Concordia University Chicago vs. VCM

Should I go to Concordia University Chicago or VanderCook College of Music? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Concordia University Chicago or VCM 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. VanderCook College of Music comparison
Concordia University Chicago VanderCook College of Music College 3 College 4
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Overview

 Concordia University Chicago VCM
Location River Forest, IL Chicago, IL
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 5,354 263
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #706
Religious Affiliation Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cuchicago.edu vandercook.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Concordia University Chicago VCM
Tuition (In State) $33,944 $27,670
Tuition (Out of State) $33,944 $27,670
Room & Board $10,762 $7,500
Avg Net Price $18,832 $12,436
Avg Grant Aid $25,141 $27,884
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 Concordia University Chicago VCM
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,296 22
Admitted 3,997 22
Acceptance Rate 93% 100%
Enrolled % 6.7% 50%
Avg High School GPA 3.18 3.1
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 15/20
SAT Range 990/1180 890/1160
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, 2025

Academics

 Concordia University Chicago VCM
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 4:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (34%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Education (100%)

Outcomes

 Concordia University Chicago VCM
Graduation Rate 60% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,300 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,951 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $257 $279

Diversity

 Concordia University Chicago VCM
% Men 35% 43%
% Women 65% 57%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 54% 62%
% Black 13% 8%
% Hispanic 26% 21%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 Concordia University Chicago VCM
% In-State 62% 58%
% Out-of-State 38% 42%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Concordia University Chicago is larger than than VCM based on total student enrollment (5,354 students vs. 263 students)

Concordia University Chicago vs. VCM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Concordia University Chicago or VCM?

  • Concordia University Chicago is 22.7% more expensive to attend than VCM for in-state tuition ($33,944.00 vs. $27,670.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 22.7% higher at Concordia University Chicago than VanderCook College of Music ($33,944.00 vs. $27,670.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at VanderCook College of Music than Concordia University Chicago ($12,436 vs. $18,832)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at VanderCook College of Music are 43.5% lower than costs at Concordia University Chicago ($7,500 vs. $10,762)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Concordia University Chicago as VanderCook College of Music (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by VanderCook College of Music students is 10.9% larger than aid received Concordia University Chicago ($27,884 vs. $25,141)

Concordia University Chicago vs. VCM Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at VanderCook College of Music (1107) is 60 points higher than at Concordia University Chicago (1047)
  • Incoming VCM students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Concordia University Chicago (23)
  • Accepted freshman Concordia University Chicago students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.18) than students at VCM (3.1)
  • VCM has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than Concordia University Chicago (93%)

Concordia University Chicago vs. VCM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Concordia University Chicago or VCM? 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 VCM and Concordia University Chicago.

  • The graduation rate at Concordia University Chicago is higher than VanderCook College of Music (60% vs. 45%)
  • Concordia University Chicago students graduate with a $2,049 lower median federal student loan debt than VCM graduates. ($24,951 vs. $27,000)
  • Concordia University Chicago graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than VCM graduates. ($257 vs. $279)
  • More VCM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Concordia University Chicago students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 57%)

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