Founded in 1893, Concordia University, St. Paul is a comprehensive Lutheran university offering a full range of graduate and undergraduate liberal arts degrees in an environment that encourages students to challenge themselves, get involved and explore their interests.  Concordia University offers a technology-rich campus that includes an extensive “virtual” library, laptop computers for all full-time students and access to Concordia’s online resources anytime, anywhere.  Concordia is a respected leader in higher education, particularly for its education, business, fine arts and church professional programs.  With a student-faculty ratio of 17 to 1, small class sizes give students more individualized attention from their professors.  In addition, Concordia’s urban setting offers students countless opportunities for cultural enrichment, internships and community service.

Home to the Golden Bears, Concordia is the only private university in Minnesota competing in the NCAA Division II, making it possible to offer athletic scholarships and opportunities for student-athletes to shine.  Concordia also offers a dynamic community of faith with an array of Christian clubs, activities and events.  Opportunities for spiritual enrichment are an integral part of campus life and include numerous Christian organizations, daily chapel, weekly Bible studies, service events and outreach activities and events.

Notable Facts

• Concordia University, St. Paul is the only institution in the Concordia University System to offer the Director of Christian Outreach (DCO) program.  Concordia is home to the Oswald Hoffman School of Christian Outreach, a center for evangelism and mission studies, where students can embark on a rigorous program of study that prepares them for professional outreach ministries.
• Concordia University is the only private university in Minnesota affiliated with NCAA Division II.  With membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), Concordia is able to offer student-athletes athletic scholarships and a competitive conference that makes the most of their skills.
• Concordia University is a unique partner in teacher education, offering the state-funded Southeast Asian Teacher (SEAT) Licensure Program.  The SEAT program helps students of color working as educational and teaching assistants in Minnesota school districts to obtain their elementary school teaching licenses.  Concordia also is home to the recently founded Center for Hmong Studies, making the university a scholarly resource for a vibrant and growing Hmong community.
• Concordia University is one of just a handful of Minnesota universities to offer laptop computers to all its full-time students, putting the university’s online resources at the fingertips of students 24 hours a day.

Faculty Facts

Concordia’s full-time faculty includes 70 tenure track faculty, 30 term faculty and five grant-funded faculty positions.  Three quarters of all Concordia’s tenure track faculty are full professor (31) or associate professor (18), and 84 percent has a terminal degree in their discipline.  More than half of the faculty (57 percent) has been granted tenure and more than 25 percent of that group has been tenured for 15 years or more.  Eighty-seven percent of tenure track faculties are Lutheran, 76 percent are members of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) and 43 percent are rostered by the LCMS.

Third Party Endorsements

For the third year in a row, U.S. News and World Report ranked the Concordia University System schools in its annual Best Colleges issue, giving Concordia University, St. Paul a second tier ranking for its region.  Six of the Concordia University System institutions were included in the rankings under “Best of the Universities-Masters” and “Best Comprehensive Colleges.”