Concordia University-Nebraska
Seward, Nebraska · Private Nonprofit · 85.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 45/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Concordia University-Nebraska scores 45 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale. Sticker tuition is $40,640, with a net price of $23,965 - leaving a $95,860 estimated four-year cost at sticker. Concordia is a small LCMS Lutheran university in Seward, Nebraska, with 1,283 undergraduates. Its program mix is concentrated in education, theology, and ministry - fields that offer professional and vocational purpose but modest financial returns. Business Administration (38 graduates, $51,159 year-one) is the best financial performer among programs with meaningful volume. Teacher Education programs (C-grade ROI) are the most common vocational path. Theological and Ministerial Studies carries a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.437 and an F-grade ROI - a frank signal about the gap between program cost and ministry earnings.
Concordia University-Nebraska
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $40,640/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $40,640/yr |
| Average net price | $23,965/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $95,860 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $52,415 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,750 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $273 |
| Estimated payback period | 13.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 64.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,283 |
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: $40,640/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $23,965/year, or roughly $95,860 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 $19,107/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,433/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,750, which works out to about $273 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($36,700) and comes to 0.70, 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 | $19,107 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,295 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,442 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $25,401 |
| $110,001+ | $26,433 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students from the 0-30000 bracket pay $19,107 per year - $76,428 over four years. Against $36,700 average earnings, the payback extends well over a decade.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $21,442 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $25,401 per year. Middle-income families paying near the average net price face the institutional 13.5-year payback reality directly. The faith community and mission alignment are real considerations, but families in this bracket should model the financial gap carefully.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $26,433 per year - approximately $105,732 over four years. At full net price for education or ministry programs earning under $50,000 at entry, the financial return is poor. Higher-income families choosing Concordia for mission-fit reasons should do so with clear-eyed awareness of the financial tradeoffs.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at Concordia University-Nebraska with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education | $45,047 | C |
| Business Administration and Management | $60,031 | C+ |
| Biology | $47,419 | D |
| Psychology | $47,074 | C |
| Behavioral Sciences | $48,215 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $48,490 | C |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | $58,162 | F |
| Religious Education | $55,729 | C+ |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $38,865 | 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.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration is Concordia-Nebraska's strongest financial-outcome program at 38 graduates: $51,159 year-one earnings and $60,031 at year four. Median debt $25,250, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.494 (ROI grade C+). The C+ reflects the high debt relative to earnings. Students choosing Concordia for business should ensure their aid package brings net price well below the $23,965 average.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education (48 graduates) earns $43,067 year-one and $45,047 four-year with $27,000 median debt and a 0.627 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade C). Nebraska teacher salaries are modest, and the debt load at Concordia's price makes the financial picture tight.
Theological and Ministerial Studies
Theological and Ministerial Studies (7 graduates) shows $19,316 year-one and $58,162 four-year earnings with $27,750 median debt and a 1.437 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade F). The F-grade reflects a ministry career path where near-term earnings are low - not necessarily that the program lacks quality.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 82.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 83.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 80.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 85.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Concordia University-Nebraska’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 | 85.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,283 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 11.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,919 |
Concordia-Nebraska admits 85.7% of applicants with no standardized test mid-range data reported. The admissions decision is effectively need-blind for most applicants. Students should focus their evaluation on the financial aid package received - specifically how the net price compares to $23,965 average - and whether the Lutheran academic environment aligns with their goals.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Concordia-Nebraska's ROI score is 45.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concordia University-Nebraska (this school) | 45 | $23,965 | $52,415 |
| Clarkson College | 71 | $19,241 | $64,876 |
| Bellevue University | 65 | $17,550 | $61,289 |
| Carlow University | 45 | $20,786 | $51,051 |
| Lakeland University | 44 | $24,212 | $55,961 |
| Mount Vernon Nazarene University | 42 | $22,421 | $49,555 |
Who Thrives Here
Concordia-Nebraska attracts students aligned with LCMS Lutheran faith and practice, and those pursuing education, ministry, or theology careers. Enrollment of 1,283 creates an intimate campus environment. Admission is broadly accessible at 85.7% acceptance. The Pell rate of 11.4% is notably low, suggesting the student body skews middle- and upper-middle-income. Students for whom the religious community and faith-integrated education are primary drivers will find genuine value.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Concordia University-Nebraska is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $23,965 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $52,415 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 13.5 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: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a long payback period.
Median debt of $25,750 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $36,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70. 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 University-Nebraska: Common Questions
Is Concordia University-Nebraska worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Concordia University-Nebraska scores 45/100 on our ROI scale. At $23,965 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $52,415 ten years after entry, so it takes about 13.5 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Concordia University-Nebraska 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 $23,965 a year, or roughly $95,860 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-Nebraska graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $52,415 ten years after enrolling, roughly $10,615 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-Nebraska?
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 13.5 years for Concordia University-Nebraska. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Concordia University-Nebraska graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,750, against average earnings of $36,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70. 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 University-Nebraska?
The six-year graduation rate is 64.9%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (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.