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Northern Illinois Illinois UIC DePaul EIU IWU Western Illinois University WMU Bradley Southern Illinois University IIT ISU| Concordia University Chicago | Illinois State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Concordia University Chicago | ISU | ||
| Location | River Forest, IL | Normal, IL | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 5,066 | 20,989 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #749 | #501 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cuchicago.edu | illinoisstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Concordia University Chicago | ISU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $35,200 | $12,066 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $35,200 | $24,131 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,140 | $11,584 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,767 | $20,871 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $26,680 | $11,590 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 96% |
Admission |
Concordia University Chicago | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,607 | 20,884 | ||
| Admitted | 4,301 | 18,589 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 93.4% | 89% | ||
| Enrolled % | 7.6% | 22.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.18 | 3.41 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 22/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 990/1180 | 1010/1230 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Apr 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Concordia University Chicago | ISU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Concordia University Chicago | ISU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 71% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,300 | $49,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 57% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,951 | $22,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $227 |
Diversity |
Concordia University Chicago | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 23% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 50% | 8% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 54% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 13% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 26% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
Concordia University Chicago | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 67% | 96% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 32% | 3% | ||
Campus |
Concordia University Chicago | ISU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Illinois State University is larger than than Concordia University Chicago based on total student enrollment (20,989 students vs. 5,066 students)
Concordia University Chicago vs. ISU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Concordia University Chicago or ISU?
- Concordia University Chicago is 191.7% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($35,200.00 vs. $12,066.00)
- Out of state tuition is 45.9% higher at Concordia University Chicago than Illinois State University ($35,200.00 vs. $24,131.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Concordia University Chicago than ISU ($17,767 vs. $20,871)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Concordia University Chicago are 4% lower than costs at Illinois State University ($11,140 vs. $11,584)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Concordia University Chicago than Illinois State University (100% vs. 96%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Concordia University Chicago students is 130.2% larger than aid received Illinois State University ($26,680 vs. $11,590)
Concordia University Chicago vs. ISU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Concordia University Chicago or ISU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ISU or Concordia University Chicago .
- The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 43 points higher than at Concordia University Chicago (1047)
- Incoming ISU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Concordia University Chicago (23)
- Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Concordia University Chicago (3.18)
- Concordia University Chicago has a higher acceptance rate (93.4%) than ISU (89%)
Concordia University Chicago vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Concordia University Chicago or ISU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between ISU and Concordia University Chicago.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Concordia University Chicago (71% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $6,700 more per year than Concordia University Chicago graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $42,300)
- Illinois State University students graduate with a $2,951 lower median federal student loan debt than Concordia University Chicago graduates. ($22,000 vs. $24,951)
- ISU graduates are paying $30 less per month on federal student loans than Concordia University Chicago graduates. ($227 vs. $257)
- More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Concordia University Chicago students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 57%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/