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River Forest, IL · Private · 1,323 undergraduates · suburban

Concordia University-Chicago

Less selective

Teacher education is historically and academically central, reflecting Concordia Chicago's long-standing Lutheran mission of preparing educators.

Campus image / Publicly hosted campus image

Institutional profile

Established Solid in affordability, and solid in career outcomes.
Academic Emerging Affordability Solid Career Solid Mobility Steady Experience Emerging
Academic standing Emerging
Affordability Solid
Career outcomes Solid
Mobility Steady
Student experience Emerging
Admission
93.4% admitted

4,607 applicants in the reported year

Price by income
Varies across five income ranges

Compare recent average annual costs by household income

Completion
56.2%

$54,089 median earnings 10 years after enrollment

What sets Concordia University-Chicago apart

Academic design

Education remains a defining field, complemented by business, exercise science, psychology, communication, music, and other undergraduate programs shaped by a Christian liberal-arts core.

Campus pattern

The River Forest campus is residential and walkable, with athletics, music, worship, clubs, and quick access to Chicago transit and internships.

Defining feature

Teacher education is historically and academically central, reflecting Concordia Chicago's long-standing Lutheran mission of preparing educators.

Can I get in?

93.4% admitted

Start with academic preparation, then show why this particular academic and campus environment fits you.

Recent applicant pool

4,607

About 93 in every 100 applicants were admitted.

Admission rate 93.4%
Entering class

Record over scores

No score range is published for the entering class, so the transcript, the course rigor, and the required materials carry the file.

Testingoptional
Return for a second year61.4%
Finish the degree56.2%

With one-year access

Where your GPA sits in the entering class

The full entering-class GPA distribution for Concordia University-Chicago, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.

See where I land

With one-year access

What Concordia University-Chicago weighs when it reads a file

See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.

  • Course rigor  
  • GPA  
  • Test scores  
  • Essay  
  • Recommendations  
  • Extracurriculars  
  • Demonstrated interest  
See what counts here

What moves the application

The evidence that separates a strong file

01

Show preparation for this curriculum

Education remains a defining field, complemented by business, exercise science, psychology, communication, music, and other undergraduate programs shaped by a Christian liberal-arts core.

02

Make the fit specific

Teacher education is historically and academically central, reflecting Concordia Chicago's long-standing Lutheran mission of preparing educators.

03

Account for the tradeoff

Keep academic direction and school-specific choices coherent across the application.

How to apply

Rounds, route, and required materials

Build the calendar around the earliest realistic application round and make the school-specific case concrete.

Regular Decisionrolling
Fee and waiverNo application fee

Check eligibility for a fee waiver

Can I afford it?

Compare annual cost by household income.

Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.

Published annual cost$54,778
Average annual cost after aid$18,000
Affordability profileSolid

With one-year access

Average annual cost by household income at Concordia University-Chicago

Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.

  • $0–30k 
  • $30–48k 
  • $48–75k 
  • $75–110k 
  • $110k+ 
Open the price by income

Is it worth it?

Completion, debt, and earnings

Teacher education is historically and academically central, reflecting Concordia Chicago's long-standing Lutheran mission of preparing educators.

Complete within 8 years56.2%

Degree completion across the reported entering cohort

Return after year one61.4%

First-year students who return for year two

Median federal debtWhat students owe on the way out

And what that comes to against what they earn.

Median earnings$54,089

Reported 10 years after enrollment

Academic portfolio

Largest bachelor’s fields

How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

Recent graduates100
Median earnings$55,309

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

Recent graduates35
Median earnings$45,532

Psychology, General

Recent graduates31
Median earnings$46,590

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

Recent graduates17
Median earnings$55,212

Business Administration, Management and Operations

Recent graduates14
Median earnings$54,533

What is campus life like?

Concordia University-Chicago beyond the classroom

The River Forest campus is residential and walkable, with athletics, music, worship, clubs, and quick access to Chicago transit and internships.

Academics

A defining academic feature

Education remains a defining field, complemented by business, exercise science, psychology, communication, music, and other undergraduate programs shaped by a Christian liberal-arts core.

Campus setting

What shapes an ordinary week

The River Forest campus is residential and walkable, with athletics, music, worship, clubs, and quick access to Chicago transit and internships.

Distinctive edge

What changes the experience

Teacher education is historically and academically central, reflecting Concordia Chicago's long-standing Lutheran mission of preparing educators.

1,323 undergraduatesMidwestsuburban settingCampus housing available