McKendree University

McKendree University is a private university in Lebanon, Illinois, with additional instructional locations in Louisville, Kentucky, and Radcliff, Kentucky. Founded in 1828, it identifies itself as the oldest college in Illinois and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The university serves undergraduate and graduate students through a residential campus and degree-completion and graduate offerings, with academic work organized across colleges and schools that include arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and health professions, and graduate studies.

Its educational mission combines liberal arts study with professional preparation. McKendree offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and programs, along with master's and doctoral degrees. The institution has a visible commitment to military-connected learners through the McKendree Metro Rec Plex in O'Fallon, Illinois, and its Kentucky campuses near Fort Knox, which support adult, transfer, and service-member populations. Athletics are also a significant part of campus life: McKendree competes in NCAA Division II and sponsors a broad intercollegiate program, including nationally distinctive sports such as bowling and bass fishing.