAM; University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH) - Ho Chi Minh City, VIET NAM; University of Economics and Law - Ho Chi Minh City, VIET NAM; Shenyang University of Technology - Shenyang, CHINA; Shenyang Jianzhu University - Shenyang, CHINA; Bing Duong University - Thu Dau Mot City, VIET NAM; |
About HLC and Accreditation
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is a regional accreditation agency that accredits degree-granting colleges and universities that are based in a 19-state region of the United States.
Regional accreditation validates the quality of an institution as a whole and evaluates multiple aspects of an institution, including its academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances, and resources. HLC’s institutional accreditation includes all degree levels as well as onsite and online offerings. Institutions of higher education in the United States may also seek accreditation through national or specialized accreditation agencies. National accreditation associations, like regional accreditors, accredit the institution as a whole. Specialized accreditation agencies accredit programs, departments or schools within a college or university.
Regional accreditation agencies are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit degree-granting colleges and universities. There are six regions of the United States which regional agencies oversee. The regional accreditation agencies have similar standards for accrediting colleges and universities.
Institutions that HLC accredits are evaluated against its Criteria for Accreditation, a set of standards that institutions must meet to receive and/or maintain accredited status.
HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation reflect a set of guiding values. The accreditation process is based on a system of peer review. Approximately 1,600 educators from institutions of higher education serve as HLC peer reviewers conducting accreditation evaluations for other institutions. Peer reviewers also serve on committees that make up the decision-making bodies of the accreditation process.
Evaluation Process
HLC accreditation assures quality by verifying that an institution (1) meets standards and (2) is engaged in continuous improvement. In addition, all institutions are required to complete an annual filing of the Institutional Update, undergo annual monitoring of financial and non-financial indicators, and adhere to HLC policies and practices on institutional change.
Peer reviewers trained in HLC’s standards evaluate institutions’ demonstration of whether they meet the Criteria for Accreditation and make recommendations to HLC’s decision-making bodies.
Institutional Actions Council (Decision-Making Body)
The Board of Trustees appoints and authorizes members of the Institutional Actions Council (IAC) to conduct reviews and take actions on the majority of accreditation recommendations. IAC members consist of representatives of academic institutions accredited by HLC, as well as members of the public. Detailed information on IAC processes is found in HLC’s policies on decision-making.
Public Information
In the interest of being transparent, HLC is committed to providing information to the public regarding accreditation decisions made regarding individual institutions.
Actions that are taken by HLC regarding an institution’s accreditation status are disclosed to the public. Since July 2013, in all cases of issuing continued accreditation, placing an institution on or resolving a sanction, or withdrawing accreditation, the Action Letter issued to the institution is made available for viewing and the institution’s status in HLC’s online directory is updated. Public Disclosure Notices are also issued in cases of sanction and other HLC actions to provide the public insight into the issues regarding that institution.
Complaints Against HLC-Accredited Institutions
HLC has an online resource to communicate complaints about institutions from faculty, students, and other parties. HLC has established a clear distinction between individual grievances and complaints that appear to involve broad institutional practices. Where a complaint does raise issues regarding the institution’s ongoing ability to meet the Criteria of Accreditation, HLC forwards the complaint to the institution and requests a formal response.
Complainants with specific claims related to the Americans with Disabilities Act or employment discrimination should seek review of such claims by the appropriate federal agencies.