Concordia University, St. Paul Resets Tuition to 2006 Levels
News related to:Concordia University, St. Paul · 2 min read
Concordia University, St. Paul, a private Lutheran university in Saint Paul, Minnesota, has announced a significant change to its tuition structure for the upcoming 2027-28 academic year. The university will reduce tuition by $5,500, bringing the traditional undergraduate tuition down to $21,700. This reduction marks the second time the university has lowered tuition in a decade, following its initial reset in 2013.
The new tuition rate will match the 2006 rate, adjusting for inflation, which means a Concordia education in 2027-28 will ultimately cost approximately 40% less than it did at the same point in 2006. This move is intended to make higher education more accessible and affordable for students, addressing concerns about the rising cost of college.
According to Brian Friedrich, President of Concordia University, St. Paul, "Resetting our tuition for the second time opens the door for more students to access higher education. CSP has long championed initiatives that keep students first, and today is another step in that journey. Affordability is the number one issue confronting students and families as they consider whether or not to pursue a college degree."
The tuition reset is part of Concordia's broader strategy to make higher education more affordable and value-driven. The university has seen significant growth in enrollment, increasing by 87% since its first tuition reset in 2013. Today, Concordia serves more than 7,000 unique learners annually and stands as Minnesota's second-largest private university and the nation's largest Lutheran university.
Dr. Eric LaMott, Provost and Chief Operating Officer, explained, "Students invest in their education expecting a return, and our job is to protect that investment on both ends. We lower the price through operational and financial discipline, and we back it with degrees built for careers. Concordia graduates reach a 98% career outcomes rate within nine months and earn 13% above the national median. The strength of our model is what lets us bring that value to more students."
The university has expanded its footprint through Concordia Global, offering career-focused, flexible undergraduate and graduate programs from three national locations in St. Paul, Portland, and Denver, as well as fully online. This growth, coupled with fiscal responsibility, has allowed Concordia to address and reverse rising tuition costs without sacrificing value.
Concordia's academic breadth spans more than 100 accredited programs, from bachelor's through doctorate, including Minnesota's first accredited 90-credit, three-year bachelor's degrees. The university is also known for its strong social mobility and leading role in providing Pell-eligible private education, making it the lowest-cost private university in Minnesota.
The move to reset tuition reflects a broader trend of rising college costs across the country. According to a 2025 Strada Education Foundation study, 77% of Americans believe college is unaffordable, largely because sticker prices have become disconnected from what students actually pay. Concordia addresses this directly by publishing a price close to what families will pay, showing them plainly what a degree costs.
The university believes that a Christ-centered Lutheran education changes the lives of its students and their families, and that wherever graduates go, they touch the lives of countless people within their workplaces and communities, leading with knowledge, integrity, wisdom, and compassion.