Concordia University-Chicago
- Graduation Rate
- 41% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $54,089 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $18,436 C-
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 93% D
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 18.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.8 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $18.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,310,657.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 33% above the national college median.
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Graduation of 41% — 28% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $18.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Concordia University-Chicago Matters
Concordia University-Chicago is a private university in River Forest, IL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 1,323
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI · 68
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Education, Health Professions, Social Sciences
Why students choose Concordia University-Chicago
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 93% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $18,436 a year after grants and scholarships — 8% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $54,089 ten years after enrolling — 33% above the typical college, against $23,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.70 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Concordia University-Chicago has a 93% acceptance rate, making it one of the more accessible colleges for students seeking higher education. With an enrollment of 1,323, the school maintains a close-knit community that can foster strong connections among students and faculty alike.
Graduates from Concordia University-Chicago earn an average of $54,089 ten years after graduation, which provides a solid return on investment considering the net price of $18,436. While the graduation rate stands at 41%, this number reflects the challenges some students face in completing their degrees. The school serves a diverse population, with 46% of students receiving Pell Grants, indicating a commitment to supporting low-income students.
Students who thrive here often pursue programs in Education, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology, and Communications. With a median debt of $23,000, graduates leave with manageable loans, especially compared to their earning potential. This environment may be particularly suited for those looking for a supportive community and practical career paths.
Rankings
- #11 Best Online Education Programs in Illinois
- #12 Best Online Nursing Programs in Illinois
- #13 Best Online Business Programs in Illinois
- #14 Best Online Computer Science Programs in Illinois
- #27 Best MBA Programs in Illinois
- #36 Best Computer Science Colleges in Illinois
- #36 Best Data Science Colleges in Illinois
- #38 Best Education Colleges in Illinois
Can I Get In?
How selective Concordia University-Chicago is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Concordia University-Chicago? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in River Forest, Illinois, Concordia University-Chicago admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 93%. The graduation rate is roughly 41%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Retention Rate
- 61%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 70%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,759
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.68
- First-Gen Students
- 39%
- Applicants
- 4,296
- Admitted
- 3,997
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Concordia University-Chicago? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Concordia University-Chicago is $37,488, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $18,436. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,795 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $37,488
- Out-of-State
- $37,488
- Avg Net Price
- $18,436
- Median Debt
- $23,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 46%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 57%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $16,795
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $16,397
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $15,768
- Family Income $110K+
- $23,907
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Concordia University-Chicago — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Concordia University-Chicago Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Concordia University-Chicago earn a median of $54,089, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $44,405
- 8 Years
- $46,718
- 10 Years
- $54,089
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.43x
- Earning > $25K
- 65%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (115)
- 38%
- 100% (115)
- 38%
- 100% (115)
- 38%
- 100% (115)
- 38%
How Concordia Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Concordia University-Chicago Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Concordia University-Chicago delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $18,436/year ($73,744 total). Graduates earn $54,089 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,384,401 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,310,657 (18.8× your investment). The median debt is $23,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 41% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $73,744
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,384,401
- Net Return
- $1,310,657
- ROI Multiple
- 18.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $18,436
- Median Debt
- $23,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 41%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $2,096,767
- Investment Income
- $-2,626,786
Top Programs
The fields Concordia University-Chicago awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 17% $67,032 early-career
- Education 12% $49,653 early-career
- Health Professions 7%
- Social Sciences 4%
- Psychology 4% $28,100 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 3%
- Biology & Biomedical 3%
- Visual & Performing Arts 2%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Concordia University-Chicago's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Concordia University-Chicago? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in River Forest, Illinois, Concordia University-Chicago admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 93%. The graduation rate is roughly 41%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Concordia University-Chicago? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Concordia University-Chicago is $37,488, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $18,436. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,795 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,000 in federal student loans.
Is Concordia University-Chicago Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Concordia University-Chicago earn a median of $54,089, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Concordia University-Chicago? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Concordia University-Chicago. Its economic connectedness score is 1.70, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Concordia University-Chicago.
- Hardin-Simmons UniversityAbilene, TX · Close peer48% grad $54,771 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Bridgewater CollegeBridgewater, VA · Close peer51% grad $53,453 earn 92% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Oglethorpe UniversityAtlanta, GA · Close peer54% grad $55,232 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Avila UniversityKansas City, MO · Close peer47% grad $52,773 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Brenau UniversityGainesville, GA · Close peer34% grad $54,003 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Rockford UniversityRockford, IL · Close peer43% grad $54,794 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Concordia University-Chicago? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Concordia University-Chicago. Its economic connectedness score is 1.70, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note