Former names Christ College Irvine Established 1976 Acceptance rate 86.1% (2014) Total enrollment 2,564 (2010) | Type Private Endowment $230 million Undergraduate tuition and fees 30,640 USD (2015) Colors Green, Gold | |
 | ||
Motto Developing Wise, Honorable, and Cultivated Citizens. Affiliation Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Address 1530 Concordia, Irvine, CA 92612, USA Similar California Baptist University, Vanguard University, Azusa Pacific University, Hope International University, Biola University Profiles | ||
Concordia University Irvine (formerly Christ College) is a private Christian university located in Irvine, California, United States. It was established in 1976 in an effort to provide a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod college to serve the Pacific Southwest. Concordia University Irvine has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,918 and its campus size is 70 acres (28 ha). It is one of 10 colleges and universities that are part of the Concordia University System.
Contents
Concordia university irvine campus tour
History
In 1955, Dr. Victor Behnken, then president of the Pacific Southwest District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, proposed the creation of a preparatory college for the Pacific Southwest. In 1962, the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) agreed to build the new school. A search committee commissioned by the district considered 87 sites before commercial and residential real estate developer The Irvine Company offered the present location in Irvine. In 1973, Rev. Dr. Charles Manske accepted the call from the district to be the founding president of Christ College Irvine.
In February 1993, the Board of Regents of Christ College Irvine voted to change the school's name to Concordia University Irvine. At that time, the university became the tenth campus in the national Concordia University System (CUS). In addition to the Concordia University System, the LCMS and its congregations also operate two seminaries, 130 high schools, and more than 900 elementary schools, making it the second largest church-operated school system in the United States.
Academics
The university currently includes five schools: Christ College (Christian seminary), School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Education, and School of Professional Studies; and offers 20 undergraduate majors and 50 specializations, nine graduate programs, four adult bachelor's degree completion programs, and three nursing programs.
Campus
The campus is located 50 miles (80 km) south of Los Angeles, 80 miles (130 km) north of San Diego, and 6 miles (9.7 km) inland from the Pacific Ocean in the city of Irvine. Irvine is a planned community which is rated one of the safest cities of its size in the United States. The campus rests on a 70-acre (28 ha) plateau overlooking Orange County in a private residential community surrounded by wildlife and hiking trails. The offices of the School of Professional Studies - Adult Degree Programs, M.A. International Studies, and the Masters in Coaching and Athletic Administration (MCAA) teams moved to an offsite location in Irvine.
Athletics
Concordia University Irvine athletics teams (mascot: Eagles) are members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA Div. 2). Primarily competing in the Pacific West Conference (PAC West), men’s sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo, and lacrosse; women’s teams include softball, basketball, cross country, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo, lacrosse, and cheer.
The university was previously a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1981-2015. During that time, Concordia University Irvine earned 7 NAIA Team National Championships and 25 NAIA Individual National Championships. In 2015 Concordia University began its candidacy to transition to NCAA Division II; the earliest Concordia can become a full member of the NCAA Division II is the 2017-2018 school year. In addition to the NAIA championships, Concordia University Irvine has won 26 GSAC Regular-Season Championships and 13 GSAC Tournament Championships.
Rankings
In U.S. News & World Report's 2013 rankings of the best colleges in America, Concordia University Irvine is listed as 63rd in the Western region. In 2016, the university earned a ranking of 55 among regional universities in the Western U.S.
In 2015, The Chronicle of Higher Education ranked Concordia University Irvine as one of the fastest growing private nonprofit master's universities in its 2015-2016 edition of Almanac of Higher Education, noting that the university grew over a 10-year period (2003-2013).
Also in 2015, Money agazine included Concordia University Irvine in a list of schools "that provide the best value for your tuition dollar."