Preparing for Public Health Careers at Benedictine
Benedictine University appears in our ranking of the 10 Most Affordable MPH Online Degrees in the West.
At Kindlon Hall, the College of Education & Health Services provides a Bachelor of Arts in Health Education and Promotion to Benedictine University Eagles pursuing CHES certification for planning initiatives that teach people disease prevention strategies for wellness. Chaired by Dr. Catherine Arnold, an IDA Dietitian of the Year Award recipient, this 120-credit, four-year Lisle program integrates courses from Human Anatomy to Health Research Methods at a 13:1 student-teacher ratio. Celebrating its 35th year, the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics has an 80 percent first-time Registered Dietitian Nutritionist exam pass rate for providing medical nutrition therapy. Advised by Dr. Bonnie Beezhold, the 120-credit, ACEND-accredited path requires 1,200 supervised internship hours at Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Chicago Medical Center, Children’s Memorial Hospital, and others.
Online on Desire2Learn, the Master of Public Health builds a 66-credit, CEPH-accredited sequence focused on improving community well-being with four specialized certificate areas: Disaster Management, Health Education and Promotion, Epidemiology, or Health Management and Policy. Directed by Dr. Susan Cheng, the 24-month degree builds atop Web courses like Biostatistics with 240 fieldwork hours, 10-page capstone papers, and an optional M.P.H./M.B.A. Dual Track. Since Fall 2017, the Master of Science in Nutrition and Wellness has been available 100 percent online or during weekday evenings after 6:30PM in Lisle. Headed by Dr. Karen Plawecki, the 33-credit, one-year plan starts each August with three Nutrition Entrepreneurship, Community Nutrition Engagement, and Programming & Epidemiological Research concentrations for RDNs to advance knowledge of food science.
About Benedictine University
Benedictine University originated on March 2, 1887, when Rev. Procopius Neuzil welcomed an inaugural all-male class of two to St. Procopius College on Chicago’s West Side. Chartered by Illinois in 1890, it acquired the Morris Neff Farm in Lisle to build its permanent campus in 1896. Five years later, Bishop Peter Muldoon formally dedicated its first building called Benedictine Hall. In 1909, St. Procopius College started adding upper-level university courses. By 1954, Dr. Francis Shonka had established the Physical Sciences Laboratory. On March 28, 1958, the College earned initial regional accreditation. One decade after, St. Procopius started equally admitting female students. In 1971, it was renamed the Illinois Benedictine College and first surpassed 1,000 enrollment. In 1996, the Benedictine University name was adopted. In 2004, BenU partnered with Shenyang Jianzhu University for China programs. In 2013, Benedictine became Arizona’s first Catholic institution.
Endowed for $36.4 million, Benedictine University now employs 598 faculty teaching 2,885 undergrad and 2,055 post-grad Eagles from 15 nations online, on its 108-acre Lisle campus, or at the Mesa Center in Arizona with 50+ clubs like the Student Association of Nutrition & Dietetics. In 2017, Benedictine had the Illinois Distinguished Public Health Student Award recipient. In 2019, BenU won the DuPage County Public Health Symposium First Place Award. Benedictine University had a 2018 EatRightPRO Medallion Award for Outstanding Service winner too. The U.S. News & World Report ranked Benedictine 149th for public health education and 66th for social mobility. On Niche, BenU boasts America’s 250th best nursing department and 355th safest environment. Forbes named Benedictine University the 221st top research institution. The SR Education Group placed Benedictine 15th among online Master of Public Health programs. Washington Monthly crowned BenU the 268th best national college and 230th top Midwest value.
Benedictine University Accreditation Details
On March 2, 2017, the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) mailed a new Institutional Status Report to Benedictine University that extended the Level VI accreditation status through the next 2026-27 evaluation under Provost James E. Payne, Ph.D., a Fulbright Research Scholar. Located 28 miles east via Interstate 88 in Chicago, this huge 19-state Heartland Region accreditor is authorized by the U.S. Education Department to review Benedictine’s 60 undergrad, 22 master’s, and four doctoral degrees. Further, the Master of Public Health was accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) on June 14, 2014. The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics also approved the College of Education & Health Services through June 30, 2025.
Benedictine University Application Requirements
Enrollment at Benedictine University is classified as “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s because only 3,435 of the 5,257 Fall 2018 applicants were triumphant for 65 percent acceptance. First-year Eagles seeking the B.A. in Health Education and Promotion must finish a high school diploma or GED certificate. Four units each of math and English are deemed prerequisites. Freshmen need a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on the four-point scale. Undergrads should achieve at least 21 ACT or 1060 SAT scores. The Class of 2022 reported an average 3.22 GPA, 1210 SAT, and 25 ACT mark. College of Education & Health Services transfers need 20+ semester credits and GPAs above 2.0. International students must verify a minimum 79 TOEFL, 6.5 IELTS, or 1060 SAT score. Graduate programs require a four-year bachelor’s completion with 2.75 or better GPAs. The M.S. in Nutrition and Wellness mandates 3.0 GPAs. Optional GRE General Test scores at the 30th percentile or higher are helpful. College-level life and physical science courses, including Basic Nutrition, are prerequisites.
Benedictine University conveniently has a rolling admission policy without set deadlines. Freshman registration begins at the first SOAR event on April 19th though. It’s suggested international students apply by February 1st for Fall or October 1st for Spring starts. The M.S. in Nutrition and Wellness also prefers August cohorts filing before May 1st. Accordingly, complete the BenU or Common Application online for $40. Send hard transcript copies to 5700 College Road in Lisle, IL 60532. Directly submit test results using SAT/TOEFL code 1707 or ACT code 1132. Attach additional materials, such as the personal statement, school counselor report, two references, resume or CV, and financial affidavit. Contact (630) 829-6300 or admissions@ben.edu with questions.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2019-20, Benedictine University is billing full-time B.A. in Health Education and Promotion majors $34,290 annually. Student service fees are $795 per semester. Studying part-time incurs $1,090 per credit. Summer sessions are discounted to $625 per credit. The Intensive English Program costs $6,060. Residing at the Lisle campus’ dorms like Ondrak Hall adds $3,193 to $3,748 for semester rent. Unlimited meal plans for Krasa Center Dining Commons are $1,785 extra. BenU budgets $1,510 for books and $3,080 for miscellaneous. Annual undergrad attendance equals about $50,006 on-site or $40,164 at home. The Master of Public Health charges $700 per online credit. M.S. in Nutrition and Wellness cohorts spend $670 per credit. Business courses for Dual M.P.H./M.B.A. students cost $625 per credit.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Aid on Lownik Hall’s Main Floor links 99 percent of incoming full-time BenU Eagles to tuition assistance averaging $18,891 apiece for $7.87 million combined. College of Education & Health Services funds include the Anthony LaScala Scholarship, Dr. Scholl Scholarship, Evelyn Simmers Scholarship, Sodexo International Corporation Scholarship, Christine Francis Rocco Memorial Scholarship, Dr. John Colby Swanson M.P.H. Scholarship, Geri Curley Scholarship, Margaret Gillett Memorial Scholarship, Sharon Arndt Returning Adult Scholarship, and George Hajek Scholarship. The Academic Scholars Program gifts $22,400 annually to freshmen meeting the 27 ACT or 1280 SAT score minimum. The $1,000 Graduate Merit Scholarship opens August 1st for bachelor’s graduates with cumulative GPAs above 3.75. Federal resources, such as the Pell Grant or Work-Study Program, require FAFSA applications coded 001767. The Illinois Public Health Association also provides two $2,000 Edith Heide Memorial Scholarships each year.
Continue reading about Benedictine University at the Department of Public Health website.