Concordia University

Diverse Programs at Concordia University

Concordia University appears in our ranking of the 20 Best Online Bachelor’s in Computer Science. Students at Concordia University St. Paul can choose from:

• 76 academic majors
• 25 graduate programs
• programs for adult learners
• doctoral, professional and certificate programs

Forty-eight of the programs are offered online. Concordia’s Adult Learner programs allow working adults to earn a degree while keeping their jobs. These programs are also intended for people who have been out of school for a while. Business degrees at Concordia include:

• accounting programs
• business administration programs
• MBA programs

The MBA programs can be earned with a concentration in:

• Health Care Compliance
• Health Care Management
• Information Technology Management

Communications Studies are offered as a Bachelor of Arts program containing 120 credit-hours. Another popular undergraduate program is the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. The university also offers programs in music with tracks in:

• performance
• theory
• composition
• history of music
• music business

Concordia has 16 education degrees for licensure and endorsement. It also has programs in:

• management
• computer science
• marketing
• nursing
• several pre-professional programs

There are several degrees in English at Concordia. An English major might specialize in:

• Creative Writing
• Journalism
• Literature
• Professional Writing

The BA in English, Professional Writing is a 120-credit-hour program. It  studies the history, structure and word usage of the English language through literature and culture. Another interesting degree that can be earned in a BA or as a Master’s degree is Family Sciences. The undergraduate degree is offered as:

• a traditional Bachelor of Arts
• Adult Learner
• online

The program is for people who want to work with families to help them function more successfully. Two of the courses in the program are:

• Family Systems, Structures and Relationships
• Family Decision-Making and Resource Management

There are several accelerated programs offered online. These allow students to earn an undergraduate and a graduate degree in continuous study. This usually shortens the completion time for both degrees by a year. The university even offers a pre-chiropractic 3+3-degree program. Students in this degree path earn a BA in Chiropractic and a Doctor of Chiropractic.

About Concordia University St Paul

Concordia was founded as Concordia High School in 1893 by the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod. It originally only offered three years of high school courses. It became a junior college in 1921 and achieved university status in 1996. The Concordia Adult Learning Program has been a popular addition to the school offerings. Nearly half of the student body is enrolled in these online programs. There are 4,792 students in the Concordia student body. The student/faculty ratio is 18:1. Most classes have fewer than 20 students. The university also has a church worker program that features degrees like:

• Director of Christian Education
• Director of Parish Music
• Pre-Deacon
• Pre-Seminary

Supporting these programs, Concordia has a church worker association.  It includes:

• outreach opportunities
• support
• small financial stipends to members

The US News and World Report ranks Concordia University SP as #94 of Regional Universities-Midwest. The school’s online bachelor’s programs tie for #81.  Concordia’s online graduate business programs (with the exception of the online MBA) tie for the #87 spot. The MBA programs at Concordia rank as #145.

Concordia University SP Accreditation Details

The University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. There are also partnerships and approving bodies that oversee the school. Additionally, Concordia SP has several special accreditations for programs and departments. These include:

•  Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
•  National Council on Family Relations (NCFR)
•  Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
•  Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
•  Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)

Concordia University St. Paul Application Requirements

All students applying to Concordia University should do so electronically. The first step is to create an account. The school will use this to communicate with the student. Undergraduate students must arrange for their high schools to submit their official transcripts to the university. Testing agencies should submit the official SAT or ACT scores as well. The online application for admissions features an admissions essay question that applicants must answer in at least 500 words. There is a $30 non-refundable application fee. Those applying as graduate students must arrange to submit their official baccalaureate degrees. Their completed online application must include a resume and a personal statement of at least 900 words answering a specified question. There is a $50 non-refundable application fee.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Undergraduate tuition at Concordia University SP for full-time students is $22,800 per year. Additionally, room and board averages $9,000. Tuition for students who study part-time averages $420 per credit-hour. There are also optional fees and personal expenses for which students should budget. Graduate students pay per-credit-hour as well. These charges average between $395 and $625 per credit, depending upon the program. For instance, the MBA, Cyber Security program courses are $625 per credit-hour except for the five-course cyber-security concentration. This is $1,100 for the block. Studying at any university is expensive. Most students will need financial assistance to pay their student bills. The first step toward getting help is completing the FAFSA form. FAFSA stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance. The program awards:

• grants
• subsidized and unsubsidized student loans
• parent loans
• work-study opportunities

Most students will qualify for some form of assistance. Additionally, Minnesota sponsors several grants for higher education. Some of these are:

• the Minnesota State Grant
• the Student Educational Loan Fund
• the Minnesota Indian Scholarship

Concordia has some funding for student assistance. These come in the form of:

• athletics scholarships
• merit scholarships
• Lutheran Heritage Scholarships
• Church Assurance Grants

The university also has funds for students in church vocation degree programs. Private citizens fund scholarships available at this school. So do charitable organizations and some corporate entities. These can be located through online scholarship searches. Students who exhaust all sources of “free money” and still have a debt should consider taking out student loans. There are some available through the federal government. Commercial banks and lending organizations offer them as well. These are lower-interest loans that give students the option of deferring repayment until after graduation. Work-study jobs schedule work hours around class times and also are great additions to resumes. Part-time jobs also look good on resumes. Advisors at Concordia University can help students decide how to meet their debts and how and when to apply for funds.

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