Concordia College at Moorhead
Moorhead, Minnesota · Private Nonprofit · 62.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 57/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Concordia College at Moorhead is a Minnesota Lutheran liberal arts college that scores 57 on the CampusROI framework, landing in Below Average Value tier with several genuinely strong underlying numbers. Tuition is $31,170, net price $24,902, and total 4-year cost is $99,608. Average 6-year earnings come in at $39,700 climbing to a median $59,317 at 10 years, payback period is 9.9 years, and median debt is $26,847. The standout subscore is the 90% three-year repayment rate, a clean signal that Concordia graduates manage their loans well. The 61.1% completion rate is moderate. The drag on the overall score is debt-to-earnings (0.676), even with the strong repayment and reasonable cost stack. Concordia is a credible Midwestern private with a clear nursing and accounting pipeline, a meaningful music and education tradition, and an honest price tag.
Concordia College at Moorhead
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $31,170/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $31,170/yr |
| Average net price | $24,902/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $99,608 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $59,317 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,847 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $285 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 61.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,829 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $31,170/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $24,902/year, or roughly $99,608 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $20,950/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,435/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,847, which works out to about $285 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,700) and comes to 0.68, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $20,950 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,889 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,115 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,045 |
| $110,001+ | $28,435 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $20,950 net, while the $30,001-$48,000 bracket actually pays less at $18,889, a small inverted-bracket flag that likely reflects how Lutheran-affiliated and merit aid stacks for lower-need students with strong academic profiles. Over four years, lowest-income students face about $83,800 of cost, which is high but Pell-plus-federal-loan can cover most of it.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 band pays $20,115 and the $75,001-$110,000 band pays $23,045. The aid curve is well-shaped through middle income, with consistent meaningful discounts. Against $59K of 10-year earnings, the math works for middle-income families willing to accept a 10-year payback for the residential Lutheran liberal arts experience.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $28,435 net, $2,735 below the $31,170 sticker. Concordia does not heavily premium-price high-income families, with relatively small additional cost versus middle income.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Concordia College at Moorhead with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $63,910 | C |
| Biology | $65,025 | D |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $51,840 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $83,452 | B |
| Psychology | $44,399 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $52,248 | C |
| Romance Languages | $53,732 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $59,104 | - |
| Teacher Education | $49,551 | C |
| Accounting | $82,771 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business administration is Concordia's largest program with 80 graduates, posting $48,474 in 1-year earnings and $63,910 at year four. The 0.554 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a C grade against $26,854 of debt. This is a clean Midwestern business program: graduates enter operations, sales, and management roles in regional employers (Microsoft Fargo campus, Sanford Health, US Bank), and $27K of debt against $48K of starting pay is comfortably serviceable.
Biology
Biology graduates 49 students with $30,012 in 1-year earnings and $65,025 at year four. The 0.883 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a D grade. The year-one figure is weak, but the 4-year jump to $65K is the classic pre-health bottleneck pattern: graduates entering medical, dental, PA, or graduate biology programs experience compressed first-year earnings followed by sharp progression. Students should plan for graduate or professional study.
Teacher Education, Subject-Specific
Subject-specific teacher education graduates 36 students with $48,164 in 1-year earnings and $51,840 at year four. The 0.561 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a C grade. The flat earnings curve is consistent with K-12 step-and-lane pay scales: starting pay is strong, and progression follows years of service plus master's-degree credit. Debt of $27K is serviceable.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is Concordia's standout ROI program: 31 graduates, $73,174 in 1-year earnings, $83,452 at year four, and a 0.369 debt-to-earnings ratio earning a B grade. Debt of $27K against starting pay near $73K is comfortably serviced and the Sanford Health and Essentia Health regional pipeline provides direct placement. A clean value case for the nursing pathway.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 28 students with $31,529 in 1-year earnings and $44,399 at year four. The 0.853 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a D grade. The classic psychology paradox holds: undergraduate-only earnings are weak, and the meaningful career payoff requires graduate or licensure work. Students entering this major should plan for further credentialing rather than treating the bachelor's as terminal.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 87.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 90.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 88.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 91.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Concordia College at Moorhead’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 62.6% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 21-26 |
| Enrollment | 1,829 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 19.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,714 |
Concordia admits 62.7% of applicants, a moderately selective posture. SAT mid-ranges are not reported; ACT composites are 21-26, indicating a moderately prepared regional applicant pool. The completion rate is 61.1%. Concordia's admissions strategy emphasizes character and fit alongside academic preparation, consistent with its Lutheran identity.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concordia College at Moorhead (this school) | 57 | $24,902 | $59,317 |
| Vanguard University of Southern California | 61 | $21,241 | $59,541 |
| St. Francis College | 57 | $18,129 | $58,099 |
| The College of Wooster | 56 | $23,458 | $59,629 |
| Augsburg University | 53 | $23,873 | $58,829 |
| Bethany Lutheran College | 35 | $20,148 | $46,110 |
Who Thrives Here
Concordia fits Lutheran and broader Christian Midwestern students seeking a residential liberal arts experience with a strong music and music-education tradition (Concordia Choir is nationally known) plus practical pre-professional pipelines in nursing, accounting, and education. With 1,829 students and a 19.1% Pell rate, the campus is mid-size and middle-class. Strong fits are students targeting clinical nursing, K-12 teaching, finance, accounting, or vocal music. Weaker fits are students seeking research-heavy STEM or selective-college humanities tracks.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Concordia College at Moorhead is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $24,902 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $59,317 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 9.9 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $26,847 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Concordia College at Moorhead: Common Questions
Is Concordia College at Moorhead worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Concordia College at Moorhead scores 57/100 on our ROI scale. At $24,902 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $59,317 ten years after entry, so it takes about 9.9 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Concordia College at Moorhead cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $24,902 a year, or roughly $99,608 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Concordia College at Moorhead graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $59,317 ten years after enrolling, roughly $17,517 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Concordia College at Moorhead?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 9.9 years for Concordia College at Moorhead. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Concordia College at Moorhead graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,847, against average earnings of $39,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Concordia College at Moorhead?
The six-year graduation rate is 61.1%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.