Before getting into the details: nothing that follows tells you whether this is the right university for your child. You decide that, together with your child, by combining this piece with what your child wants to study, what your child has built so far, and what your family can afford. What I can give you is the piece that pertains to the university: clear, complete, and unembellished.
Who This School Is, in a Few Words
Concordia University-Chicago is a private, nonprofit, four-year institution that awards degrees through the doctoral level. It is in River Forest, a suburb within the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metropolitan area, outside the principal city. If your child is considering living at home and driving every day, I recommend something simple: make that trip on a weekday, at the exact time your child’s classes would meet. A map never tells you the true travel time in traffic.
The federal system that classifies universities in this country—Carnegie—describes it as a master’s university with larger programs, on a medium-sized campus where, according to its most recent classification based on data from several years ago, at least half of undergraduates lived in institution-provided housing and eight out of ten studied full-time. That same system also identifies it as a school with high transfer-in enrollment. If your child plans to enroll here after studying elsewhere, do not take anything for granted: before enrolling, ask in writing which courses will count and which will not.
One more fact about its identity, and this matters because it clears up confusion: Concordia University-Chicago does not appear on the federal list of historically Black colleges and universities, tribal colleges and universities, or land-grant institutions. That is neither criticism nor praise; it is information. The absence of all three labels does not tell you which students it serves or how your child will feel there. Ask about that directly: which cultural centers and student organizations exist today and, better yet, talk with someone who already studies there.
How Many Students There Are and Who They Are
When IPEDS—the Department of Education’s data system—counts all students enrolled in the fall, the total comes to 5,066 people. But that number combines two different worlds: 1,377 are undergraduates and 3,689 are graduate students. Graduate enrollment carries more weight here than the traditional undergraduate program. If your child is entering to pursue a bachelor’s degree, the number that matters is not 5,066. It is 1,377.
And within that undergraduate population, there is something worth knowing from the outset: at least one out of every four students was reported as Hispanic or Latino, with an official figure of 33 out of every 100. Compared with the 941 private, four-year schools with selective admissions that report this information nationwide, Concordia University-Chicago ranks among those reporting the highest shares: nine out of ten of those schools have an equal or lower proportion. Being Latino here would not be the exception.
But I want to be honest with you about what this number does and does not tell you. Counting how many Latino students there are is not the same as having support designed for them. The data do not say whether there is a Spanish-speaking counselor, whether targeted tutoring is available, or whether those students complete their degrees at the same rate as everyone else. And this is the percentage for the entire school, not for the specific program that interests your child. It is a good starting point for asking more questions, not a complete answer.
The rest of the picture: the undergraduate population is almost evenly split between men and women, with 53 out of every 100 being women. 21 out of every 100 are between 25 and 64 years old, so classrooms include a mix of ages. And 67 out of every 100 entering students reported living in Illinois when they applied.
How the Calendar Works and What the School Recognizes from What Your Child Already Knows
The academic year here is organized into semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks each. It is the standard format, with consistent dates for everyone.
Something worth verifying closely: the university told the government that it accepts credit for AP exams and also what IPEDS calls “credit for life experiences”—learning acquired through independent study, work, a portfolio, licenses, or prior military experience. It also enrolls high school students in college courses for credit through a formal dual-enrollment program and reports accepting credit for military training.
Here is the part I cannot soften: saying that they accept AP does not mean they award credit for every exam or every score. We do not know what scores they require or whether those credits apply to your child’s specific program. Ask for a written transfer-credit evaluation before enrolling. Do not budget for savings in time or money until you have it in hand.
What You Can Study There
In the latest year reported, Concordia University-Chicago awarded 333 bachelor’s degrees across 23 distinct fields of study. No single field dominates: the largest, sports, recreation, and physical conditioning, accounts for 26 out of every 100 degrees awarded that year, and no other field exceeds it. Compared with 942 other selective private schools, it falls within the quarter offering the greatest variety of fields of study.
This is a broad range of offerings, not an offering concentrated deeply in one area. But 23 fields appearing in the report do not mean 23 complete programs or guarantee that each field has many graduates: a row may report zero. Verify the exact program that interests your child, not just the general field.
As for instructional group size: the official ratio is 13 students for every full-time-equivalent faculty member. That is a low figure in absolute terms, but compared with similar schools, it falls above the median—neither among the tightest nor among the widest ratios. Be careful: this ratio does not tell you the actual size of a first-year class. It is an institutional average, not a promise of small classes.
The institution also reports structured opportunities such as study abroad and preparation and certification pathways for those who want to become teachers, including state approval for initial teacher certification.
Getting In: What They Require and How Likely They Are to Say Yes
Let us start with something that surprises many families: there is no fee for the undergraduate application. The published fee is $0.
Concordia University-Chicago does not have open admissions; it reviews application components before making a decision. Of the nine considerations the government asks about, it marked three as required: the high school transcript, the high school GPA, and an English proficiency exam for applicants to whom it applies. Other components are not required but are considered if you submit them: the college-preparatory coursework completed, a personal essay, letters of recommendation, a portfolio or competency exam, work experience, and whether a family member previously studied there. That last factor—legacy status—is something your child cannot change. If it does not apply, do not spend energy on it. Spend that energy on what is within your child’s control.
As for standardized tests, the university reported that it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in the admissions decision, even if applicants submit them. This does not cover scholarships or placement; ask about those separately.
Now for the figure that will probably get your attention: in the most recent admissions cycle reported, Concordia University-Chicago admitted 93 out of every 100 people who applied. Of 4,607 applicants, only 306 did not receive an offer. Compared with 942 other selective private schools, it is on the more accessible side: seven out of ten of those schools admit an equal or lower percentage.
The likelihood of getting in does not make what follows easy. That 93 out of every 100 represents the entire admissions cycle and the whole school. It does not tell you how much attendance will cost, how many students finish their degrees, or whether the specific program your child wants has a stricter admissions filter of its own. Ask those three questions separately.
And here is a number worth seeing because it tells a different story from the admissions figures: out of every 100 students who were admitted, only 8 ultimately enrolled. Put another way, out of every 13 admitted students, roughly one ended up coming here. Compared with similar schools, this proportion is among the lowest in the group.
Do not read that as a mark against the school. The fact that most admitted students did not enroll does not mean the school is bad; the federal record does not explain why each family made its decision. What I can tell you is this: what others decided does not tell you what the school will offer you. Wait for your letter showing the net price—what the year will actually cost you—and, with that number in hand, decide whether this school stays on your list.
Regarding transfers: out of every 100 students who entered here in 2017 seeking a bachelor’s degree, 35 transferred to another school without completing a degree here within the expected period. Compared with similar schools, this proportion is on the high side. There is something important that almost no one sees: a student who transfers does not count as a graduate of this school, even if the student completes a degree elsewhere. Keep this in mind when we look at graduation rates later. And the fact that many students transfer does not mean they did poorly here; the report records the movement, not each person’s outcome.
The Listed Price, Without Embellishment
At Concordia University-Chicago, among 68 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $13,573. Among 41 students from the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $17,318; among 34 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $23,731. For dependent students, the bracket combines their parents’ income with their own.
The difference between the average for the lowest-income bracket (68 students) and the average for the highest-income bracket (34 students) is $10,158. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship aid, the average was $17,767.
Among the 937 schools of the same type and control included in this census that reported this figure with the same time coverage, this one falls within the least expensive quarter for the lowest-income families after grants and scholarships are subtracted. That does not mean it will be inexpensive for your family. It is a meaningful fact when you build the list of schools to which your child will apply.
None of these figures is a price quote for your child. The income brackets in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average with grant or scholarship aid, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships. The figure that matters is the financial-aid letter you receive. In the meantime, use the net price calculator on the school’s website.
Scholarships, Federal Aid, and Loans
Out of every 100 degree-seeking students here, 85 received some form of grant or scholarship aid that does not have to be repaid. Among those who received it, the average was $22,477 per year. That is real money, but it is an average: it includes people who received much more and people who received much less. It is not a price quote for your child.
In addition, 46 out of every 100 students received a Pell Grant, the federal aid for low-income families.
Regarding loans: in the most recent academic year reported, 59 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal student loan. Among those who borrowed, each took out an average of $6,480 that year. Financing attendance with debt is common here, not the exception. If your child borrowed a similar amount each year during the four years of the degree, the total would be around $25,920, not including interest. That number is decided before the first signature, not at the end.
An important clarification: that average loan amount covers only federal loans taken out in the student’s name during one year. It does not include Parent PLUS loans that parents sometimes sign for, debt from private banks, or credit cards. Nor is it the total debt someone has upon graduating; determining that would require adding all four years, and that number is not in this report.
The institution also reports offering a tuition installment payment plan as an option for managing costs throughout the year.
Campus Life, Sports, and Support Services
Concordia University-Chicago has its own student housing, with a reported capacity of 651 students. It does not require all first-time students to live there, although that does not mean no individual program has such a requirement. It also offers meal plans, although the number of meals per week varies by the plan selected. Before removing room and board from your family budget, ask in writing for this year’s exact rate, the housing application deadline, and whether you are guaranteed a place or placed on a waiting list.
Regarding ROTC: in its most recent report, the university did not indicate any ROTC opportunity, either in the general category or for any specific branch. Of the four-year institutions in this guide, 926 out of 1,786 indicated some opportunity. This school was not among them. That does not prove there is no option nearby—it only means none was indicated in this field. If that scholarship matters to your family, ask admissions about it directly before ruling it out.
In sports, it does compete at the intercollegiate level and is affiliated with the NCAA, with reported teams in football, basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. The membership belongs to the school, not to your child: if your child is interested, contact the coach for that sport directly, ask whether there is a place on the team, and whether that sport offers athletic scholarships.
The university also offers distance education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In the most recent count, 31 out of every 100 undergraduate students took all of their classes at a distance—a high proportion compared with similar schools. But this number covers the entire undergraduate population, not your child’s program. One program may be almost entirely online while the program next to it is almost entirely on campus.
The library operates with employed staff, has physical and digital materials, and offers interlibrary lending. Its annual spending exceeds the threshold the government uses to classify it as a library of substantial size. That does not guarantee it has databases specific to your child’s program; ask about those by program name.
Among the services and support resources the institution reports are combined academic and career counseling, employment services for current students, placement services for graduates, on-campus childcare, participation in the Yellow Ribbon program for veterans, a dedicated point of contact for service members and their families, and a published webpage for disability services.
Those Who Stay and Those Who Finish
Here we reach the most difficult numbers, and I am going to give them to you without softening them, because they matter most for planning.
Of the cohort that entered in the fall of 2022 to pursue a bachelor’s degree full-time, 63 out of every 100 were still enrolled here or had already graduated one year later. Compared with 930 similar schools, this proportion is on the low side: seven out of ten of those schools retain a larger share of their entering cohort.
That figure does not tell you what happened to the other 37 out of every 100. We do not know whether they transferred, paused their studies, started working, or had any other reason. The data record the outcome, not the causes, and not appearing as retained does not mean that someone gave up.
Among students who entered in 2017 seeking a bachelor’s degree, six years later, 46 out of every 100 had earned a degree from this school. It is almost evenly split. At the four-year mark, the figure falls to 35 out of every 100. Compared with 920 similar schools, this university falls within the bottom quarter: three out of four similar schools graduate a larger share of their entering cohort.
Remember what we saw about transfers: a student who changes schools and finishes elsewhere does not count here as a graduate. This rate tracks only students who entered for the first time and attended full-time; it does not include students who transferred in or those who studied part-time.
Expanding the window to eight years, with a broader cohort that includes part-time students and students with prior experience, 52 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from this school. Among those who received a Pell Grant, that figure falls to 44 out of every 100—thirteen percentage points below those who did not receive one. And within that same broad cohort, the subgroup of first-time, full-time students stands at 41 out of every 100, eleven percentage points below the overall average.
These numbers carry weight. Before deciding, ask the school directly what specific support it provides—an assigned counselor, emergency assistance, whether the institutional scholarship renews each year—and how long it actually takes to complete the specific degree program that interests your child. Ask them to answer in writing.
What This Article Cannot Tell You
I do not know whether this university is right for your child. No one who does not know your family can know that. What you have just read is one piece of the map: what this university is, how it admits students, how much it costs, what the actual aid received by other families looks like, and how often students stay or leave.
The other two pieces are not found in any federal report. One is what your child wants to study and what your child has built so far: grades, interests, and energy for this particular course of study.
It is your child’s responsibility to research the program, write the essay, contact the coach if sports matter, and decide whether this school is exciting. It is your responsibility to handle the money, the deadlines, the FAFSA, and the uncomfortable questions before signing anything. Neither of you does the other’s work.
You now understand one real piece of the decision in depth. Combine it with the other two, and that is where a plan begins.
Source note: The information in this article comes from data reported by Concordia University-Chicago to the United States Department of Education’s IPEDS system, corresponding to different years and reporting cycles as indicated in each section. Best College Aid does not represent Concordia University-Chicago or any government agency.