M-State-Concordia College Affordability Pathway
Your path from M State to Concordia
A bachelor's degree at Concordia College can be more affordable than you think.
Through the pilot M State-Concordia College Affordability Pathway, eligible Minnesota State Community and Technical College (M State) students who attended Blue & Gold Scholars Program High Schools can transfer to Concordia College and pay no more than $5,000 per year in tuition — for up to five semesters.
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The program is designed to make the transition from an M State associate degree to a Concordia bachelor’s degree more seamless, affordable, and achievable.
Here's how it works
- Start at M State. Complete a two-year Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) degree.
- Stay on track. Graduate from M State with at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA.
- Transfer to Concordia. Apply and be admitted to Concordia College during your final semester at M State.
- Get substantial tuition support. Eligible students will pay no more than $2,500 per semester in tuition at Concordia, for up to five semesters.
- Earn your bachelor’s degree. With careful planning and advising, students can complete a bachelor’s degree in as few as two additional years.
The Affordability Pathway is open to eligible M State students who:
- Graduated from a designated Blue & Gold Scholars Program high school;
- Complete an M State A.A. or A.S. degree;
- Earn at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA;
- Are admitted to Concordia College;
- Complete the FAFSA each year; and
- Enroll in at least 15 credits per semester at Concordia while maintaining satisfactory academic progress.
The Affordability Pathway is open to eligible M State students who:
- Graduated from a designated Blue & Gold Scholars Program high school;
- Complete an M State A.A. or A.S. degree;
- Earn at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA;
- Are admitted to Concordia College;
- Complete the FAFSA each year; and
- Enroll in at least 15 credits per semester at Concordia while maintaining satisfactory academic progress.
Your future can start here
M State and Concordia are working together to create clear transfer pathways and coordinated advising so students can make the most of their credits and stay on pace toward a bachelor’s degree.
Existing transfer pathways between M State and Concordia include psychology, biology, and business, with additional pathways under consideration. However, students from any academic area at M State may apply for the Affordability Pathway.
Your future can start here
M State and Concordia are working together to create clear transfer pathways and coordinated advising so students can make the most of their credits and stay on pace toward a bachelor’s degree.
Existing transfer pathways between M State and Concordia include psychology, biology, and business, with additional pathways under consideration. However, students from any academic area at M State may apply for the Affordability Pathway.
Ready to explore your path to Concordia?
Students can indicate their interest (link) as early as their first year at M State and work with M State and Concordia to plan for a successful transfer.
Application deadlines for Concordia:
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February 15 for fall enrollment
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October 15 for spring enrollment
The Concordia–M State Affordability Pathway is a two-year pilot program. Admission and financial aid decisions are made by Concordia College. Program participation is subject to eligibility requirements, available spaces, and applicable financial aid policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Concordia–M State Affordability Pathway is a partnership between Concordia College and Minnesota State Community and Technical College (M State) designed to make completing a bachelor’s degree at Concordia more affordable for eligible M State graduates who attended Blue & Gold Scholars Program High Schools.
Qualified students can receive financial assistance that limits their Concordia tuition cost to no more than $5,000 per academic year, for up to five semesters.
Eligible students will pay no more than $2,500 per semester, or $5,000 per academic year, in standard undergraduate tuition at Concordia.
The remaining Concordia tuition costs will be covered through a combination of federal, state, and Concordia gift assistance.
The pathway does not cover housing, food, books, program fees, other fees, summer tuition, study away, or part-time tuition.
Students must meet all of the program's basic eligibility requirements:
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Be enrolled at M State and have graduated from a designated Blue & Gold Scholars Program high school.
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Complete a two-year A.A. or A.S. degree at M State.
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Graduate from M State with a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA.
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Apply for and be admitted to Concordia College.
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Submit the FAFSA each year
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Enroll in at least 15 credits per term at Concordia.
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Maintain satisfactory academic progress and meet applicable financial aid requirements.
Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee a spot in the program; the pilot is limited to 10 students per academic year.
The program is designed for students who graduated from a designated Blue & Gold Scholars Program high school and subsequently enroll at M State. Students should confirm whether their high school is included among the designated schools.
As early as possible. Students can indicate their interest (link) during the fall semester of their first year at M State.
Starting early allows students, M State advisors, and Concordia to work together on course selection and transfer planning.
Students should apply to Concordia during their final semester at M State and before completing their associate degree.
The application deadlines are:
- February 15 for fall enrollment
- October 15 for spring enrollment
No. Students must apply and be admitted to Concordia College. Final admission and financial aid decisions remain at the discretion of Concordia.
The pilot program is limited to 10 students per academic year.
If the number of qualified applicants exceeds the available spaces, Concordia may maintain a waitlist. We will review demand and program capacity annually and may consider expanding the program.
Yes. The Affordability Pathway award can be renewed for up to five total semesters and provided students continue to meet the program's requirements.
Students must remain in good academic standing and comply with Concordia's financial aid and satisfactory academic progress policies.
The award applies for up to five fall and spring semesters of standard undergraduate tuition at Concordia.
The goal is for students to complete a bachelor's degree in two additional years at Concordia when possible.
This depends on the student's M State degree, courses completed, Concordia degree requirements, transfer-credit evaluation, course availability, and individual academic progress. Joint advising from M State and Concordia will help students develop an appropriate plan.
M State and Concordia currently recognize transfer pathways in psychology, biology, and business. A history pathway is currently in development.
The institutions are also discussing potential additional pathways, including:
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Political science
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Healthcare administration
Students should work with advisors to determine which M State associate degree and Concordia bachelor's degree combination best fits their goals.
The Affordability Pathway is not designed for Concordia's nursing or Bachelor of Music programs.
Students interested in those programs should discuss other transfer and admission options with Concordia.
No. The pathway specifically addresses standard undergraduate tuition during the fall and spring semesters.
It does not cover housing, food, or fees. It also does not apply towards summer tuition, part-time tuition, or study away costs.
Students may be eligible for other forms of financial aid to help with eligible educational expenses.
Yes. Students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year to participate.
Because the Affordability Pathway combines federal, state, and Concordia gift assistance, completing the FAFSA is an important part of the financial aid process.
Financial need may be considered as part of the selection process, along with factors such as academic merit and the number of available spaces. Students from all economic backgrounds will be considered.
The program has a capacity of 10 students per academic year. If qualified applicants exceed the available spaces, Concordia may establish a waitlist. Selection may consider factors including available space, academic merit, and demonstrated financial need.
The pathway requires students to complete a two-year A.A. or A.S. degree at M State, but the Concordia portion of the program requires enrollment in at least 15 credits per term.
The Affordability Pathway itself does not apply to part-time tuition at Concordia.
Yes. M State and Concordia are working together to establish and strengthen transfer pathways so students can make efficient progress toward a bachelor's degree.
The exact credits that apply toward a Concordia degree depend on the student's M State coursework and intended Concordia major. Students should work with advisors before and during the transfer process to develop an individualized academic plan.
Students should still talk with advisors. Concordia and M State are continuing to explore additional transfer pathways, and applicable A.A. and A.S. programs may align with Concordia bachelor's degree offerings even when a formal pathway has not yet been established.
The Affordability Pathway is a cooperative initiative between Concordia College and M State. The institutions collaborate on advising, recruitment, marketing, transfer pathway development, and program evaluation.
The Affordability Pathway is initially a two-year pilot program. Concordia and M State will evaluate participation, student outcomes, demand, recruitment effectiveness, and other factors during the pilot.
The program may be modified, expanded, or have additional transfer pathways added based on those evaluations.
Students interested in the Affordability Pathway should connect with their M State advisor and Alex Skaare, Assistant Director of Transfer Admission at Concordia to discuss eligibility, transfer planning, admission, financial aid, and available degree pathways.
Students can also indicate their interest (link) in the program during their first year at M State.