Concordia University - Chicago
Salary Score
Bachelor's
88
Master's
71
Doctoral
93
Concordia University - Chicago (CUC) is a private university that serves degree programs through a Christian lens. There are several colleges within its campus, including ones focused on business, education, theology, and health. At the undergraduate level, students can explore a plethora of bachelor's and master's degrees in the aforementioned areas. Some are accelerated degrees that students can finish in as little as 16 months. There are also quality online programs for Illinois residents and global students. In fact, 22% of CUC's undergraduate student body studies exclusively online, and over 40 online degrees are available.
Fast Facts
Average Financial Aid: $24,166
Accreditation: Concordia University - Chicago is acredited by 3 agencies
Rankings by Salary Score and Affordability
-
#4
2023 Best Online Master's Degrees
-
#5
2023 Online Educational Leadership Doctoral Programs
-
#8
2023 Best Online Master's in Elementary Education Degrees
-
#10
2023 Best Online Master's Degrees in Early Childhood Education
-
#24
2023 Best Online Master's Degrees in Special Education
Salary Score for Online Degrees at Concordia University - Chicago
Bachelor's Degrees
Human Resources Management and Services | $22,907 | $74,135 | 100 |
Health and Medical Administrative Services | $20,086 | $53,948 | 97 |
Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $25,000 | $33,679 | 88 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations | $19,500 | $37,339 | 30 |
Master's Degrees
Curriculum and Instruction | $17,112 | $55,265 | 81 |
Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $23,207 | $46,413 | 80 |
Educational Administration and Supervision | $24,633 | $64,893 | 77 |
Educational/Instructional Media Design | $16,000 | $59,510 | 69 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $20,600 | $53,650 | 69 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $22,167 | $50,366 | 67 |
Special Education and Teaching | $18,000 | $53,253 | 63 |
Education, General | Not Reported | $48,808 | 43 |
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | $16,000 | $45,742 | 39 |
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education | Not Reported | $52,936 | 31 |
Health and Medical Administrative Services | Not Reported | $56,837 | 31 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations | $32,720 | $56,219 | 25 |
Doctoral Degrees
Educational Administration and Supervision | $43,068 | $111,823 | 93 |
FAQs About Concordia University - Chicago
Is Concordia University Chicago a Good School?
One way to determine whether CUC is a good school is to check its accreditation status. This is the process by which a third-party organization examines the school's curriculums and faculty to ensure its providing a quality education to its students.
Concordia University - Chicago is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
In the past, some have considered online degrees as less legitimate than traditional degrees that were earned on campus, which was in part due to diploma mills. These distributed a high volume of online degrees without a concern for the quality of education. With more and more universities offering remote learning programs, online degrees are respected more today than ever before.
What Is Concordia University - Chicago Known For?
CUC is best known as a Christian college due to its Lutheran heritage. Many of the school's programs are rooted in Christian values, including those found at its College of Theology, Arts, and Humanities. Here, students can earn degrees in theology, pre-seminary, and deaconess studies. For online students, there's also a master's degree program in Church Music. CUC even includes a synodical placement program, which sets students up for work in organizations within The Lutheran Church.
Another thing CUC is known for are the benefits it offers to alumni. This includes resources to set up and host local alumni events, career services to help with employment opportunities, networking with other alumni, and assistance with transcript requests.
Which Degrees at CUC Provide the Highest Earnings for Graduates?
The highest earning degrees at CUC are those in the field of business. According to federal data from College Scorecard, which rates degree earnings based on specific fields of study, Concordia's Bachelor of Arts in Management and Bachelor of Arts in Marketing are the top two highest earning degrees. Within three years of graduation, students are expected to make $49,317 and $45,200, respectively. Additional high earning degrees at CUC fall under the areas of teaching and education.
Is It Worth Studying at CUC?
It's worth studying at CUC for several reasons. First off, it's an accredited institution and has been since 1950. This means that its degree programs and instructors have been evaluated to ensure it offers a quality educational experience. Also, CUC offers dozens of online degrees that are suitable for both new and experienced students who are seeking flexible undergraduate and graduate programs.
How Difficult Is It To Get Into CUC?
No, it's not very challenging to be accepted into CUC. It has a high acceptance rate of 79%. This means that the majority of applicants are accepted into one of their programs. For comparison, the average college acceptance rate is just over 60%.
CUC offers several resources for financial aid that make the process even simpler for new students to secure funding for their education. Plus, it's not required for applicants to submit college entrance exams from the SAT or ACT.
What Are the Admission Requirements for CUC?
The requirements at CUC are fairly straightforward but may vary slightly depending whether an applicant is a new student, transfer student, international student, or servicemember. In order to be accepted, students must have a 2.0 high school GPA, four years of English, three years of math, and two years of science and social science.
Below are the steps for applying:
- Fill out an online application.
- Submit a complete high school transcript showing grades and a graduation date.
- Once the application and transcript is received, an admissions counselor will reach out to notify the student of the next steps.
In some cases, an admissions counselor may ask an applicant to submit additional items, such as a personal essay, teacher recommendation, or additional transcripts. Students interested in saving money on college applications are in luck because CUC does not ask for an application fee.