Concordia University - Irvine

CUI is an online school that hosts national and international students in remote settings. Like most online schools, CUI creates a flexible learning environment by delivering its online coursework synchronously and asynchronously. 

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 70% of graduate students are exclusively enrolled in online programming. 

Many consider CUI a good school based on its above-median rate of graduates and their career earnings. College Scorecard, as cited above, reports that the school has a 65% graduation rate — 7% higher than the midpoint for other four-year universities. Once graduated, CUI's alums earn a median annual salary of $59,800, which is $9,400 more than the midpoint for other schools. 

Online students should only consider attending accredited schools because third-party agencies have vetted them to ensure their programs and faculty meet national education quality standards. CUI is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

OnlineU only includes accredited online schools on its site. 

CUI promotes conservative Christian values and may not be a good fit for LGBT students. Although its student handbook does not explicitly prohibit homosexual behavior, CUI does identify human sexuality as a relationship between a man and a woman. It also received a religious exemption from Title XI, a federal civil rights law designed to prevent sex-based discrimination. 

CUI is known for its faith-based educational programs. Many of its online degrees are guided by the Lutheran belief to serve Christ. Its undergraduate curriculum features core classes, such as Foundations of Christian Philosophy and Introduction to Theological Thought. Full degrees are available in Christian ministry, Christian education leadership, and theology majors.

According to College Scorecard's federal data, as cited above, the highest-earning online undergraduate degree at CUI is the Bachelor of Science in Organizational Psychology. Graduates of this program can expect to earn a median annual salary of $41,800. CUI does not offer alums salaries from its other online bachelor's programs; however, its Master of Public Health is the highest-earning degree overall, with a median annual salary of $93,100.  

As an alternative measure, OnlineU uses a proprietary Salary Score metric to compare alum salaries using the same degree from different schools. CUI scores 64 out of 100 for its bachelor's degrees and 99 out of 100 for its master's degrees. 

Getting into CUI is relatively easy if applicants meet the admissions criteria. College Scorecard shows it with an 81% acceptance rate for first-year students. This puts it above the national average, typically between 60% and 70%. 

CUI requires most first-year applicants to have a minimum GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale. However, the General Education degree only requires a 2.4 GPA.

CUI. Although there is a 2.8 minimum GPA requirement, there are no requirements for college entrance exam scores. 

Complete the following steps to apply online at CUI:

• Fill out CUI's online application.
• Pay the $50 application fee.
• Complete the Statement of Intent.
• Submit high school and/or college transcripts.
• Students applying for faith-based majors must submit a pastoral reference filled out by church leadership. 

If you remain undecided, check out the most popular online schools and learn about each one.