Concordia University-Irvine
Irvine, California · Private Nonprofit · 66.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 62/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Concordia University Irvine scores 62 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. The institution is a Lutheran-affiliated private university in Irvine, CA with one exceptional program pulling a fair-value score despite a bifurcated program mix. Registered Nursing (123 graduates, B+, $102,324 year-one) is the dominant financial anchor, producing the strongest first-year earnings of any program at this institution by a wide margin. Below nursing, the program-level outcomes are notably weak: Business Administration (82 graduates, D, $37,660 year-one), Psychology (27 graduates, F, DTE 1.407), Kinesiology (32 graduates, F, DTE 1.101), and Liberal Arts (24 graduates, F, DTE 1.148) account for large cohort volumes with D and F grades. The institutional profile reflects this split: 58.3% completion rate (sub-score 57), 81.1% repayment rate (sub-score 74), 8.4-year payback period (sub-score 72). Net price is $28,115 against $43,480 tuition. Median debt $24,247. Six-year earnings $40,800 with a 10-year median of $65,083. The repayment rate of 81.1% suggests that graduates who do complete manage their debt reasonably well - this is a meaningfully stronger signal than completion alone. The Lutheran Christian mission shapes the campus culture and program mix; the majority of non-nursing students are in programs where near-term financial outcomes are challenging relative to the $28,115 net price.
Concordia University-Irvine
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $43,480/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $43,480/yr |
| Average net price | $28,115/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $112,460 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $65,083 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,247 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $257 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 58.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,536 |
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: $43,480/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $28,115/year, or roughly $112,460 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 $25,431/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $31,967/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,247, which works out to about $257 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($40,800) and comes to 0.59, 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 | $25,431 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $26,012 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,202 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $26,339 |
| $110,001+ | $31,967 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $25,431 per year at Concordia Irvine - only marginally below the $28,115 average. For the lowest-income students, $25k annually against a $43,480 sticker tuition represents modest discounting. Four-year cost at the bottom bracket runs approximately $102,000. For a low-income student choosing Concordia Irvine outside of the nursing program, this price requires explicit financial planning and program-specific earnings expectations. The Pell grant clearly is not offsetting the full cost at this institution.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket dips to $22,202 - the lowest on the income schedule. The 75001-110000 bracket increases to $26,339. At $22-26k annually, the income schedule is modestly lower than the average net price. Middle-income families at any income level are paying a substantial fraction of the $43,480 sticker tuition.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $31,967 - meaningfully above the average net price, indicating limited aid for the highest-income families. Four-year cost approaches $128,000. At $32k annually, the financial case depends entirely on the nursing program.
Earnings by Major
Top 7 most popular majors at Concordia University-Irvine with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $105,657 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $68,635 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $59,648 | F |
| Psychology | $49,593 | F |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $51,206 | F |
| Behavioral Sciences | $46,098 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $56,388 | 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 (123 graduates) is Concordia Irvine's defining financial program: $102,324 year-one, $105,657 at year four, B+ grade, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.298 against $30,500 median debt. Monthly payments on $30,500 run roughly $323. This is a 3.8% monthly income burden. Nursing graduates at Concordia Irvine enter a high-wage regional healthcare market.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (82 graduates, D grade) earns $37,660 year-one and $68,635 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.712 against $26,822 median debt. Monthly payments on $26,822 run roughly $284. Against $37,660 year-one earnings, this is a 9% monthly burden. The four-year jump to $69k is meaningful for students who build business careers in the Southern California market, but the initial years are financially strained.
Psychology
Psychology (27 graduates) earns an F ROI grade under our methodology: $17,772 year-one, $49,593 at year four, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.407 against $25,000 median debt. Monthly payments of roughly $265 represent approximately 18% of $17,772 annual gross income. This is the most financially distressed program outcome at Concordia Irvine. Psychology graduates who do not pursue graduate education face severe near-term financial pressure. The four-year figure of $50k reflects recovery - likely through graduate school completion or career redirection - but the early years are extremely difficult.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 78.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 81.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 77.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Concordia University-Irvine’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 | 66.0% |
| Enrollment | 1,536 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 24.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,069 |
At 66%, Concordia Irvine is moderately selective. No test score ranges are reported in Scorecard. The Lutheran mission means admissions considers faith community fit alongside academic preparation. Students with strong academic preparation and clear goals in nursing have the most straightforward financial case. Students entering psychology, kinesiology, or liberal arts should be explicit about their graduate school or career plans - the F-grade outcomes in these programs reflect a price-to-earnings mismatch that requires active career planning to resolve.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Concordia University Irvine (ROI 62) sits in the Fair Value tier. Concordia Irvine's location and nursing program are significant competitive advantages.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concordia University-Irvine (this school) | 62 | $28,115 | $65,083 |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) | 64 | $29,822 | $67,725 |
| Samford University | 62 | $32,622 | $58,469 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | 62 | $38,729 | $63,998 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion | 62 | $22,866 | $59,986 |
| Cedarville University | 61 | $24,468 | $55,443 |
Who Thrives Here
Concordia Irvine admits 66% of applicants. SAT and ACT ranges are not reported in Scorecard. Students motivated by the faith community and residential experience who are not in the nursing pipeline should carefully evaluate their expected program-level outcomes before committing to $28k in annual net price.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Concordia University-Irvine is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $28,115 a year after aid ($112,460 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $65,083 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.4 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Median debt of $24,247 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $40,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Concordia University-Irvine: Common Questions
Is Concordia University-Irvine worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Concordia University-Irvine is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 62/100 on our ROI scale. At $28,115 a year after aid ($112,460 over four years) against $65,083 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.4 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Concordia University-Irvine 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 $28,115 a year, or roughly $112,460 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 University-Irvine graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $65,083 ten years after enrolling, roughly $23,283 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 University-Irvine?
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 8.4 years for Concordia University-Irvine. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Concordia University-Irvine graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,247, against average earnings of $40,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Concordia University-Irvine?
The six-year graduation rate is 58.3%. 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.
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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.