Concordia University Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan · Private Nonprofit · 69.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 39/100 · Poor Value
Concordia University Ann Arbor earns an overall ROI score of 39 (Poor Value). The Lutheran-affiliated school in Ann Arbor, MI charges $35,410 tuition with an average net price of $32,811 -- one of the smaller institutional discounts in the private nonprofit sector. Four-year cost runs $131,244. Median earnings are $40,400 six years out and $56,075 at 10 years, with $25,750 median debt and debt-to-earnings of 0.637 -- relatively favorable. Payback runs 12.9 years and repayment is 73% three-year. Completion is 47.6%, the weakest piece of the profile. The institution's nursing and allied health programs pull strong outcomes (B and B+ grades), but the business and education tracks are weaker. The score lands in Poor Value primarily because net price exceeds aid efficiency at most income bands -- families pay close to sticker. Program selection determines whether the price tag is justified.
The data raises concerns about Concordia University Ann Arbor
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score39/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
Concordia University Ann Arbor
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $35,410/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $35,410/yr |
| Average net price | $32,811/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $131,244 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,075 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,750 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $273 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 47.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 702 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Concordia University Ann Arbor is $35,410/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $32,811/year, or roughly $131,244 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $28,829/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $35,139/year.
The median graduate leaves with $25,750 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $273 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $56,075 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.64 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
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 | $28,829 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $30,199 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $32,218 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $32,526 |
| $110,001+ | $35,139 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30K pay $28,829 net -- about $115K total. Limited aid for the lowest-income cohort. Workable only if the student enters a strong-earnings program (nursing, allied health) and completes. Heavy lift relative to Concordia's earnings outcomes.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48K-$110K) pay $32,218-$32,526 net per year -- nearly the same as the highest income bracket. The aid structure is barely progressive. Four-year cost approaches $130K. The donut-hole problem is acute here: too wealthy for major aid, too constrained for sticker.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families over $110K pay $35,139 -- essentially full sticker. At $141K four-year, this is one of the priciest pure-tuition propositions in the state. The Lutheran community fit and proximity to Ann Arbor are the main value levers; financial ROI is not the primary case.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Concordia University Ann Arbor with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $81,505 | B |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $55,624 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $56,188 | C |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $49,446 | D |
| Psychology | $55,486 | C+ |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $42,923 | C |
| Biology | $59,231 | F |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $65,787 | C+ |
| Social Work | $55,600 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $45,665 | C |
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.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing earns a B with 35 graduates per cycle -- Concordia's flagship program. Graduates earn $72,393 one year out and $81,505 at four years against $28,750 median debt. Debt-to-earnings of 0.397 is solid. Michigan has a strong nursing labor market, particularly in the Ann Arbor/Detroit corridor, and Concordia's BSN graduates plug into that pipeline well.
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment earns a B with just 2 graduates. Very small sample, but the outcomes are strong: $67,407 first-year and $76,617 at four years against $26,497 debt -- a 0.393 ratio. The small graduate count means individual outcomes drive the average, so prospective students should validate this is a real program at scale rather than a niche allied-health track.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration earns a C+ with just 6 graduates. Earnings of $56,347 first-year and $65,787 at four years against $27,625 debt produces a 0.49 ratio -- defensible. The small graduate count is the issue: business is typically a large program at private nonprofits and a 6-grad cycle suggests either weak recruitment or significant transfer-out activity.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology earns a D with 13 graduates. First-year earnings of $27,522 against $27,000 debt produces a 0.981 ratio. The four-year earnings jump to $55,624 helps the long-run picture, but early-career debt service against subsistence wages is brutal. Students drawn to athletic training or physical therapy should price-in graduate school plans before enrolling.
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies earns a D with 10 graduates. First-year earnings of $33,484 against $26,000 debt produces a 0.776 ratio. Interdisciplinary tracks at small privates often function as completion-pathway majors for students who could not finish their original major; the financial outcomes reflect that pattern.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 67.9% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 73.0% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 59.4% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 66.7% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 69.3% |
| Enrollment | 702 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 24.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,511 |
Concordia Ann Arbor admits 69.3% of applicants. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported, reflecting test-optional policy. The selectivity is moderate, and the 47.6% completion rate suggests an admissions process that takes academic preparation risks without the support infrastructure to fully bridge them. Well-prepared admits should expect to complete; the lower half of the entering class is more variable.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peers on CampusROI include Adrian College, Albion College, Parker University, Peirce College, and Tennessee Wesleyan University. Adrian and Albion are Michigan private liberal arts peers with similar pricing structures -- both face the same regional headwinds of low population growth and high tuition discounting. Parker University specializes in healthcare and chiropractic. Peirce focuses on adult learners. The strongest comparison points are Adrian and Albion: similar profile, similar ROI challenges, similar verdict.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concordia University Ann Arbor (this school) | 39 | $32,811 | $56,075 |
| Albion College | 65 | $14,301 | $58,799 |
| Adrian College | 39 | $25,368 | $55,504 |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | 39 | $14,836 | $45,989 |
| Parker University | 39 | $29,135 | $42,091 |
| Peirce College | 38 | $12,148 | $50,660 |
Who Thrives Here
Concordia Ann Arbor fits Michigan-area students drawn to Lutheran identity and a small (702-student) campus near Ann Arbor's amenities. Pell rate is 24.1% -- this is a relatively middle-income student body, less Pell-concentrated than many private nonprofits. The strongest fit case is nursing or allied-health entry track; students who plan to use Concordia as a four-year college experience in Ann Arbor at this price should think hard about completion risk and program ROI.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Concordia University Ann Arbor. With a net cost of $32,811 per year and median graduate earnings of only $56,075 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 12.9 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 47.6% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn.
Median debt of $25,750 against $56,075 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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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.