Concordia University-Chicago is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in River Forest, Illinois. It enrolls 1,323 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
56/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes11
Value59
Affordability69
Selectivity15
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 92.8%, Concordia University-Chicago is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
92.8%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Concordia University-Chicago is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
18.6 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Concordia University-Chicago isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $18,436 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$18,436
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
46%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
57%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$37,488
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,510
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,750
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,400
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,700
Total Cost of Attendance
$45,383
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$16,795
$30,001 – $48,000
$16,397
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,768
$75,001 – $110,000
$20,046
Over $110,000
$23,907
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,75010%percentile
$7,25025%percentile
$23,000Medianpercentile
$25,96175%percentile
$31,26890%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $14,748
↓ $8,252
No Pell $12,000
↓ $11,000
Dependent students $12,000
↓ $11,000
Independent students $18,622
↓ $4,378
Female students $15,673
↓ $7,327
Male students $11,629
↓ $11,371
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,000, less than completers ($23,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
51% of full-time students who enrolled at Concordia University-Chicago graduate within six years, and 61% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
51%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
61%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Concordia University-Chicago earn a median of $54,089 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$54,089
Earning > $25K
80%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$37,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$49,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$39,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$44,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$43,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,500, about 23% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
17.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 85% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Concordia University-Chicago is home to 1,323 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 39% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,323
Part-Time
10%
First-Generation
39%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 40.1%531
Hispanic 37.9%501
Black 13.2%175
Other 4.5%59
Asian 2.0%26
International 1.0%13
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Concordia University-Chicago. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbRiver Forest, Illinois
Housing
Mostly residential651 beds on campus
Adult Learners
21%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Concordia University-Chicago offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
69 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Concordia University-Chicago is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$53M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$60,435
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
231 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
37
16%
$67,885
Associate Professors
29
13%
$57,199
Assistant Professors
14
6%
$51,939
Instructors
151
65%
$44,724
Pros & Cons of Concordia University-Chicago
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Concordia University-Chicago tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Concordia University-Chicago is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Concordia University-Chicago
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Concordia University-Chicago.
Is Concordia University-Chicago hard to get into?
Concordia University-Chicago has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 92.8%.
What is the acceptance rate at Concordia University-Chicago?
Concordia University-Chicago has an acceptance rate of 92.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Concordia University-Chicago cost?
The average net price after aid at Concordia University-Chicago is $18,436 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Concordia University-Chicago worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $54,089 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $18,436 per year. That's roughly 2.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Concordia University-Chicago known for?
Concordia University-Chicago is best known for its programs in Educational Administration, Kinesiology, Curriculum & Instruction. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Concordia University-Chicago graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Concordia University-Chicago are $54,089, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Concordia University-Chicago accredited?
Yes. Concordia University-Chicago is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Concordia University-Chicago?
Concordia University-Chicago enrolls 1,323 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Concordia University-Chicago?
Concordia University-Chicago graduates 51% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Concordia University-Chicago a public or private college?
Concordia University-Chicago is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Concordia University-Chicago located?
Concordia University-Chicago is located in River Forest, Illinois.
What programs does Concordia University-Chicago offer?
Concordia University-Chicago offers 69 distinct programs. The most popular include Educational Administration, Kinesiology, Curriculum & Instruction.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Concordia University-Chicago?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Concordia University-Chicago is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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