Private Nonprofit · River Forest, Illinois

Concordia University-Chicago

Concordia University-Chicago is a private nonprofit institution in River Forest, Illinois. as a private nonprofit, published Scorecard outcomes cover federal-aid recipients at this campus — endowment and sticker price sit outside those cohort fields.

$54,089
10-yr median earnings
92.8%
Acceptance rate
$18,436
Avg net price / yr
41.4%
150%-time completion

The verdict

Concordia University-Chicago pairs top-quartile former-student earnings with open admission.

According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

Top 23%
former-student earnings, US
92.8%
acceptance rate
41.4%
150%-time completion
+22%
earnings, 6→10 yrs
Suburb: Large Carnegie: Master's (L)
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Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.

How to read this Concordia University-Chicago profile

Figures above come from IPEDS institution records published through the College Scorecard (retrieved July 2026 for institution fields; March 2026 for field-of-study). Peer groups and cost cohorts follow IPEDS ownership sector, Carnegie class ("Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs"), and locale, not an editorial shortlist.

Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients. It is a defined cohort average, not a personalized price; income-band fields add context but do not replace the school's current net-price calculator.

Earnings use Treasury-linked records for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year (completers and noncompleters). IPEDS completion and retention use separate first-time, full-time cohorts, so those denominators are not the earnings cohort. Read cost, completion, and earnings as distinct historical measures, not a causal verdict or individual forecast.

College Value Score

D
College Value Score
46/100
Concordia University-Chicago

A 6-metric composite of earnings, cost, and completion outcomes benchmarked against every reporting US college, not a ranking of teaching quality, campus life, or fit for any individual student. See the full methodology.

Earnings B+
$54,089
10-year median former-student earnings
Net Price D
$18,436
Average annual cost after grants and aid
Completion Rate F
41.4%
Completion within 150% of normal time
Debt F
$23,000
Median federal debt at graduation
Loan Repayment B+
73.1%
Borrowers repaying loans within 3 years
Retention F
60.5%
First-year students returning for year two
Concordia University-Chicago vs. the national benchmark
EarningsNet PriceCompletionDebtRepaymentRetention

Each axis is the percentile score shown in the breakdown at left; the shape shows this school's overall profile at a glance.

10-yr median earnings

$54,089

Federal aid recipients only

Avg net price

$18,436

After grants and scholarships

150%-time completion

41.4%

Full-time, first-time cohort

150%-time completion vs portal median (57.1%) 41.4%

Four-year-institution cohort

College ROI Quadrant - Concordia University-Chicago vs peers

Concordia University-Chicago positioned by earnings vs cost Two-by-two quadrant chart: x-axis median earnings 10 years after enrollment, y-axis average net price after financial aid. Each dot is a college, colored by completion within 150% of normal time (garnet ≥65%, amber 45-64%, red <45%). Net price increases upward, earnings increase rightward, so: bottom-right = best value (low cost, high earnings); top-right = premium (high cost, high earnings); bottom-left = community college tier (low cost, modest earnings); top-left = cost challenge (high cost, low earnings). Currently plotting 8 colleges. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard joined to Carnegie Classification. Concordia University-Chicago positioned by e… Carnegie Classification: Master's (L) Master's (… COST CHALLENGE PREMIUM COMMUNITY BEST VALUE $39K $74K Median Earnings 10 Years After Enrollment ($) $10K $30K Avg Net Price ($) Concordia University-Chicago (you are here): $54K earn · $18K net · 41% grad You are here - Concordia Universi… Millikin University: $51K earn · $22K net · 57% grad Millikin University University of St Francis: $64K earn · $13K net · 66% grad University of St F… Moody Bible Institute: $45K earn · $22K net · 62% grad Moody Bible Instit… Knox College: $55K earn · $25K net · 68% grad Knox College Illinois Wesleyan University: $71K earn · $28K net · 78% grad Illinois Wesleyan … Quincy University: $50K earn · $20K net · 44% grad Dominican University: $60K earn · $12K net · 59% grad Grad rate (4yr) ≥65% 45-64% <45%
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education

Each dot is a college plotted by 10-year median earnings (x-axis) vs average net price (y-axis), colored by completion within 150% of normal time. Bottom-right = high earnings/lower price; top-left = lower earnings/higher price.

How Concordia University-Chicago ranks nationally

Where this school's former-student earnings fall within the full national distribution of every US college that reports to the College Scorecard, not just its peer set.

Concordia University-Chicago: former-student earnings vs. every US college

10-year median earnings, College Scorecard

$54,089 Top 23% higher than 77% of 5,103 US colleges

$0–$20,000: 169 US colleges (3%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 2,245 US colleges (44%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 1,897 US colleges (37%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 606 US colleges (12%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 134 US colleges (3%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 39 US colleges (1%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 11 US colleges (0%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 2 US colleges (0%). Above this entry. This college $0 $160,000 every US college, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Metric Concordia University-Chicago National rank Percentile
10-yr median earnings $54,089 #1169 of 5103 77th
Average net price $18,436 #2775 of 5020 45th (lower is better)
150%-time completion 41.4% #3574 of 4858 26th
Undergraduate enrollment 1,323 #1889 of 5462 65th

National ranks count every operating US college reporting each metric to the College Scorecard, separate from the earnings histogram above.

Quick Facts

1,323
Undergraduate enrollment
92.8%
Acceptance rate
-
SAT average
41.4%
150%-time completion
$54,089
10-yr median earnings
60.5%
First-year retention

How Concordia University-Chicago ranks in Illinois

State rank among 189 reporting Illinois colleges with College Scorecard data, a separate lens from the national distribution above.

Metric Concordia University-Chicago State rank Percentile
10-yr median earnings $54,089 #49 of 189 74th
Average net price $18,436 #106 of 179 41st (lower is better)
150%-time completion 41.4% #134 of 171 22nd
Undergraduate enrollment 1,323 #81 of 201 60th

Highest former-student earnings in Illinois

#School10-yr earningsNet price
1Chamberlain University-Illinois$92,405$31,837
2University of Chicago$91,885$14,860
3Northwestern University$89,363$29,167
4St. John's College$86,331-
5Lakeview College of Nursing$84,522-
6Illinois Institute of Technology$82,592$18,425
7University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign$81,054$14,355
8Saint Anthony College of Nursing$77,709-
9Rush University$75,194-
10Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing$72,850-
11Blessing Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences$72,430-
12Loyola University Chicago$71,530$36,079
49Concordia University-ChicagoThis school$54,089$18,436

Admissions

Admission Rate 92.8%
0%100%92.8%
Share of applicants admitted

Costs & Financial Aid

Net price by family income at Concordia University-Chicago

Average annual net price after grants; Title IV recipient cohort by income bracket

net price / yr

What this shows Need-based aid pulls net price down at lower brackets at Concordia University-Chicago - compare the bar for your income band, not the overall average alone.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Tuition & Net Price

In-State Tuition $37,488
Out-of-State Tuition $37,488
Average Net Price $18,436
45.7%
Pell Grant Rate
56.9%
Federal Loan Rate
$23,000
Median Debt
$244/mo
Monthly Payment

Net price at Concordia University-Chicago swings rather than trends

Across 11 reported years between 2013 and 2023, the average net price here has ranged from $16,403 to $19,540 without settling into a rise or a fall. Comparing only the first and last years would read as -6.2%, but the years in between do not follow that line, so the honest summary is the range rather than a trend. Budget against the upper end, not the average.

Lowest year
$16,403
Highest year
$19,540
Most recent (2023)
$16,774
Average net price, 2013–2023

11 reported years. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

2013: $17,8812014: $17,9372015: $17,9382016: $19,5402017: $17,0852018: $16,4032019: $16,5122020: $17,0512021: $18,2252022: $18,2562023: $16,774
2013 · $17,8812023 · $16,774

Over the same years, enrollment went -14.5% (1,563 → 1,337 students).

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, per-year fields (2013–2023). Net price is the average cost after grant and scholarship aid for federally-aided undergraduates.

Student Demographics

Race & ethnicity

Student body at a glance

57.2%
Female
38.5%
First Generation

Outcomes

60.5%
Retention Rate
$44,405
Median Earnings (6yr)
64.5%
Earning Over $25K
73.1%
Loan Repayment, Completers (3yr)

Outcomes & debt snapshot

Measure Cohort / horizon Value
Completion within 150% of normal time First-time, full-time 41.4%
First-year retention First-time, full-time freshmen 60.5%
Median earnings 6 years after entry $44,405
Median earnings 10 years after entry $54,089
Share earning over $25,000 Working, not enrolled 64.5%
Loan repayment rate Completers, 3 years after leaving 73.1%
Median federal student debt At completion $23,000
Estimated monthly payment Standard 10-year plan $244/mo

Programs & Earnings

Field-of-study summary by credential

Credential Programs Award count Avg earnings Top earnings Avg debt
Master's 15 1,211 $69,373 $84,318 $28,967
Bachelor's 11 265 $55,161 $73,256 $22,512
Doctoral 1 85 $123,623 $123,623 $49,142
Graduate Certificate 1 55 $110,620 $110,620 -
Level 99 1 0 $52,739 $52,739 -

Top programs at Concordia University-Chicago by completer earnings

Median earnings of program completers, College Scorecard field-of-study file

median earnings

What this shows The highest-earning programs at a school are not necessarily its most popular ones - a small specialized program can post strong median earnings without reflecting the outcome most students here actually see.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Program Credential Completers Median Earnings Median Debt
Educational Administration and Supervision Doctoral 85 $123,623 $49,142
Educational Administration and Supervision Graduate Certificate 55 $110,620 -
Student Counseling and Personnel Services Master's 60 $84,318 $47,380
Business Administration, Management and Operations Master's 116 $82,060 $33,625
Educational Administration and Supervision Master's 353 $82,000 $24,000
Educational/Instructional Media Design Master's 35 $74,446 $22,899
Health and Medical Administrative Services Bachelor's 33 $73,256 $18,443
Human Resources Management and Services Bachelor's 16 $72,050 $22,495
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology Master's 30 $69,536 $53,872
Curriculum and Instruction Master's 148 $68,826 $17,214
Special Education and Teaching Master's 34 $67,237 $16,300
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness Master's 250 $66,304 $21,612
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Master's 79 $62,613 $25,141
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Master's 72 $61,264 $19,166
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language Master's 9 $57,111 -

Independent Scorecard matches among reporting colleges — not recommendations from the institution or a counselor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Concordia University-Chicago?
Concordia University-Chicago is a private nonprofit institution in River Forest, Illinois. The acceptance rate is 92.8%. Undergraduate enrollment is 1,323 students.
How much do Concordia University-Chicago former students earn?
Federally aided former students at Concordia University-Chicago who were working and not enrolled had median earnings of $54,089 ten years after entry; the cohort is not limited to graduates. Six years after entry, the corresponding median is $44,405.
How much does Concordia University-Chicago cost?
The average net price at Concordia University-Chicago is $18,436. In-state tuition is $37,488 and out-of-state tuition is $37,488. Median student debt at graduation is $23,000.
What is the graduation rate at Concordia University-Chicago?
Concordia University-Chicago has a 41.4% completion rate within 150% of normal time at a four-year institution (typically six years for a bachelor’s program). The first-year retention rate is 60.5%.
Is Concordia University-Chicago worth the student debt?
The median student debt at Concordia University-Chicago is $23,000, while former students earn a median of $54,089 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 43% of those annual earnings. Among borrowers who completed their program, 73.1% are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $244.

Sources & methodology

Private-nonprofit profiles emphasize Scorecard cost-after-aid and completion alongside IPEDS Carnegie class. Endowment, gifts, and sticker price are not Scorecard fields on this page.

Figures are the Mar–Jul 2026 federal retrievals. Nonprofit campuses vary widely in aid practice — net price here is the Title-IV-recipient cohort average, not an individual award letter. Read the full methodology for how the data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Where to go next from Concordia University-Chicago

Nonprofit Scorecard medians describe federal-aid recipients who were working and not enrolled — they are not sticker-price ROI and not advice.

Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. Private-nonprofit profiles compile Scorecard net-price and earnings cohorts with IPEDS structure fields — no editor-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.