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River Forest , IL
Concordia University Chicago is a private liberal arts university located in River Forest, Illinois. Established in 1864, it is affiliated with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and is one of the ten universities of the Concordia University System. Known for its commitment to academic excellence and Christian values, CUC offers undergraduate and graduate programs across a wide range of disciplines.
With a total enrollment of around 4,000 students, Concordia University Chicago provides a small and nurturing environment for students to grow academically, spiritually, and socially. The University is home to four colleges, including the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the College of Education, and the College of Graduate and Innovative Programs. Students have numerous degree options, including majors in business, education, health sciences, arts and sciences, and many more.
Concordia University Chicago offers a variety of resources and opportunities to help students achieve their goals. The institution boasts state-of-the-art facilities such as the Center for Global Education, which provides international study programs and cultural immersion experiences. Moreover, CUC is well-known for its strong commitment to service learning, encouraging students to participate in community service projects and engage in real-world experiences to enhance their education. The university also has a vibrant campus life, including a wide range of student organizations, religious activities, and athletic teams that provide students with a well-rounded college experience.
Located in River Forest, IL and set in a suburban environment, Concordia University Chicago is a private university. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 92%. The freshman retention rate at Concordia University Chicago is 61% and the six-year graduation rate is 36%.
Find out more about what you can expect if you get into Concordia University Chicago.
Quick Facts
1,327
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$37,740
Tuition
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
36%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to improve your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission. Here are the most important data you need to know about admission at Concordia University Chicago.
According to the newest information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 3,897 in 2025.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.14. Therefore, the chances are that you'll need a GPA higher than the average for acceptance,.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Concordia University Chicago was 61%.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 36%.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by learning more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Concordia University Chicago in 2025 was 4,730.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 38% for that year. There was a total of 1,327 those pursuing undergraduate studies, including 13 international students. The school reported to have a total of 112 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 643 male and 741 female full-time students in 2025, which is indicative of the importance this institution places on gender equality. 84 full-time graduate men and 157 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
The importance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. A diverse student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Concordia University Chicago.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 26, and the number of African American students was 175. 501 students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 53 identified with more than one race. The school also had 3 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 3 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 18 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Concordia University Chicago? Here is what you need to know.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $37,740 in 2025. As this is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students summed up to $1,058 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to take into account the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,200.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What do colleges and universities typically charge for accommodation and meals?
In 2025, the price of room and board at Concordia University Chicago was $11,872 per academic year. If you only wanted a dormitory room, it cost $6,772 for the 2025 academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 37,740 |
| Room and Board | $ 11,872 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
| Total Expense | $ 50,812 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial aid: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Concordia University Chicago, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent records show that 283 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $25,786.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
There were 904 students who got need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Concordia University Chicago is available to international students. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Concordia University Chicago isn't available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 978. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $3,594,814, and state $3,283,440.
$20,057
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 104 students overall (including freshmen) at Concordia University Chicago in 2025. 34 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $3,509,811. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $3,313,010 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Concordia University Chicago was 13:1: that means 13 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. This school has recently reported to have 387 faculty members. Out of that number, there were 177 male and 210 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Concordia University Chicago.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Concordia University Chicago is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some info about students' life at Concordia University Chicago.
Its campus spans 40 acres.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists exclusively of current students and/or alumni.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 42. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is Art Club, followed by Campus Activities Board and Student Government Association. Other popular organizations among the students at Concordia University Chicago are College Life and Campus Ministry.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. You have a talent for media and communication? Concordia University Chicago publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Concordia University Chicago provides a number of services necessary for a comfortable and secure life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. The school's dormitory entrances are operated electronically. There is a 24-hour security patrol. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at Concordia University Chicago is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Concordia University Chicago.
Career Counselling
Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career.
FAQ
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Concordia University Chicago is located in River Forest, IL.
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Concordia University Chicago doesn't offer need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, the tuition for Concordia University Chicago is 37,740 USD a year.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Concordia University Chicago is 92%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Concordia University Chicago is 61%.
Contact Information
Concordia University Chicago
7400 Augusta Street
River Forest , IL
60305-1499
708 771-8300
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.