CUC announces church work tuition guarantee

A statue of Martin Luther overlooks blossoming foliage on the campus of Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill., (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

By Cheryl Magness

Concordia University Chicago (CUC), River Forest, Ill., has announced a new guaranteed tuition rate for full-time undergraduate students studying in one of CUC’s professional church work programs. Beginning Fall 2025, eligible students will pay a maximum of $5,000 in tuition and mandatory fees each academic year. The new rate is available to incoming (freshman or transfer) church work students who enroll in one of the following programs:

Classical Lutheran educator

Deaconess

Director of Christian education

Director of parish music

Lutheran teacher education

Pre-seminary

“As a testament to [CUC]’s commitment to supporting church professionals, I am pleased to introduce the Prepared to Serve: Church Professional Guarantee,” said Dr. Russell Dawn, CUC president. “What’s more, this guarantee is not the only way that CUC demonstrates the importance of making a truly Christ-centered university education affordable. In fact, every single one of our undergraduate students receives financial aid. We have also strengthened our commitment to students who are the first generation in their families to attend college; this year, we doubled the annual financial award that these students receive.”

CUC’s commitment to supporting students in professional church work programs comes as Set Apart to Serve (SAS), the church work recruitment initiative of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), enters its sixth year. But as noted by the Rev. Dr. James Baneck, director of SAS and executive director of the LCMS Office of Pastoral Education, what started out in 2019 as an “initiative” has become a Synodwide culture of church work formation and recruitment “that is growing and permeating every family, congregation, school, circuit, district, Concordia university, seminary and entity of [the LCMS]. It is a culture of raising up boys and men to preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ as pastors and of raising up boys, girls, men and women to teach and share God’s Word in other full-time church work vocations.”

The new guaranteed tuition rate includes all CUC institutional scholarships, Illinois MAP grants and federal Pell grants for which a student may be eligible. Students may further reduce their out-of-pocket costs through external scholarships. Students must meet CUC admission requirements and make satisfactory academic progress for the award to be renewed.

The Rev. Dr. Chad Kendall, CUC associate vice-president for Church Relations and Mission, said, “Concordia University Chicago recognizes the great need for church workers in the LCMS and is committed to encouraging and preparing students for a life of service while making such opportunities financially attainable.”

CUC’s goal of a Christ-centered education that is financially achievable for future church professionals is made possible by the generosity of its donors. To learn how you can support the Prepared to Serve: Church Professional Guarantee, contact the CUC Foundation at foundation@cuchicago.edu or call 866-448-3867.

To learn more about the tuition guarantee for church professional programs, visit cuchicago.edu/prepared-to-serve.

Posted March 10, 2025