Concordia University-Chicago
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who want small classes and close faculty access. freshman retention is below 65%. generous financial aid cuts net price well below sticker.
About This School
Concordia University-Chicago is a private nonprofit institution located in River Forest, Illinois with approximately 1,337 undergraduate students enrolled. Concordia University-Chicago has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 93%. The average net price after financial aid is $16,774 per year. The graduation rate is 47%, and the typical graduate earns $42,700 within 10 years of enrollment.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: the $16,774 average net price is genuinely affordable, and the $14,000 median debt at graduation is well below the national average, which is a real advantage. However, only 47% of students graduate, and the 63% freshman retention rate suggests a significant number of students leave before finishing — worth asking the school directly about why. Worth considering if you're drawn to its Lutheran mission, small campus feel, or education programs specifically, but go in with eyes open about the completion rates.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 7% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Concordia University-Chicago graduates earn most above the national rate in Health and Medical Administrative Services ($73,256 vs $58,716 nationally), and most below it in Business Administration, Management and Operations ($54,533 vs $68,257).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 100 | $55,309 | $54,562 | +$747 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 35 | $45,532 | $47,382 | −$1,850 |
| Psychology, General | 31 | $46,590 | $50,706 | −$4,116 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 17 | $55,212 | $51,389 | +$3,823 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 14 | $72,050 | $68,069 | +$3,981 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 14 | $54,533 | $68,257 | −$13,724 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 12 | $73,256 | $58,716 | +$14,540 |
| Criminology | 12 | $50,897 | $55,556 | −$4,659 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 8 | $43,071 | $56,359 | −$13,288 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (1,337 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in Illinois
University of St Francis
Joliet, IL · Private nonprofit
Millikin University
Decatur, IL · Private nonprofit
North Park University
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit
McKendree University
Lebanon, IL · Private nonprofit
Quincy University
Quincy, IL · Private nonprofit
Moody Bible Institute
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit
See How Colleges Compare
Concordia University-Chicago is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Concordia University-Chicago?
Concordia University-Chicago has an acceptance rate of 93%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Concordia University-Chicago hard to get into?
Not especially. Concordia University-Chicago has an acceptance rate of 93%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Concordia University-Chicago cost?
The average net price at Concordia University-Chicago is about $16,774 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Concordia University-Chicago?
Concordia University-Chicago has a graduation rate of 47%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
All school names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this page is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement or affiliation with CollegeHelpGuide.