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Concordia University-Chicago

Concordia University Chicago

River Forest, Illinois 60305-1499

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Campus Vibe

Small & IntimateSuburbanPrivate

Known for business — close-knit campus

Concordia University-Chicago is a private institution in River Forest with particular strength in business and psychology.

A small campus of 1.3K undergraduates with a 13:1 student-faculty ratio. The suburban location offers a balance of campus life and nearby amenities.

47% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $54,089 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $16,774.

Established
1864
Motto
You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free
Mascot
Charlie T. Cougar
Type
Private university

Plan Your Visit

93%Acceptance
SAT Avg
1,337Students
13:1Student:Faculty
47%Grad Rate
$54,089Earnings 10yr
$16,774Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Concordia University-Chicago Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate93.4%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

93.4%

Trend

Yield Rate

35.0%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$36,258
Room & Board$11,140
Books & Supplies$1,200
Total Cost of Attendance$44,252
Average Net Price$16,774
Median Debt at Graduation$23,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$244

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$13,573
$30–48K$14,000
$48–75K$17,318
$75–110K$19,478
$110K+$23,731

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

41.4%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$14,000

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

9

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

2

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

3

Drug Arrests

2

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (104)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

63%

Negative
  • 63% first-year retention rate
  • Active student organizations
  • Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
1,337
Gender Split
52% / 48%
Women / Men
First Generation
39%
Pell Grant Recipients
45%

Race & Ethnicity

White 42%
Black 13%
Hispanic 34%
Asian 2%
Two+ 5%
Int'l 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate47.4%
Freshman Retention62.5%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$44,405
10 Years$54,089

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
3
vs 2024

More About This School

History & Fun Facts

  • History Background Lutheran teacher training in the United States began in Perry County, Missouri; Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1839, 1846, and 1855 respectively.
  • In 1857, the responsibility for the operation of the teachers seminary in Milwaukee was given to the LCMS.
  • Founding and Addison campus Concordia University Chicago marks 1864 as its founding in Addison, Illinois.
  • 4 ha) to the college for the nominal amount of $10 in November 1863, and construction began on a new facility, with the cornerstone-laying service on June 15, 1864.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

ORD Chicago O'Hare7 mi
MKE Milwaukee73 mi
IND Indianapolis170 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA858 mi · ~24h 47m drive
New York, NY720 mi · ~20h 48m drive
Hartford, CT778 mi · ~22h 29m drive
Providence, RI842 mi · ~24h 19m drive
Albany, NY720 mi · ~20h 48m drive
Syracuse, NY599 mi · ~17h 18m drive
Rochester, NY526 mi · ~15h 12m drive
Buffalo, NY461 mi · ~13h 19m drive
Philadelphia, PA673 mi · ~19h 27m drive
Pittsburgh, PA419 mi · ~12h 6m drive
Harrisburg, PA579 mi · ~16h 44m drive
Newark, NJ711 mi · ~20h 32m drive
Washington, DC603 mi · ~17h 25m drive
Baltimore, MD614 mi · ~17h 44m drive
Atlanta, GA593 mi · ~17h 8m drive
Charlotte, NC595 mi · ~17h 11m drive
Raleigh, NC649 mi · ~18h 45m drive
Miami, FL1196 mi · ~34h 33m drive
Orlando, FL991 mi · ~28h 38m drive
Tampa, FL1010 mi · ~29h 11m drive
Nashville, TN400 mi · ~11h 33m drive
New Orleans, LA835 mi · ~24h 7m drive
Richmond, VA628 mi · ~18h 9m drive
Chicago, IL9 mi · ~16 min drive
Detroit, MI246 mi · ~7h 6m drive
Minneapolis, MN347 mi · ~10h 1m drive
St. Louis, MO259 mi · ~7h 29m drive
Kansas City, MO405 mi · ~11h 42m drive
Indianapolis, IN171 mi · ~4h 56m drive
Columbus, OH285 mi · ~8h 14m drive
Cleveland, OH317 mi · ~9h 9m drive
Milwaukee, WI79 mi · ~2h 17m drive
Dallas, TX800 mi · ~23h 7m drive
Houston, TX939 mi · ~27h 8m drive
Austin, TX975 mi · ~28h 10m drive
San Antonio, TX1048 mi · ~30h 17m drive
Los Angeles, CA1733 mi · ~50h 4m drive
San Francisco, CA1845 mi · ~53h 18m drive
San Diego, CA1723 mi · ~49h 47m drive
Seattle, WA1724 mi · ~49h 48m drive
Portland, OR1745 mi · ~50h 25m drive
Denver, CO909 mi · ~26h 16m drive
Phoenix, AZ1443 mi · ~41h 41m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1248 mi · ~36h 3m drive
Honolulu, HI4240 mi · ~122h 29m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Chicago O'Hare (ORD)7 miles
Rental car
11 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
14 min$8-14
Milwaukee (MKE)73 miles
Rental car
110 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
146 min$88-146

Deadline Calendar

Concordia University-Chicago Application Checklist

Decision Notifications

Concordia University-Chicago — v2 Preview — TourStack