First called "Lebanon Seminary", the school opened in two rented sheds for 72 students in 1828 under Edward Raymond Ames.

McKendree also offers a doctoral program in education, with the opportunity for teachers and administrators to earn a specialist degree.

In addition, McKendree has full accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

[6] McKendree has been fully accredited by the North Central Association of the Higher Learning Commission since 1915 and received its ten-year renewal in 2003–2004.

McKendree University is host to chapters representing a number of honor societies and academic fraternities including: McKendree University's main campus is located on a wooded 235 acres (95 ha) in Lebanon, Illinois, about 25 minutes from downtown St. Louis, Missouri.

The campus is laid out in roughly a rectangle bordered by Stanton Street and College Hill Cemetery to the west and Monroe St. to the east.

The $10 million, 34,400-square-foot (3,200 m2) theater includes practice and storage space for the McKendree University band, choral department and faculty offices.

The suite-style and apartment-style halls are predominantly upperclassmen; freshmen are not allowed to live in McKendree West Apartments.

The university is a member of NCAA Division II, after completing the transitioning process from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in July 2013.

[16] Prior to joining the NCAA, McKendree was a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) from 1912–13 to 1937–38.

McKendree competes in 39 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey (DI and DII), powerlifting, rugby, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor), volleyball, water polo and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, beach volleyball, bowling, cross country, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, powerlifting, rugby, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor), volleyball, water polo and wrestling; and co-ed sports include bass fishing, cheerleading and dance.