Concordia University Chicago (CU) 2026 Admission 93%, Cost $

92.79%

Acceptance Rate

$23,374

Avg.Financial Aid

001666

FAFSA Code

College Search

★ Concordia University Chicago (CU) Report Card

Selectivity

—

92.8% acceptance rate

Academics

—

36% graduation rate

Class Size

10:1 student-faculty ratio

Value

B-

$37,488 tuition

Grades calculated by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES data. Methodology: How we grade →

★ Key Facts: Concordia University Chicago (CU)

Institution: Concordia University Chicago (CU)
Type: Private not-for-profit

Data compiled by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES and official university sources. Last verified July 2026. Citable source →

Concordia University Chicago (CU)

Type Control of Institution - Public/Private
Private, Not-For-Profit
Acceptance Rate:
N/A
Level
4 Years
Religious Affiliation Indicates religious affiliation (denomination) for private not-for-profit institutions that are religiously affiliated.
Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
Accreditation Accreditation is the process by which the quality of learning at various educational institutions are evaluated. Read More.
HLC
Website
www.cuchicago.edu
Student Population Number of Students attending College
1,323
On Campus Housing Does the institution provide on-campus housing?
Yes

Concordia University Chicago is a private humanistic discipline university in River Forest, Illinois. Formerly a university exclusively for parochial teacher education, Concordia-Chicago is now a full university offering quite 100 undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, with quite 5,000 students.

The university is a member of the Concordia University System, a nationwide network of colleges and universities affiliated with the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS).

Concordia University Chicago, originally named Addison Teachers Seminary, was founded within the Lutheran tradition by Saxon German immigrants in 1864. The university continues to take care of strong ties to its faith-based heritage.

Concordia University Chicago has five colleges, each chaired by a tutorial dean.

College of Arts and Sciences: Rachel Eells
College of Business: Claudia Santin
College of Education: Kevin Brandon
College of Graduate Studies: Robert K. Wilhite

Concordia University Chicago teams participate as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division III.

Concordia Chicago was a member of the Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference until the spring of 2006, and since 2006 has been a member of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC).

Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and track & field; women's sports include basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. The school colors are maroon and gold.

Concordia University Chicago (CU) Accreditation

The institution is regionally accredited and is recognized by the Higher Learning Commissions (HLC).

Location & Contact

Address

7400 Augusta, River Forest, Illinois

Contact

Phone: (708) 771-8300

Find Your School

Rankings

As per US news, the following are the rankings secured by Concordia University Chicago -

72 in Regional Universities Midwest
35 in Best Value School
39 in Top Performers on Social Mobility

Admissions

Application Deadline Deadline for application submissions. Please contact the school for more details.
8th Jun
Acceptance Rate Percentage of applicants who are accepted in an Institution.
92.79%
SAT Range
990 - 1170
SAT/ACT
Required
ACT Range
20 - 25
High School GPA
Required
Application Fee
$50
Accept Common App
None

Concordia Chicago admissions are somewhat selective with an acceptance rate of 76%.

Students that get into Concordia Chicago have an average SAT score between 990-1170 or an average ACT score of 20-25. The regular admissions application deadline for Concordia University Chicago is rolling.

More than 75% of freshmen were within the top 50% of their high school class and scored over 1010 on the SAT I or over 18 on the ACT; about 85% or fewer of all applicants accepted.

A candidate along with the official documents must be sent to the admissions office of the university by 6th of August.

Concordia University Chicago Admissions Office

7400 Augusta St. River Forest, IL 60305

Contact - (708) 771-8300

Full Admission Info Find College Scholarships Request Info

Annual Cost to Attend

Net Price Cost of attendance minus any grants and scholarships received.
$18,436
Average Annual Cost
$37,488

Additional Costs:

Books And Supplies
$44,426
Other Fees
$932
Room And Board The charges for an academic year for Rooming accommodations and meals for a typical student.
$9,748
Budget For Other Expenses
$1,400

Total One Year Cost

$44,426

The annual list price to attend Concordia University Chicago on a full-time basis is $44,426 for all students regardless of their residency.

This fee is comprised of $31,146 for tuition, $9,748 towards room and board, $1,200 for books and supplies, and $932 for other fees.

Out of state tuition for Concordia University Chicago is $31,146, the same as Illinois residents.

The average reported annual net price for Concordia University Chicago for students receiving grants or scholarship aid was $7,846.

Based on published tuition prices, we estimate the current cost of a 4-year bachelor's degree and living expenses at Concordia University Chicago to be $177,704 - assuming graduation in normal time. The estimation assumes a 4% annual increase over the next 4 years which has been the recent trend for this school.

For any further information about the tuition, we suggest you visit the official website or our tuition below.

Explore Programs Explore Student Loans Explore Tuition and Cost

Academics

Highest Degree Offered The highest degree offered by the Institution.

Associate degree

Student:Faculty Ratio

10:1

Full-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

60%

Part-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

38%

Academic Calendar

Semester

Research Funding per Student

N/A

Faculty Overview

43%

Male Professors

57%

Female Professors

Non-traditional Learning

Evening Degree Programs

Teacher Certification

Distance Education

Study Abroad

Majors

Student Body

Undergraduate Students

1,511

Socio-Economic Diversity Percent of full-time, first-time students receiving an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

41%

Full-time / Part-time

90% / 10%

Students Gender

Male

41%

US National: 44%

Female

59%

US National: 56%

LGBTQIA STUDENT RESOURCE GROUPS

ON CAMPUS WOMEN'S CENTER

Race/Ethnicity

White

45%

Unknown

Black

12%

Hispanic

31%

Two or more races

Non Resident alien

Asian

American Indian/Alaska native

Native Hawaiians/Pacific islander

Geographic Density

High

Unknown Location

36%

Out Of State

64%

In State

Foreign

Economic Diversity

36% percentage of students who recieved an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

Median Household Income

$68,556 per year

Campus Life

Housing

The students can reside on campus and 61% of Freshman Live On-Campus.

On Campus Housing Available

Yes

Freshmen Required to Live on Campus

Freshmen Live on Campus

61%

Undergrads in College Housing

34%

Averege Housing Cost

$6,126/year

Campus Food

The institution has several dining and meal plan options available to students and the average meal plan cost is around $3,622/year.

Meal Plan Available

Yes

Average Meal Plan Available

$3,622/year

Athletes

Division Sports Nickname

Cougars

School Colors

maroon and gold

Varsity Athletics Association

NCAA

Varsity Athletics Conference Primary

Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

Total Male Athletes

201

Total Female Athletes

121

Intramural Sports

Sports Club

Sports Team (Men)

Baseball

Basketball

Cross Country

Football

Lacrosse

Soccer

Tennis

Track and Field

Volleyball

Sports Team (Women)

Basketball

Cheerleading-Dance Team

Cross Country

Lacrosse

Soccer

Softball

Tennis

Track and Field

Volleyball

Campus Security

The university additionally offers an on-campus housing facility for students who wish to dwell nearby. At CUC, $9,996 is the normal expense for on-campus housing, which a student will be needed to pay, each year. The average meal plan at CUC costs around $3,622 a year. Notably, students at the varsity get to choose from various dining and meal plan options as well. The university has taken a lot of measures to ensure the safety and security of its students. Some of these measures include 24-hr security patrol, campus emergency phones, 24-hr escort safety rides and mobile campus emergency alert. The university has enrolled around 41% male and 59% female students.

24-Hour Security Patrol

Campus Emergency Phones

24-Hour Escort Safety rides

Mobile Campus Emergency Alert

After Graduation

Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation

$35,900/year

Median Earnings 10 Years After Graduation

$39,700/year

Median Total Debt After Graduation The median cumulative federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated.

$18,168 - $26,000

Typical Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 4.53% interest rate.

$189 - $270

Outcomes 8 Years of Attending

Show data for students who

and started their studies

Out of 7,811 students

30% Graduated

10% Still Enrolled

15% Transfer

1% Withdraw

Financial Aid

Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid.

100%

Average Aid Per Year

$23,374

Students Receiving Federal Grants

55%

Average Aid Per Year

$4,624

Students Receiving State Aid

49%

Average Aid Per Year

$4,603

Students Receiving Institutional Grants

100%

Average Aid Per Year

$18,576

Average Grant & Scholarship by Family Income Aid awarded based on the family income.

Income

Average Amount

< $30K

$25,834

$30K - $48K

$25,933

$48K - $75K

$24,047

$75K - $110K

$21,362

> $110K

$18,979

Total Needs based Scholarships/Grants

$18,842,700

Total Non-Needs based Scholarships/Grants

$4,024,918

Every student admitted to Concordia University Chicago will receive either a merit scholarship or an admission award provided by Concordia University Chicago.

In order to determine eligibility for any need-based grants, loans, or student employment, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed each year.

Concordia University Chicago (CUC) federal school code is 001666.

Federal loans are insured through the U.S. Department of Education, which may provide safeguards to the borrower such as deferment, forbearance, and forgiveness options. Private loans are issued through some of the lending institutions and are generally exempt from those of federal benefits.

These loans aren't supported credit approval but do require submission of a FAFSA per annum.

Additionally, a candidate will be receiving financial assistance in the following form:

Gift Aid - $23,374

Federal Grant - $4,624

State Aid - $4,603

Institutional Aid - $18,576

Concordia University Chicago Financial Aid Office

Concordia University of Chicago
7400 Augusta Street
River Forest, IL 60305

Fax - 708-488-4102

Explore Financial Aid & Scholarships

Frequently Asked Questions About Concordia University Chicago (CU)

How hard is it to get into Concordia University Chicago (CU)?

Concordia University Chicago (CU) is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 92.8%. Strong applicants typically have above-average test scores, a rigorous course load, and compelling extracurricular activities.

How much does Concordia University Chicago (CU) cost?

Tuition at Concordia University Chicago (CU) is approximately $37,488 per year before financial aid. Room, board, fees, and personal expenses add to the total cost of attendance. Most students receive scholarships or financial aid that reduces the net price.

How many students attend Concordia University Chicago (CU)?

Concordia University Chicago (CU) enrolls approximately 1,323 students across its programs.

What is the graduation rate at Concordia University Chicago (CU)?

The graduation rate at Concordia University Chicago (CU) is 36%, reflecting the percentage of students who complete their degree within the standard timeframe.

What is the student-faculty ratio at Concordia University Chicago (CU)?

The student-faculty ratio at Concordia University Chicago (CU) is 10:1, meaning students typically have good access to faculty for mentoring, research, and smaller class experiences.

What SAT and ACT scores do I need for Concordia University Chicago (CU)?

Concordia University Chicago (CU) typically admits students with SAT scores in the range of 450 - 550 (Reading) and 470 - 590 (Math) and ACT composite scores of 20 - 25. Check the admissions office for the most current testing requirements and whether test-optional policies apply.

Is Concordia University Chicago (CU) a public or private university?

Concordia University Chicago (CU) is a private not-for-profit institution.

When is the application deadline for Concordia University Chicago (CU)?

Application deadlines at Concordia University Chicago (CU) vary by program. Early Decision and Early Action applicants typically submit in November, while Regular Decision deadlines fall in early January. Always check the official admissions website for the current cycle's dates.

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Concordia University Chicago (CU) — 2026 Profile - River Forest, Illinois

★ Concordia University Chicago (CU) Report Card

★ Key Facts: Concordia University Chicago (CU)

Concordia University Chicago (CU)

Concordia University Chicago (CU) Accreditation

Location & Contact

Rankings

Admissions

Concordia University Chicago Admissions Office

Annual Cost to Attend

Academics

Majors

Student Body

Students Gender

Geographic Density

Economic Diversity

Campus Life

After Graduation

Outcomes 8 Years of Attending

Financial Aid

Average Grant & Scholarship by Family Income Aid awarded based on the family income.

Concordia University Chicago Financial Aid Office

Frequently Asked Questions About Concordia University Chicago (CU)

Other Colleges In Illinois

Online Education at UIC

Near By Colleges

Other Private not-for-profit Colleges

Student Reviews

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★ Concordia University Chicago (CU) Report Card

★ Key Facts: Concordia University Chicago (CU)

Concordia University Chicago (CU)

Concordia University Chicago (CU) Accreditation

Location & Contact

Rankings

Admissions

Concordia University Chicago Admissions Office

Annual Cost to Attend

Academics

Majors

Student Body

Students Gender

Geographic Density

Economic Diversity

Campus Life

After Graduation

Outcomes 8 Years of Attending

Financial Aid

Average Grant & Scholarship by Family Income Aid awarded based on the family income.

Concordia University Chicago Financial Aid Office

📖 Related Reading about Concordia University Chicago (CU)

Concordia University Chicago (CU) — 2026

Frequently Asked Questions About Concordia University Chicago (CU)

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Online Education at UIC

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