Concordia University, Irvine

What Concordia University, Irvine does

Concordia University, Irvine is a private, nonprofit Lutheran Christian university founded in 1972 (1976 per company history) as part of the Concordia University System affiliated with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. The university operates from its main campus at 1530 Concordia West in Irvine, California, with a dedicated Spectrum Campus for nursing and health sciences and a hybrid Accelerated BSN (ABSN) site in Rancho Cucamonga. It enrolls approximately 3,522 students (1,508 traditional undergraduates on campus, with the balance in graduate and online programs) and serves roughly 5,000 students on campus and online combined, supported by a 25,000+ alumni network and a faculty where 73.3% hold Ph.D. or terminal degrees at a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

The institution organizes academic delivery across five schools—Christ College (theology), Arts and Sciences, Business and Economics, Education, and Health and Human Sciences—plus the Townsend Institute for counseling and leadership. It offers over 60 undergraduate majors/minors, more than 20 master's programs, two doctoral programs (Ed.D., Ph.D.), and various certificates through on-campus, online, and hybrid modalities via Canvas LMS and the MyCUI student portal. Specialized nursing education (CCNE-accredited ABSN, MSN-FNP) is a flagship vertical, with a reported 98% NCLEX pass rate. Marketing channels include campus visits, information sessions, Common App, social media, athletics (NCAA Division II Golden Eagles), and partnerships with veterans and international student organizations.

The business model is tuition-driven, with 100% of students receiving some form of financial aid and over $58M disbursed annually in federal, state, and institutional assistance. The university is also supported by auxiliary revenue (housing, athletics events, arts programming), gifts, and grant funding, with revenue not publicly disclosed. Distribution is hybrid: direct on-campus enrollment, online self-serve programs at online.cui.edu, and reseller-style channels (Common App, community college articulation agreements, transfer counselors). In 2025, the university cut women's swimming, diving, and tennis teams citing financial pressures and was subsequently ordered by a federal court to reinstate them under Title IX, and it entered a multi-year partnership with the Anaheim Ducks running through 2036-37.

Name

Concordia University, Irvine

Legal name

Concordia University Irvine

Website

https://cui.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Concordia University, Irvine is a private nonprofit Lutheran Christian university in Irvine, California, serving roughly 3,500 students across 60+ undergraduate, graduate, nursing, and online programs, with 100% of students receiving financial aid and a CCNE-accredited nursing vertical.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Irvine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from undergraduate, graduate, and online tuition and fees from approximately 3,522 total students (1,508 undergraduate on campus).
2. Financial Aid: University awards over $58 million annually in federal, state, and institutional financial assistance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Concordia University Irvine is a private Lutheran Christian university that delivers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, certificate, and credential programs across arts and sciences, business, education, health sciences, theology, and counseling. Programs are offered on the main Irvine campus, at the specialized Concordia - Spectrum Campus for nursing and health sciences, online, and in hybrid formats, serving roughly 3,522 students with a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Product overview

Concordia University Irvine is a private Christian university offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services. The university operates a traditional campus-based model with over 60 undergraduate majors/minors and 20+ graduate programs across five academic schools: Christ College (theological studies), School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business and Economics, School of Education, and School of Health & Human Sciences, plus the Townsend Institute. Programs are delivered through on-campus, online, and hybrid formats. Key product lines include undergraduate and graduate degree programs, specialized nursing education (ABSN, MSN-FNP) at the Concordia - Spectrum Campus™, certificate and credential programs, and online bachelor's degrees for working professionals. The MyCUI digital platform serves as the student portal integrated with Canvas LMS, academic records, and university services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Enduring Questions & Ideas Curriculum: Core curriculum program that challenges students to explore life's toughest questions
• Concordia - Spectrum Campus
• Townsend Institute
• Moon International Center
• SSG Matthew Thompson Veterans Resource Center

Products and services

• Undergraduate Programs Over 30 undergraduate majors and numerous minors offered on campus or online for traditional students, covering business, arts, sciences, education, theology, and health sciences.
• Graduate Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% NCLEX pass rate for nursing students
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Anaheim DuckscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2025Official partner of Concordia University Irvine through the 2036-37 season. This partnership aligns the university with a major professional sports organization in the Anaheim/Orange County area, providing visibility and community engagement opportunities.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• National University: Large nonprofit university headquartered in San Diego with extensive online and hybrid programs serving adult learners; competes with CUI's online and graduate segments in California rather than traditional on-campus enrollment.

Direct peers

• Concordia University, Nebraska: Concordia System peer offering faith-based undergraduate and graduate programs; comparable on mission, faculty profile, and small-campus economics.
• Azusa Pacific University: Private Christian university in Southern California with comparable undergraduate/graduate portfolio including nursing and education; competes head-to-head for the same traditional and transfer student segments.
• Westmont College: Private Christian liberal arts institution in Santa Barbara with similar residential, faith-integrated undergraduate experience and comparable student-faculty ratios; competes for faith-seeking California applicants.
• Point Loma Nazarene University: Faith-affiliated (Nazarene) private university in San Diego offering comparable residential undergraduate and graduate programs including nursing; comparable on mission-driven model and small-class teaching focus.
• Vanguard University: Small private Christian university in Southern California (Costa Mesa) with overlapping faith-based undergraduate, graduate, and online programs; directly competes for the same regional applicant pool.
• Biola University: Private, faith-affiliated (Christian) university in Southern California offering undergraduate and graduate programs including nursing; directly competes with CUI for traditional and graduate students in the same Orange County / LA metro.
• Concordia University Wisconsin: Sister institution within the Concordia University System (LCMS); offers similar Lutheran higher education model with on-campus and online programs, providing the most direct peer comparison for cost structure and program mix.
• Concordia University, St. Paul: Another Concordia University System school with comparable Lutheran identity, similar enrollment scale, and significant online program presence; directly comparable on tuition model and adult-learner strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Pepperdine University: Larger, well-resourced faith-affiliated (Churches of Christ) private research university in Malibu with similar faith-based positioning but materially greater scale, endowment, and graduate/professional program breadth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ConcordiaIrvine
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ConcordiaIrvine
• Facebookfacebook.com/51522968494
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/concordia-university-irvine
• Instagraminstagram.com/concordiairvine

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Concordia University, Irvine