Concordia University Chicago College of Business
Concordia University appears in our ranking of the Top 15 Doctorate in Leadership Online Programs.
The Concordia University Chicago College of Business is dedicated to training ethical leaders who are equipped to interact in an international marketplace with integrity and responsibility. The bachelor, master’s, and doctorate level degrees have an entrepreneurial focus, and the flexible formats allow for meaningful connections with a diverse cohort. With a welcoming atmosphere for international students, Concordia offers the opportunity to build a truly global network that can remain valuable throughout the span of a graduate’s career.
The undergraduate business degrees offered at Concordia include Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts programs. Each field of undergraduate study within the business college is built on a foundation of the critical thinking and communication skills that are essential to success in business communities. BS degree concentrations are Media Arts, Music, Accounting, Business Communication, Non-profit Management, Sports Management, Theatre, Visual Arts, Management, and Marketing. Concentrations for BA business degrees are Management, Marketing, Sports Management, Accounting, Business Communication, and Non-profit or Church Management. Both BA and BS degrees remain solutions-focused as experienced faculty work with students to help them understand the practical applications of data and theories.
Concordia graduate degrees include Master of Business Administration and Doctorate in Business Administration. The doctorate degree concentrations are Innovation in Health Care and Leadership and Innovation. MBA degrees may be obtained through a one-year on-campus program, a one-year online program, or a two-year combined online and evening schedule. The accelerated online degree offers a strong cohort model, a focus on ethics and social responsibility, and the ongoing construction of a digital business portfolio. Students have the option of choosing a focus from the following: Accounting, Chief School Business Official, Digital Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Health Care Management, and Non-profit Management. Candidates also have the opportunity to choose two areas of concentration, which will give them an edge in the job field. In addition to the MBA degree, Concordia offers MBA Certificates for continuing education opportunities for professionals. Certificate categories include Digital Marketing, Finance, Healthcare Management, and Leadership and Change Management.
About Concordia University Chicago
Concordia University Chicago is the oldest member of the Concordia Universities system. This group of universities is affiliated with the Lutheran Missouri Synod, and each school maintains a strong relationship to its religious roots. Located in River Forest, IL, Concordia University Chicago is a small, private university with an enrollment of 5,000 students. The campus is located 10 miles from downtown Chicago. Over 100 undergraduate and graduate degrees are offered from Concordia’s colleges of Business, Arts and Sciences, Education, and Graduate Studies. The university’s sports teams participate in the NCAA Division III.
Originally founded in 1864 as the Addison Teachers Seminary, Concordia was first located in Addison, IL. It did not move to its current location in River Forest until 1912 when the name was changed to Concordia Teachers College. As the school began offering more courses of study, it developed into a full-fledged liberal arts school in the 1970’s, known as Concordia College. Finally, it became Concordia University in 1990. Throughout its development from a teacher training school to a university, Concordia has continued to uphold the values of faith and service that have existed since its inception.
Concordia University Accreditation Details
Concordia University has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a recognized accrediting organization, since 1950. It was reaffirmed in 2015 and is scheduled to be reviewed for reaccreditation in 2023.
The Concordia University College of Business is a candidate for accreditation through the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
Concordia University Application Requirements
There is no application fee for any degree program at Concordia. Though most of the application process can be completed online, official scores and transcripts must be submitted to the appropriate student office. For undergraduate admissions, applicants must complete the online application and submit their official transcript and ACT or SAT scores. While some students may be accepted based on the merits of these documents, others will be notified that their applications have been placed on hold. These applicants must then submit a statement of educational objectives, a letter of recommendation from a teacher, and their seventh-semester transcripts. Since applications are reviewed throughout the year, high school students are encouraged to apply within the first semester of their senior year to ensure an open spot at the university.
Graduate applicants must submit all material to the Office of Graduate Admissions after completing an online application. While no test scores are required for the MBA degree, applicants must submit official transcripts from all higher learning institutions that they have attended. Additional application requirements include a personal and professional statement, two letters of academic or professional reference, and a professional resume. Students who still need to complete program pre-requisites may be accepted on a provisional basis and must complete these requirements within their first semester. Applicants who have an undergraduate GPA of less than 2.85 or a master’s program GPA of less than 3.0 may be accepted on a probationary basis. Their graduate coursework within their first semester must equal 3.0 or higher for them to continue in the program.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Concordia University Chicago has a strong tradition of providing financial aid to students and offers over $17 million per year in grants and scholarships. All admitted undergraduate students receive some form of aid from the university. On average, an incoming freshman student will be offered $19,500 per year from Concordia to help with school expenses. The residential undergraduate cost is $41,826 per year. The cost for a commuter undergraduate student is $32,078 per year. Students may apply for additional competitive scholarships based on a variety of application criteria. Additionally, students of the Lutheran faith will be eligible for a $20,000 Concordia scholarship.
MBA tuition is $690 per credit hour. Additionally, a $15 per credit hour technology fee will be assessed. The MBA program requires 39 credit hours; the MBA with an accounting concentration requires 54 credit hours. Graduate students may be eligible for a variety of financial aid including PLUS Loans, scholarships for church professionals, and unsubsidized Stafford Loans.
For more information, visit the Concordia University Chicago College of Business page.