Concordia University Chicago vs. IU East

Should I go to Concordia University Chicago or Indiana University East? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Concordia University Chicago or IU East is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Concordia University Chicago vs. Indiana University East comparison
Concordia University Chicago Indiana University East College 3 College 4
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Overview

 Concordia University Chicago IU East
Location River Forest, IL Richmond, IN
Setting Large Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 5,354 3,039
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #706 #855
Religious Affiliation Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cuchicago.edu iue.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Concordia University Chicago IU East
Tuition (In State) $33,944 $7,274
Tuition (Out of State) $33,944 $20,634
Room & Board $10,762 $9,412
Avg Net Price $18,832 $8,837
Avg Grant Aid $25,141 $7,874
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 93%

Admission

 Concordia University Chicago IU East
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,296 1,586
Admitted 3,997 1,230
Acceptance Rate 93% 77.6%
Enrolled % 6.7% 28.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.18 3.41
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 18/26
SAT Range 990/1180 960/1200
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 18, 2025

Academics

 Concordia University Chicago IU East
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (34%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Business (32%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Human Services (7%)

Outcomes

 Concordia University Chicago IU East
Graduation Rate 60% 19%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,300 $32,900
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 40%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,951 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $257 $211

Diversity

 Concordia University Chicago IU East
% Men 35% 35%
% Women 65% 65%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 54% 87%
% Black 13% 4%
% Hispanic 26% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 Concordia University Chicago IU East
% In-State 62% 74%
% Out-of-State 38% 25%

Campus

 Concordia University Chicago IU East
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Concordia University Chicago is larger than than IU East based on total student enrollment (5,354 students vs. 3,039 students)

Concordia University Chicago vs. IU East Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Concordia University Chicago or IU East?

  • Concordia University Chicago is 366.6% more expensive to attend than IU East for in-state tuition ($33,944.00 vs. $7,274.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 64.5% higher at Concordia University Chicago than Indiana University East ($33,944.00 vs. $20,634.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University East than Concordia University Chicago ($8,837 vs. $18,832)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University East are 14.3% lower than costs at Concordia University Chicago ($9,412 vs. $10,762)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Concordia University Chicago than Indiana University East (100% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Concordia University Chicago students is 219.3% larger than aid received Indiana University East ($25,141 vs. $7,874)

Concordia University Chicago vs. IU East Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Concordia University Chicago or IU East? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between IU East or Concordia University Chicago .

  • The average SAT score at Concordia University Chicago (1047) is 86 points higher than at IU East (961)
  • Incoming Concordia University Chicago students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at IU East (21)
  • Accepted freshman IU East 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%) than IU East (77.6%)

Concordia University Chicago vs. IU East Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Concordia University Chicago or IU East? 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 IU East and Concordia University Chicago.

  • The graduation rate at Concordia University Chicago is higher than Indiana University East (60% vs. 19%)
  • Graduates from Concordia University Chicago earn on average $9,400 more per year than IU East graduates after ten years. ($42,300 vs. $32,900)
  • Indiana University East students graduate with a $4,451 lower median federal student loan debt than Concordia University Chicago graduates. ($20,500 vs. $24,951)
  • IU East graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than Concordia University Chicago graduates. ($211 vs. $257)
  • More Concordia University Chicago graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU East students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 40%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/