Small close-knit community feel near Chicago

River Forest, IL

Concordia University Chicago is a college where ideas will inspire you, God’s calling takes root and you’ll be prepared for a life fulfilled by purpose and meaning. They provide the guidance and resources to make sure the decisions you make today help you achieve your academic, personal and professional goals tomorrow. Bring your curiosity, your personality and your values—CUC will help you show the world what it means to STAND TALL.

Rankings: #101 in Regional Universities Midwest and #43 in Top Performers in Social Mobility according to the U.S. News & World Report

School size: Total enrollment of over 6,000 students

Location: River Forest, Illinois 

Nearby attractions: Brookfield Zoo, Lake Michigan Beaches, Millennium Park, The Art Institute of Chicago, Wrigley Field, Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio, Willis Tower, Chicago Museum Campus

Emerge Exclusive

No application fee! We are waiving the application fee for international students.
(Note: Not applicable for the online Doctorate in Business Administration.)
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Programs

Cost of Attendance

The following provides you with estimated costs for your tuition at Concordia University Chicago. Please note: Total tuition and fees will vary depending on your selected program as well as the housing and meal plans chosen.

MBA

Estimated Cost of Attendance
$ 36,566-
38,750
/year
  • Tuition: $728/credit
  • This is an estimate only. Other costs and fees may apply.

Master's

Estimated Cost of Attendance
$ 38,696 /year
  • Tuition: $725/credit
  • This is an estimate only. Other costs and fees may apply.

DBA

Estimated Cost of Attendance
$ 44,906 /year
  • Tuition: $963/credit
  • This is an estimate only. Other costs and fees may apply.

PhD/EdD

Estimated Cost of Attendance
$ 34,833-
35,736
/year
  • Tuition: $753/credit
  • This is an estimate only. Other costs and fees may apply.

For a detailed breakdown of costs and fees, please click Apply Now and complete the form. 

About Concordia University Chicago

How to Apply

Use the button below to access Concordia University Chicago’s unique application. Once you submit your application, your agent will work with you to supply all documents required for your application file.

Get started now! Click Apply Now to unlock important details about start dates, application deadlines,
and a complete breakdown of costs and fees.

Admission Requirements

To apply for graduate study, you will need the following:
  1. Completed application: This must be done before any official documents are sent to Concordia-Chicago (official transcripts and transcript evaluations from ECE/WES)
  2. Two reference letters from individuals able to comment on your academic proficiency, your personal character, your competence and the effectiveness of your professional work.
  3. Objective statement: There is no length requirement. This is not an essay, but a statement that provides information on your future educational goals.
  4. A professional resume
  5. A certified document pledging financial support for the first year of study, verifying the same or equally dependable source for the following years of study.
  6. Transcripts
    1. A copy of transcripts for all completed degrees (do not need to be official unless from a US school)
      • For any non-US schools:  An official course-by-course transcript evaluation (not the general evaluation) from either ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators) or WES (World Education Services).  Evaluations must be sent directly from ECE/WES to Concordia to be considered official.  Concordia-Chicago will not accept evaluations from anyone other than ECE and WES.  The students will need to have their transcripts sent directly from each school to ECE/WES for the evaluation.  The evaluation must show that the student has earned a degree that is equivalent to a 4- year (NOT 3-year) bachelor’s degree earned at a regionally accredited school in the U.S.  They need a 2.85 GPA for Standard Acceptance.  If the student is between 2.25 and 2.84, they can be accepted on a probationary basis (Conditional Acceptance).
      • If a student has earned a degree from a U.S. regionally accredited school, they do not need to do the ECE/WES.  Instead, they submit a copy of their transcript from their non-U.S. school(s) and an official transcript from their U.S. school(s).
  7. Proof of English Proficiency
      • Proof of English proficiency:  International applicants who have earned an advanced degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States, or students from an international English-speaking country or university (in which the lingua franca is English) need not submit English language scores.  Students who earned a degree from a school outside of the U.S. must submit a letter from the Registrar’s Office at the university where the degree was earned.  The letter needs to state that the primary language of the school is English.
      Otherwise, applicants must demonstrate one of the following:
      Duolingo 95 or above
      Password test Score of at least 6.0
      Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Score of at least 72 (internet-based)
      International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Score of at least 6.0
      Michigan test Score of 85
      Pearson Test of English Score of at least 61
      Proof of successful completion of Level 112 at an ELS Language School or certificate of Completion of Program from an English Language Institute (ELI), along with a recommendation of the program director
      King George International College (KGIC) English for Post-Secondary Education (EPE) final proficiency test Score of 75% with a passing class score of 80
      Note: Upon acceptance, all students are required to participate in the school’s student health program or in a health benefit plan with comparable coverage.
  • F1 Visa Transfers: a copy of their F1 Visa and 1-20.
    • As soon as a student is accepted, they need to submit an official bank statement(s) (dated, signed and bank seal or stamp) showing at least $33,150 USD available funds.  This cannot be lines of credit, equity, etc.  It needs to be available funds (like a checking or savings account).  $33,150 is the minimum amount for the 2024-2025 academic year (May 1, 2024 – April 30, 2025).  They need an additional $3,000 for each dependent.  The bank statement(s) must be dated within 6 months. 
    • If the student has a non-US citizen sponsor(s), the sponsor(s) must complete the Concordia-Chicago Affidavit of Financial Support form.  If the sponsor(s) is a US citizen, they must submit the Department of Homeland Security Affidavit of Support form, USCIS FORM I-134 (uscis.gov/i-134).