Concordia has a history of fiscal resourcefulness and prudent expense management. Given the current economic climate, the University has become increasingly concerned about students' and families' ability to access a private college education. For the past three years we have conducted considerable pricing analyses regarding the tuition reduction. We have learned that the combination of what students actually pay for attending college after financial aid (net cost) and the increased demand created by a lower price point should provide Concordia with a realistic and sustainable model. We take seriously living within our means and have taken steps to limit our overhead costs so that we have the fiscal capacity to reduce our tuition price now without sacrificing the quality education Concordia is known for providing.

For many current students who have been receiving robust financial assistance in the form of federal and state need-based grants plus institutional scholarships, the net cost of tuition will stay roughly the same or change only slightly. All current students returning for the 2013-14 academic year will receive a recalculated financial aid package under the parameters of the tuition reset that will be more advantageous to them than the financial aid package they would have received based on the 2012-13 tuition rate with a standard 4% annual increase for 2013-14.

No. Nothing has been cut or eliminated from the educational experience (in and out of the classroom). Concordia has always offered a high-quality education, and retaining that level of strength while reducing our tuition will improve our value equation.

No, the cohort degree completion program and the graduate program have separate pricing that has been based on a low-tuition model since the inception of these two programs. By extending this model to our traditional program as well, we are able to create alignment so traditional students now can benefit financially in the same way cohort and graduate students always have.

For the 2014-15 academic year, any tuition increase deemed necessary will be as nominal as possible.

For the most part, no. Concordia has been actively and purposefully positioning itself to rely on core operating revenues from tuition and auxiliary services. Our new tuition model is based on lowering both the price and the discount, so that most students’ net price—and therefore the university's net revenue—is largely unchanged.

While Concordia’s total enrollment is currently at an all-time high, some modest enrollment growth is expected due to the elimination or reduction of cost barriers that now prevent some students and their families from choosing a private university. We also expect this initiative will help more students persist and graduate sooner because the overall cost to attend a private college will be more manageable. Our strategic goal is to keep the traditional student population at approximately 1,500 to ensure a quality experience in and out of the classroom.

Concordia's vision of building a diverse campus community in the spirit of Christian harmony remains unchanged. Our tuition reset is designed to provide outstanding value to students and families from all income levels.

We believe just the opposite. Concordia's value is being enhanced by the tuition reset—and consequently, its reputation should also be enhanced. The high quality of the educational experience will be retained, but at a lower published price point, thus improving the value equation.

Concordia alumni and friends have always been an important part of helping Concordia students with financial support, and that will not change. One of the university’s strategic priorities is to boost contributions to our endowment which will go a long way toward limiting the amount of future tuition increases. Now, donor dollars designated to scholarships will go farther in covering students’ net cost to attend. That incentive, in addition to college affordability being such a relevant topic in the marketplace and a cause for so many people, gives us confidence that more alumni and friends will contribute to this cause. The initial response from our alumni and friends has been very positive. Every dollar given after the tuition reset now goes 33% farther in maintaining access to opportunities for students at Concordia.