Concordia University-Wisconsin
Mequon, Wisconsin · Private Nonprofit · 78.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 43/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Concordia University-Wisconsin scores 43 (Below Benchmark) on the CampusROI scale, a result driven by a 13.5-year payback period, $40,400 average 6-year earnings, and an earnings premium of only 14.6% above baseline. The school is a private Lutheran institution in Mequon, Wisconsin, with 2,197 undergraduates and $35,470 tuition. Net price of $36,201 is the critical problem: Concordia's aid program barely reduces the sticker price, meaning students pay close to full tuition regardless of income band - the range runs from $34,991 (lowest income) to $38,595 (highest income). The 68.4% completion rate is respectable. Repayment at 73.0% by year three shows reasonable graduate performance on loans. The program mix tells two stories: Registered Nursing (87 graduates, $72,393 year one, $81,505 year four, B grade) and Allied Health (14 graduates, B grade) are the value anchors. Rehabilitation/Therapeutic Professions (54 graduates, B+ grade) also performs well. Business and education programs show C and D grades, dragged down by the high net price relative to moderate earnings. Biology earns an F grade with a 1.127 debt-to-earnings ratio. The school's $35,470 tuition with minimal aid compression is the core structural problem - health sciences programs justify the price; most other programs do not.
How Concordia University-Wisconsin scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score43/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
Concordia University-Wisconsin
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $35,470/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $35,470/yr |
| Average net price | $36,201/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $144,804 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,075 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,750 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $273 |
| Estimated payback period | 13.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 68.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,197 |
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: $35,470/year, which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $36,201/year, or roughly $144,804 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 $34,991/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $38,595/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 ($40,400) and comes to 0.64, 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 | $34,991 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $31,070 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $32,747 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $36,336 |
| $110,001+ | $38,595 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income students (0-30000) pay $34,991 per year at Concordia - nearly identical to the $35,470 sticker tuition. This means financial aid is essentially nonexistent for the lowest-income families. A four-year cost of $139,964 for students who need the most aid is a serious equity problem.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $32,747 per year, and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $36,336 - actually more than the lowest bracket, an anomaly in the aid schedule. Middle-income families pay essentially full price. The minimal variation across income bands signals that Concordia's aid model is not income-sensitive, which creates affordability risk for families without high assets.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $38,595 per year - the highest net price in the schedule. Over four years, that is $154,380 total cost. Against $40,400 average six-year earnings, the financial case requires either a health sciences credential with high earnings or a very long time horizon. Full-pay enrollment in a non-health program comes to $154,380 over four years.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Concordia University-Wisconsin with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $81,505 | B |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $64,784 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $65,787 | C+ |
| Marketing | $68,606 | C |
| Teacher Education | $45,665 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $55,624 | D |
| Human Resources Management | $79,286 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $63,594 | C+ |
| Biology | $59,231 | F |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $42,923 | 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
Nursing is Concordia's strongest program: 87 graduates, $72,393 year-one earnings, $81,505 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.397 (B grade). Median debt of $28,750 is moderate relative to immediate earnings. In Wisconsin's healthcare labor market, a nursing credential from a regionally known private institution carries placement value. This is the primary ROI justification for Concordia's high net price - nursing graduates recoup the investment within a reasonable timeline.
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment
Allied Health (14 graduates) shows $67,407 year one and $76,617 at year four, with a 0.393 debt-to-earnings ratio (B grade). The small program size limits statistical reliability, but the outcomes are consistent with health sciences at Concordia performing well above the institutional average. Students who complete this program enter a labor market with persistent demand for diagnostic and imaging professionals.
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (54 graduates) reports $64,784 four-year earnings and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.338 (B+ grade), with median debt of $21,875. No year-one earnings are reported, but the four-year figure is strong relative to debt. Physical and occupational therapy roles align with this program; graduates who pursue graduate licensure in PT or OT will add debt but also substantially increase earnings beyond the four-year figure.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (35 graduates) earns $56,347 year one and $65,787 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.490 (C+ grade). These earnings produce a 13.5-year payback at the institutional level.
Human Resources Management
Human Resources Management (22 graduates) earns $58,982 year one and $79,286 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.628 (C grade). The four-year trajectory to $79k is a meaningful improvement, suggesting HR graduates who advance into management roles see real wage growth. The C grade reflects the weight of Concordia's high cost on a moderate-earning program.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 67.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 73.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 59.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 66.7% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Concordia University-Wisconsin’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 | 78.2% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-28 |
| Enrollment | 2,197 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 26.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,256 |
At 78.2%, Concordia admits most applicants. ACT composite range is 22-28; no SAT data is reported. The accessible admissions profile means academic preparation is rarely a barrier.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The Lutheran affiliation draws students with faith alignment, which the Scorecard data does not price.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concordia University-Wisconsin (this school) | 43 | $36,201 | $56,075 |
| Bellin College | 72 | $37,408 | $76,222 |
| Ashland University | 47 | $21,988 | $52,928 |
| University of Mount Union | 44 | $23,280 | $53,217 |
| Barry University | 42 | $22,613 | $55,966 |
| Alverno College | 39 | $22,540 | $53,145 |
Who Thrives Here
Concordia-Wisconsin is a Lutheran university with 2,197 undergraduates in suburban Milwaukee. The 78.2% admission rate and ACT range of 22-28 indicate moderate selectivity. Pell grant rate of 26.7% suggests a mix of economic backgrounds. Students specifically targeting nursing, allied health, or rehabilitation therapy find a credentialed program at a small private campus. Students pursuing business, education, or liberal arts face a less favorable value equation.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Concordia University-Wisconsin scores 43/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $36,201 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $56,075 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 13.5 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What it has going for it: its 68.3% graduation rate. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 (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 $40,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64. 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-Wisconsin: Common Questions
Is Concordia University-Wisconsin worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Concordia University-Wisconsin scores 43/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $36,201 a year after aid against $56,075 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 13.5 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Concordia University-Wisconsin 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 $36,201 a year, or roughly $144,804 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-Wisconsin graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $56,075 ten years after enrolling, roughly $14,275 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-Wisconsin?
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-Wisconsin. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Concordia University-Wisconsin graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,750, against average earnings of $40,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64. 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-Wisconsin?
The six-year graduation rate is 68.3%, 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.