concordia university wisconsin blackboard

Diverse Accredited Online CUW Degrees at Every Level

Concordia University-Wisconsin appears in our ranking of the 50 Most Affordable Online Colleges with High Graduation Rates.

Ranked the U.S. News & World Report’s 137th best online school, Concordia University-Wisconsin utilizes Blackboard Learn to deliver five associate, 10 bachelor’s, 38 master’s, and four doctoral programs on the Web with a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and Christian worldview. For example, the BS in Diagnostic Medical Sonography follows a 126-credit, CAAHEP-accredited transfer curriculum online with accelerated courses like Pathophysiology that lead to a 93 percent National ARRT exam pass rate. Directed by Dr. Daniel Paavola, the 64-credit AA in Theology studies Biblical doctrines online with opportunities to attend the Apologetics Conference, serve in Belize, or join Organ Club.

Since Fall 2015, the 95-credit Master of Occupational Therapy at Concordia University-Wisconsin has successfully graduated 85 percent of its 167 students in a hybrid format with 24 months of fieldwork, Pi Theta Epsilon membership, and Nicaragua trips for NBCOT certification prep. Chaired by Dr. James Pingel, the EdD in Leadership for Innovation & Continuous Improvement builds a 60-credit, CAEP-accredited sequence online with eight-week courses like Lean Systems Analysis plus two four-day Mequon residencies for dissertation advising. Other online options include the AA in Criminal Justice, BA in Business, BA in Radiologic Technology, Master of Product Development, MS in Family Life, MBA in Public Relations, MSEd in Early Childhood, and Doctor of Nursing Practice.

About Concordia University-Wisconsin

Concordia University-Wisconsin originated in 1881 when the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church on 31st Street started Concordia College in its basement for only 13 pupils. In 1883, it built an independent Milwaukee campus on State Street for men’s pastoral training. Eight decades later, Concordia switched from two-year theology programs to four-year liberal arts education. By September 1964, women were being admitted and the school’s accreditation candidacy was approved. In 1982, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod relocated Concordia to its current 200-acre Ozaukee County campus on Lake Michigan. The next year, its former site 15 miles south was sold to Potawatomi Hotel. On August 27, 1989, it was renamed Concordia University-Wisconsin by the 10-site system. In 2012, CUW grew further by merging with Concordia University-Ann Arbor.

Endowed for $69.9 million, Concordia University-Wisconsin now educates 6,179 undergrad and 2,686 post-grad Falcons from 35 countries online or at nine convenient locations with 60+ clubs like Alpha Chi Honor Society. In 2017, CUW’s Environmental & Education Project won the Waterfront Center’s Honor Excellence Award. In 2018, the Online Learning Consortium member earned the Blackboard Catalyst Award for Optimizing Student Experience. The CUW School of Pharmacy received an American School & University Magazine Award in 2014 too. The U.S. News & World Report named Concordia University-Wisconsin the 70th best Midwest college and 62nd top value. On Niche, CUW boasts America’s 49th best physical therapy, 88th top teaching, and 140th best criminal justice degrees. Washington Monthly crowned Concordia Wisconsin the 539th best master’s institution overall.

Concordia University-Wisconsin Accreditation Details

On March 25, 2019, Concordia University-Wisconsin underwent another in-depth evaluation visit from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) to renew the maximum Level VI accreditation through 2028-29 under its eighth president, Rev. Patrick T. Ferry, Ph.D., who was featured in Milwaukee Business Journal’s Power Book. Located 106 miles down Interstate 94 in Chicago, Illinois, this gigantic 19-state Great Lakes Region accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Education Department to evaluate CUW’s all 10 associate, 80 bachelor’s, 44 master’s, and five doctoral offerings. The Accreditation Chart also lists the following degree-specific approvals:

  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
  • Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
  • Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
  • Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
  • Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management
  • Accreditation Review Commission on Education for Physician Assistants
  • Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
  • International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
  • Council on Social Work Education Office of Accreditation
  • National Council on Family Relations
  • Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
  • Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
  • Council on Academic Accreditation in Speech-Language Pathology

Concordia University-Wisconsin Application Requirements

Starting at Concordia University-Wisconsin is classified “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s since only 2,288 of the 3,612 Fall 2017 applicants conquered the 63 percent acceptance rate. First-year Falcons must satisfy 16 prerequisite high school units, including 11 in liberal arts disciplines. Online students are also welcome with the GED or HiSET equivalency. Minimum grade point averages of 2.5 on the four-point scale are mandated. Freshmen must have reached at least an 18 ACT or 940 SAT score after March 2016. Incoming transfers with 30-90 non-remedial credits graded “C” or higher can forgo testing. The BS Completion for Registered Nurses requires an accredited associate degree, GPA above 2.75, and state licensing. The Graduate Admission Office requires a four-year bachelor’s or higher plus 3.0 GPAs. Foreign post-grads need a 79 TOEFL, 6.5 IELTS, or 61 PTE English mark. The Online Doctor of Pharmacy specifically requires a PCAT composite score over 34.

Concordia University-Wisconsin generally has rolling admission lasting until July 21st for Fall, December 22nd for Spring, and May 20th for Summer starts. However, the Flexible MBA has a November 15th deadline for the Spring Orientation. Online PharmD cohorts must apply by September 4th for Early Decision or June 3rd for Regular Decision. The Doctor of Physical Therapy closes on August 15th annually. The MS in Physician Assistant Studies also has a firm March 1st cutoff. Accordingly, sign into the Ellucian portal and complete the Concordia Application online for free with promo USACUW. Mail sealed registrar transcripts to 12800 North Lake Shore Drive in Mequon, WI 53097. For official testing results, select SAT/TOEFL code 1139 or ACT code 4574. Supplemental program materials may include the one-page career goals essay, employment résumé, two signed recommendations, credit transfer evaluations, immunization record, and state certification. Learn more by contacting (262) 243-5700 or [email protected].

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2018-19, Concordia University-Wisconsin charged traditional full-time undergrads $14,590 per term or $29,180 annually. Overload credits above 18 cost $600 apiece. Associate or bachelor’s majors paid the $60 technology fee, $35 health services fee, and $70 internship fee each semester. Residing at the Mequon campus’ dorms like Chemnitz Hall added $10,850 every year. Optional commuter meal plans for Siebert Dining Hall were $1,024 to $1,658 extra. Annual campus attendance equaled $44,850 or $38,100 if commuting. Online undergrad courses generally were $483 per credit. The RN-BSN-MSN Program had a $45,000 total online. Web-based master’s cohorts spent $699 per credit. The Master of Education was an exception at $596 per credit. Online DNP in Executive Leadership students are billed $793 per credit.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Aid in Luther Hall Room 105 helps 77 percent of full-time CUW Falcons fly with median assistance of $11,559 each for $34.24 million combined. Suggested funds include the Academic Hero Scholarship, Friedman & Simon Scholarship, Laborde Law Firm Scholarship, Achieving More Scholarship, Caregiving Scholarship, Grungo Colarulo Service Scholarship, Cyber Forensics Scholarship, Emphasis Diversity in Business Scholarship, Female Church Worker Scholarship, Kush Arora Scholarship, Mike Campbell First-Year Scholarship, and Judith Goldberg Scholarship. The Concordia Grant gifts up to $10,000 annually for undergrads with minimum 3.0 GPAs. Members of LCMS congregations apply for the Church Work Scholarship through March 1st. Completing federal aid applications coded 003842 unlocks Pell Grants, SEOG Grants, Teach Grants, and Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans. The State Higher Education Board also offers the Wisconsin Grant, Talent Incentive Program Grant, Indian Assistance Grant, and Governor’s Dairy Scholarship.

Search through the 57 self-paced, Christ-centered online degrees on the Concordia University-Wisconsin website.