Undergraduate Catalog
Financial Aid Information
Making your education affordable and meeting the cost of a college education is the primary goal of Concordia University. Concordia's comprehensive financial aid program offers assistance to help supplement each family's contribution toward college expenses. While the responsibility for financing university costs rests with students and their families, Concordia assists with this obligation by providing financial aid packages to help meet the needs of its students.
The amount of assistance a student may be eligible for is determined with the help of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This analysis calculates the amount a student's family can provide for University expenses, taking into account such factors as current income, assets, family size, other educational expenses, debts and special considerations.
After a careful study of the information on the FAFSA, the Office of Student Financial Planning determines the family's eligibility for financial assistance. If eligible, a student will receive a combination of scholarships and/or grants, campus employment and educational loans. This combination is called an award package.
All undergraduate students wishing to apply for financial assistance may submit the FAFSA any time after January 1 (but no later than April 1) for the coming school year. All need based federal, state, and institutional aid is awarded based upon the evaluation of the FAFSA. Federal programs are available to students who are permanent residents and citizens of the United States; Illinois residents are eligible for the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) monetary awards. Most states will not allow their grants to be used out-of-state. Therefore, students should check with their school counselors if they are not sure of their state programs.
Lutheran church professional students are asked to apply to their churches and districts for assistance. They also may be eligible for Concordia's Church Professional Grant, which ranges from $500 to $1,500 per year.
Minority students who plan to enter the Lutheran church professional program may be eligible for additional Synodical funds. They must also file for federal and state grants if applicable.
Academic scholarships for returning students, usually ranging from $500 to $1,500, are available on campus. Most are based on academic achievements; some are based on need and/or program.
Students are urged to investigate the possibility of scholarships, grants and loans that might be available to them in their own communities and/or states. Many Lutheran organizations and agencies provide financial assistance for Concordia students. Concordia Mutual Life, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, the Lutheran Laymen's League and the Lutheran Women's Missionary League are some examples of Lutheran groups and businesses which offer scholarships and grant monies/opportunities to students attending Lutheran colleges and universities. Contact congregational/area representatives for further details.
In addition, contact local businesses and civic organizations regarding scholarship and grant programs. Consult the local Chamber of Commerce and the high school guidance office or local community colleges for listings of these resources.
New students may be eligible for merit-based awards, granted upon admission to the University, by the Office of Undergraduate Admission. These awards include the following: Presidential Scholarship, Transfer Honors Scholarship, Alumni Award, Music Scholarship, Presidential Honors Scholarship, and Regents Scholarship. Please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission for specific information.
A recent amendment to the Military Selective Service Act (O.L. 97-252) states that any student required to register with the Selective Service who fails to do so is ineligible for Title IV financial assistance (Pell Grant, SEOG, Perkins Loan, Stafford Loan, and the PLUS Loan).
Student Consumer Information
Comprehensive student financial planning information is available from the University. When an award is made, the recipient also receives an explanation of the award letter. These two publications, in conjunction with the above information, cover the requirements of the federal and state governments in regard to student consumer information.
Veterans and Veterans Dependents
Concordia University is approved for the training of veterans in both undergraduate and graduate programs by the state-approving agency of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Any student who is certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs and determined eligible for the receipt of educational assistance benefits must maintain the University's standards of satisfactory academic progress as listed in this section.
Scholarships and Endowments
Many friends of the University have given gifts to establish named scholarships and endowments to support the student financial aid program at Concordia. Recipients are selected by academic departments, the merit scholarship committee, and the Office of Student Financial Planning. The following scholarships will be awarded for the 2003-2004 academic year.
AAL Federation Endowment |
Doris Kropp Endowment |
Acres for Christ Professional Church Worker Endowment |
Ingrid R. Krueger Endowment |
The Frank and Elsie Allmon Scholarship Endowment |
Raymond E. Krueger Endowment |
Alumni Endowment |
Wilbur Kruse Endowment Scholarship |
Alumni Student Aid Endowment |
Wilfred F. Kruse Science Scholarship Endowment |
Eleanor and Elmer Arnst Library Books Endowment |
Reynold W. Kunz Endowment Fund |
Milton and Elna Bany Scholarship Endowment |
Dr. Charles W. and Jewel L. Laabs Lutheran Teacher Education Scholarship Endowment |
Thomas R. Barckholtz Memorial Grant in Music Endowment |
The James and Karen Laatch Fund for Urban Church Leadership |
Theodore and Lydia Bartell Scholarship Endowment |
Ernest and Adelaide Laetz Church Professional Career Fund |
Charles E. Bartels Endowment |
Lamprecht Memorial |
Fannie Mae Bartman Education Fund |
Richard A. and Ruth M. Lange Endowed Memorial Tuition Scholarship |
Fannie Mae Bartman Library Fund |
Latzke Church Worker Scholarship Endowment |
The Baumann-Roeder Music Scholarship Endowment Fund |
Joseph R. Lee Sr. Scholarship Endowment |
Peter M. Becker Endowment for Urban Ministry |
Link Endowment |
Wm. J. and Shirley (Sievers) Beggs Endowment |
Clara L. List Memorial Scholarship Endowment |
Tom E. Bergmann Endowment |
Edgar W. and Muriel L. Loke Scholarship Fund |
Clarence F. Berndt Memorial Scholarship |
William G. and Ruth Lusthoff Scholarship Endowment |
Wilfried and Olga Bernthal Endowment |
Lutheran Brotherhood Chaplaincy |
Anthony T. Bertram Endowment |
Lutheran Brotherhood Endowment |
Clarence Y. and Georgia Becker Best Scholarship Fund |
Magister Pater Endowment |
John A. Beu Scholarship Endowment |
Edward S. Manka Music Scholarship Endowment Fund |
Robert and Margaret Bielenberg Endowment |
The Edward S. Manka Pillars Press Endowment |
Walter and Marguerite Bloch Scholarship in Church Music |
The Edward S. Manka School of Music Endowment |
The Raymond and Helen Delhotal Music Scholarship Fund |
The Edward S. Manka Early Childhood Learning Center Endowment |
Dr. Rudolph and Xandria Block Endowment |
The Bonnie and Dennis Mann Family Scholarship Fund |
Edward H. and Lydia L. Bonnin Memorial Scholarship Endowment |
E. W. Marquardt Endowment |
Frances M. Braun Endowment Fund |
The George W. Martinek Endowment Scholarship |
Buenger/Harms Scholarship Endowment Fund |
Math Department Scholarship Endowment |
Arthur H. and Grover Busch Endowment for the Kapelle |
Meissler - McGhee Endowment |
George L. Busse Endowment |
The Vi Messerli Lectures in Church Music Fund |
George R. and Ester S. Busse Pre-Seminary Endowment |
Edna M. Messerschmidt Endowment Fund |
Robert and Mary Cade Family Endowment |
Mr. and Mrs. Donald E. Meyer Music Scholarship |
Col. Fritz A. Callies Elementary Education Endowment |
Dr. Albert H. and Elizabeth Miller Memorial Scholarship Endowment |
Chapel Auditorium Endowment |
Elfrieda H. Miller Memorial Scholarship Endowment |
Christopher Center Endowment |
Eugene and Marion Milnikel Financial Aid Fund |
Class of 1944 Endowment |
George and Luella Morgenthaler Endowment |
Class of 1956 Endowment |
Robert C. and Shirley K. Morgenthaler Early Childhood Fund |
Class of 1959 Jehovah-Jireh Church Worker Endowment |
H.F.C. Mueller Endowment |
Class of 1987 Endowment |
The Agnes Muhlenbruch Scholarship Endowment |
1993 Senior Class Endowment |
Nauss Scholarship Endowment Fund |
Community Scholarship for Learning and Leadership |
Walter Olson Scholarship Endowment |
Concordia University Foundation Endowment |
Charles and Martha Opper Endowment |
Chicago Consortium of Colleges and Universities Endowment Fund |
PACE Endowment |
Eleanor M. Corniels Memorial Scholarship Endowment |
PAR Scholarship Endowment |
Czanderna Educational Fund |
Park Reading Center |
Dallas/Fort Worth Concordia Alumni Scholarship Endowment |
Pearsall Scholarship Endowment |
Director of Deaconess Ministry Chair Endowment |
Ella B. Pelz Confessional Lutheran Theology Endowment Fund |
Clarence Decker Endowment |
Pelz Randelmann |
Dombros-Saar Teacher Endowment Scholarship |
Peper/Justian Scholarship Endowment |
Mr. And Mrs. E. C. Durfee Endowment |
Wilbur and Olga Pergande Endowment |
Durr Education Endowment |
Caecilie D. Pieper Scholarship Endowment |
Engel/Nordbrock Endowment Fund |
Elsie Pohl-Redeemer Lutheran Church Endowment |
Thomas Faszholz Basketball Endowment |
The Rev. Frederick H. and Ruth D. Pralle Scholarship Endowment |
Thomas Faszholz Tennis Endowment |
Verna Rahdert Scholarship Endowment |
Sharon Lee Fichtner |
Rahdert Endowment Scholarship |
Frances and Thomas Filine Endowment Fund |
George and Georgetta Rediehs Endowment Fund |
Flolo Electric |
Thomas and Judith Rediehs Endowment |
Ludwig and Wilhemina Flotow Scholarship Grant |
Rev. Edwin W. and Ada H. Reinke Endowment |
Fox Vending Company Endowment |
Lois Reinke Vocal Sacred Music Scholarship Endowment |
Helmut G. and Diane Franke Endowment |
Resurrection Lutheran Church Endowment |
Martin E. Friedrich Scholarship Endowment Fund |
Resurrection Lutheran Church - Hitoshi Shimano Memorial Endowment |
Charles D. Froehlich Scholarship Fund |
John G. Rieck Scholarship Endowment |
William N. and Dona C. Georgeson Endowment Scholarship Fund |
The Dr. James and Prof. Audrey Roberts Scholarship in Psychology |
Roselyn Mary Newman Gieschen Endowment |
Alwin R. Roschke Endowment Fund |
Dr. Thomas Gieschen Choral Scholar Endowment Fund |
The Masters in Church Music Scholarship Fund |
Giordano Family Professional Church Worker Scholarship Endowment |
Fred C. Rutz Ministerial Endowment |
Gnewuch Undergraduate Endowment in Sociology |
The Carl F. Schalk Graduate Scholarship in Church Music Endowment Fund |
Gnewuch Graduate Endowment in Sociology |
Robert H. and Dolores M. Schlesselman Scholarship Fund |
Good Shepherd Redeemer Scholarship Fund |
Schlimpert Endowment |
The John and Connie Graham Music Ministry Fund |
John and Ada Schmidt Music Scholarship |
Dr. Richard E. Graudin Memorial Scholarship Endowment |
Schmidt/Grim Teacher Endowment Scholarship |
Oscar Wilde and Lucile Graupner Endowment |
Fred C. Schmitt Endowment |
Michael J. & Karen L. Greve Church Worker Endowment |
Roy F. and Vera M. Schmitt Scholarship Endowment for Pre-Seminary Students |
Herbert H. Gross Geography Endowment Fund |
Roger Schmohe Memorial Scholarship Endowment |
Theodore E. Guebert Endowment for Full-Time Church Workers |
Shoeller Family Endowment |
Armin P. Gutekunst Endowment |
The Dora Marie Schottman Endowed Scholarship Fund |
David Haberbosch Memorial Scholarship |
John A. Schubert, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund |
Arthur H. Hann Endowment |
Rev. Donald and Mary Schultz Scholarship Fund |
Thelma Estel and Vera Estel Hart Endowment |
Wanda Schultz Lutheran Teacher Scholarship Endowment |
William J. Heffner Trust Endowment |
Robert and Harriet Schwake Endowment |
Norman and Elda Helm Endowment |
Leo H. Sippel Student Aid Endowment Fund |
The Harry J. Helmreich Endowment Scholarship Fund |
St. Andrews Lutheran Church, Park Ridge, Illinois, Teaching Ministry Scholarship |
Ernst L. and Johnnie B. Hennig Music Endowment |
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Mt. Prospect, Lutheran Pastors and Lutheran Teachers Endowment Fund |
Guenther and Norman Bradtmueller Herzog Scholarship |
Mr. and Mrs. Edward P. Staubitz Scholarship Endowment |
Richard Hillert Award in Composition |
Janis Stedman & Mark Stedman Memorial Scholarship |
Marv and Ruth Hoech Scholarship Endowment |
David T. Stein Scholarship in Drama-Communications |
Hohenstein Music Award |
Stellwagen Natural Science Endowment |
Duaine and Lola Hunsberger Financial Aid Fund |
H. Jack Stoffregen Memorial Fund |
Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church of Downers Grove, Illinois/Concordia University, River Forest, Illinois Scholarship |
Walter and Frieda Strefling Endowment |
Indiana Student Aid Endowment |
Deaconess Clara Strehlow Endowment |
F. Samuel and Lydia Janzow Scholarship Endowment |
The Streufert Family Music Student Endowment Fund |
Dr. Steven A. Kaatz Endowment for Elementary Education |
The Chaplain Berthold Streufert Special Education Scholarship |
Kaestner Performing Arts Endowment |
The Student Association Student Scholarship Endowment Fund |
Cecelia Karloski Education Fund |
John and Ingrid Stuhrenberg Endowment |
Dr. & Mrs. Bruce A. Karolus Endowment |
George and Alice C. Thiele Student Scholarship Endowment |
Karpenko Continuing Education Endowment Fund |
Thoelke-Gutbrod Family Endowment |
William E. and Charlotte A. Kaske Scholarship Endowment for Professional Church Work Students |
Thrasher Endowment |
Williams E. and Charlotte A. Kaske Endowment |
H. Edwin and Ruth Trusheim Freshman Music Scholarship Endowment |
Ruth M. Kassner Endowment |
Konow-Trusheim Senior Music Award Endowment |
Dr. Herbert Kern Endowment |
University Consolidated |
Ralph Kettner Scholarship Endowment |
Juanita C. Valko Endowment |
Robert Kickbusch Family Endowment |
Van Hoose Family Endowment |
The Marion and Alfred Klatt Memorial Endowment Fund |
Robert and Lorna Van Hoose Endowment Fund |
The Maurice and Elizabeth Knocke Endowment |
Richard and Joan Vie Endowment Fund |
Koehler Endowment |
Hilda Schueler Vogel Memorial Fund |
Dr. Martin L. Koehneke Endowment |
The Donald Voth Family Endowment |
Jeannette Kolb Music Scholarship |
The Carl Waldschmidt Organ Scholarship Fund |
Edward D, Anna J., and Arlene Ann Koprivnik Endowment |
F. L. Weber Scholarship |
Ronald and Amelia Korbitz Endowment for Education |
Maurice R. Wedell Endowment |
Korthals Family Endowment |
Wiegman Endowment |
William A. Kottmeyer Memorial Scholarship |
Winslow Endowed Mathematics Scholarship |
Kreiss Family Endowment |
Winslow Endowed Computer Science Scholarship |
Dr. and Mrs. Eugene L. Krentz Scholarship Endowment |
Wisconsin Student Aid |
The Rev. & Mrs. Harold Krentz Lutheran Education Fund |
Lyle Yerges Family |
Louis Krenzke Teacher Education Scholarship Endowment |
Zessin Estate Gift |
Rev. Felix and Hildegarde Kretzschmar Endowment for Teacher Education Scholarships |
Dr. and Mrs. R. Allan Zimmer Scholarship Fund |
Zimmerman Endowment Fund for Ministry |
Employment
To assist in meeting their educational costs, students may be given the opportunity to work on campus. Campus jobs are awarded on the basis of need and ability. As a Concordia student, off-campus employment also is a viable option.
Student Loans
The Perkins, Stafford, and Unsubsidized Stafford Loan programs are made available by the state and federal government and administered by the University. Eligibility is determined by the FAFSA. The PLUS loan program, for parents of financially dependent students, also is offered for educational purposes. Many of these loans allow the student to borrow funds at low interest rates and repay them after the student has graduated from his/her intended program.
Satisfactory Progress for Financial Assistance
A student must maintain Satisfactory Progress to have eligibility for Federal Title IV, Illinois or Concordia financial assistance. Other aid also may be affected. A full-time student must complete the minimum standards as outlined below.
Semester |
Req. Min. Hrs. Earned By Term. |
Min. Cum. GPA |
Semester |
Reg. Min. Hrs. Earned. By Term |
Min. Cum. GPA |
1 |
11 |
1.80 |
7 |
11 |
2.00 |
2 |
11 |
1.80 |
8 |
11 |
2.00 |
3 |
11 |
1.90 |
9 |
11 |
2.00 |
4 |
11 |
1.90 |
10 |
11 |
2.00 |
5 |
11 |
2.00 |
11 |
11 |
2.00 |
6 |
11 |
2.00 |
12 |
11 |
2.00 |
The cumulative GPA must correspond with the hours earned.
A full-time student may have a maximum of 12 semesters (six academic years) in which to complete a baccalaureate degree.
A student's enrollment status (full-time, three-quarter-time, or half-time) will be determined at the beginning of each semester and at the census date of each semester. The number of required, completed hours will be pro-rated for less than full-time status.
Courses from which a student has withdrawn during a semester will be counted only for enrollment status, not in hours completed, or GPA.
Pass/DF and Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory courses will be considered as regular courses for enrollment status and hours earned.
A transfer student will be placed at the appropriate point in the time-frame, based upon the number of credit hours accepted from previous institutions.
If a student receives an incomplete in a course and as a result the Satisfactory Progress requirement is not met, but could be if a passing grade is received, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation for the next semester during which financial aid may be received. However, the student must, at the end of the probationary term, meet the applicable Satisfactory Progress standards for that point in the student's program.
If a student fails to meet Satisfactory Progress standards, he/she may receive financial aid for the next semester, at the end of which the standards for that particular point in the student's program must be met. This is a financial aid probationary term. If at the end of the student's probationary term the Satisfactory Progress standards are not met, the student's financial aid eligibility will be terminated. The student will then be classified as making Unsatisfactory Progress for the receipt of financial assistance.
A student who, due to Unsatisfactory Progress, wishes to re-establish financial aid eligibility must have worked at least one semester to bring his or her Satisfactory Progress status up to the appropriate standards, for that point in time, while paying his or her own expenses.
Any student whose Satisfactory Progress status cannot be determined on the basis of the preceding definition will be evaluated on an individual basis.
Unsatisfactory Progress decisions may be appealed in writing if:
- The status is the result of error.
- Mitigating circumstances exist.
- The condition of Satisfactory Progress has been met.
