Undergraduate Admission FAQ
Timeline of Events
Applying
Financial Planning
Visiting Campus
After Acceptance
Life on Campus
Parents
Outcomes – Life After Graduation
Concordia Fact Book
Timeline of Events (back to top)
Is there a timeline of events that students should follow during their junior and senior years of high school?
Spring of junior year:
- Begin college visits. Register to visit Concordia University for an individual visit or Campus Visit Day.
- Take ACT and/or SAT I
Summer prior to senior year:
- Continue to visit colleges.
Fall/Winter:
- Complete application for admission to Concordia. Concordia University has a rolling admission policy. We accept applications as they are submitted.
- Re-take ACT or SAT I (if desired)
- Visit and/or re-visit colleges
- Secure any local scholarship forms and apply according to individual deadlines.
January-March:
- Apply for music scholarships and schedule February music audition at Concordia (if qualified)
- Complete FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Assistance) and submit to the federal processor.
April 1st:
- Concordia University priority award date for financial assistance
- Be sure Admission file is complete
Spring:
- Begin student loan process (if applicable)
- Make final college decision and notify ALL schools to which you were accepted no later than May 1st
- Send in tuition and housing deposits postmarked no later than May 1st
- Make sure to have met all deadlines for financial aid
Summer:
- Attend Jump Start and register for classes
- Contact future roommate and work out arrangements for appliances and belongings
- Deadline for receipt of all loan promissory notes.
- Check-in at the beginning of the Weeks of Welcome
Applying (back to top)
Admission Requirements
Freshman Admission Requirements
Freshman Admission Requirements (Home-schooled)
Transfer Admission Requirements
International Admission Requirements
How can I apply?
1) Complete the application online and submit it electronically –
Freshman Application
Transfer Application
International Student Application
2) Download a paper application and mail your completed application to the Office of Undergraduate Admission. (Freshman and Transfer Applicants only)
3) Call the Office of Undergraduate Admission at 1-877-CUChicago to request a paper application.
Is there an application fee?
There is no application fee, regardless of how you apply.
Is there an application deadline?
We admit students on a rolling basis. You should be aware; however, that April 1st is our priority financial aid awarding deadline for all new students.
How long will it take until I hear about my acceptance/denial?
Most students with a complete file should find out about their admission decision within two to three weeks of completing their admission file.
The Admission Committee has requested that I submit a letter of recommendation. Do you have a form I can give my instructor?
Click here to download a teacher recommendation form.
What is the university’s policy regarding CLEP, International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) credit?
The CLEP test is generally taken at a community college, and students who score high enough on a certain subject test will be awarded credit from the university towards graduation.
Concordia usually awards credit to students who receive scores of a three or higher on the advanced placement (AP) exam.
Concordia University accepts individual course credit for Higher Level International Baccalaureate courses for test scores of five (5) or above.
Please contact Academic Advising at (708) 209-3256 if you have specific questions about CLEP credit, IB or AP credit.
Do you have an honors program? How do I know if I qualify for the program?
The Honors Program is open to students who have demonstrated exceptional academic and personal abilities. Students who meet each year’s academic criteria for the program will be invited automatically to apply to the program. Submitting an application to the Honors Program does not constitute acceptance into the program. The Director of the Honors Program will review the materials and invite the most qualified students to participate.
Financial Planning (back to top)
What’s this year’s tuition rate?
How many students receive financial aid?
Over 90% of students receive some sort of financial assistance.
What admission scholarships are available?
Scholarships and Grants
Visiting Campus (back to top)
What’s included in the Visit Day Program?
These programs include information about admission to the university and financial assistance, information about the Oak Park-River Forest area, and opportunities to meet faculty, student activities, and athletics representatives.
Can I stay in the residence halls with a student during my visit?
Prospective students may stay in a residence hall with a current student during their visit. We do our best to match prospective students with students sharing the same academic or extra-curricular interests.
How can we schedule a group visit?
Call the Office of Undergraduate Admission at 1-877-CUChicago to schedule a group visit. The options we can offer your group will depend upon the schedule and size of your group.
After Acceptance (back to top)
How do I indicate that I’ve chosen to attend Concordia University?
In your acceptance packet is a tuition deposit. Submitting that form, your letter of intent and your $100 payment, indicates that you have chosen to attend Concordia University. This deposit will be credited to your first semester of tuition at the time of registration and is refundable until May 1st. We ask that students respond to their acceptance by May 1st, which is the National Candidate Reply Deadline. After May 1st, deposits will be accepted only on a space-available basis.
When do I register for classes?
Freshmen
Transfer/Freshmen out of school for three years
Freshmen will register during a Jump Start session occurring the summer before their 1st year. Jump Start is a two-day experience filled with informational sessions, social events, and tasks to get you ready for the fall including:
- Receiving your class schedule
- Setting up your Concordia email address
- Exploring culture and fun in Chicago
- Making new friends
- Having your school ID picture taken
Transfers register during the summer on an individual basis and have a modified Jump Start Program occurring the week prior to the beginning of classes.
Life on Campus (back to top)
How do I secure housing?
Upon acceptance you will receive a packet of information with housing information. Information on our residence halls and housing forms can be found online.
Can I request my roommate?
Every effort will be made to comply with the Student preference for a roommate and Residence Hall choice. You should indicate your roommate preference on the room application.
Can I bring my car?
Students may choose to have a car on campus, however it is not encouraged. Limited parking is available. Overnight parking is limited to designated areas of the parking garage. Students will have to register their cars when they arrive on campus. Parking passes are currently $150 per semester for residents and free for commuters.
Can I bring a computer? Do you have internet access in the rooms?
Yes, each residence hall room has the same number of ports as the number of people staying in the room. Students need a network interface card if they are planning on using the Internet. We also have several computer labs on campus available for student use.
What should I bring to campus?
A suggested list of items you should bring to campus and those not allowed in residence halls can be viewed by clicking here.
Can I get a job on campus?
The Office of Human Resources maintains a list of current student job vacancies on their web page.
What kind of classes will I be taking my first year?
Students will take mostly liberal arts courses and some courses in their areas of academic interest. Their schedules may include math, English, a social science, humanities and natural science courses. All students will be required to participate in The First Year Experience taking a freshman core course entitled Freedom and Responsibility.
What is the First Year Experience?
This core freshman course introduces first-year students to the heightened rigors of college learning in a diverse Christian academic community. Each student entering Concordia from high school is assigned to a section of "Freedom and Responsibility," each taught by a different professor from any one of the liberal arts disciplines.
This interdisciplinary course work will:
- enhance students' confidence in their ability to do college-level academic work
- promote appreciation for a Christian higher education in general, and the values and mission of and history of Concordia in particular
- stimulate active learning through an emphasis on college writing, class discussion and student presentation
What student organizations can I join?
There is “something extra” for everyone!
Artists of Concordia Theatre
Intramural Sports
Musical Organizations
Spectator Newspaper
Student Government
Student Led Campus Ministries
Please refer to the Student Activities webpage for more information.
How safe are the campus and the community in which it lies? What precautions does the university take to make sure the campus is a safe place to reside?
The campus is located in River Forest, a safe, upscale suburban residential community. The River Forest Police Force is easily accessible and Concordia University escort service and emergency phones are located throughout the campus. The campus security is on alert continuously and provides 24 hour assistance at any time.
The neighborhood, known for its excellent grade schools and high school, has a small downtown area complete with bookstores, shopping venues including the ever popular Gap and Old Navy stores, quaint cafes and restaurants, a movie theater and other cultural opportunities. The neighborhood has a safe, small-town feel, and for a change of pace, downtown Chicago's vital business and cultural core is easily accessible via the elevated green line train or by commuter train.
How will I get home during holidays and breaks?
Concordia University is approximately fifteen minutes from O'Hare International Airport and forty-five minutes from Midway Airport, both of which are located in Chicago. The university is also approximately twenty minutes away from Union Station, located in downtown Chicago and served by Amtrak and other major rail carriers.
The Student Association sponsors shuttles to and from Union Station and the airports around holidays and breaks.
Directions to and from Midway and O’Hare airports
Parents (back to top)
My parents want to stay involved. Are there any parents groups/programs dedicated to parents?
Parents are always welcome at Concordia. Family Weekend, scheduled each year in October, is just one opportunity to become better acquainted with the Concordia experience.
We also welcome parental involvement! Parents of Concordia students can register as members of the Concordia University Parents Association and stay connected to their student and campus activities. Besides enjoying member benefits, parents who join will be encouraged to participate in several volunteer opportunities.
Where should my parents stay when they visit me on campus?
A list of nearby accommodations from bed and breakfasts to national hotel chains can be found online. The Oak Park Tourist may also be helpful in choosing a comfortable place to stay.
Outcomes – After Graduation (back to top)
Can I have real world internships at Concordia?
Definitely! Career Services can help you gain experience beyond the classroom. Besides internships, Career Services has a variety of resources for finding your career or professional experience. A listing of recent internship sites can be found in the Concordia Fact Book.
What percentage of Concordia graduates are employed after six months?
The College of Arts and Sciences has a 98% placement rate (attending graduate school or job placement) within six months of graduating from the university. A listing of recent employers of Concordia University graduates can be found in the Concordia Fact Book. Placement for all teachers is consistently high with synodical placement at 100%.
