Concordia University history

No one knows for sure when Concordians first started playing organized sports, but they were believed to have adopted the Bulldog mascot in honor of Coach Walter Hellwege’s pet bulldog, who accompanied him to games in the 1920s.

1926 Founded as Lutheran Concordia College of Texas, a four-year high school for young men entering ministry

Concordia began offering bachelor’s degrees in 1939, but in many states teachers were not required to have bachelor’s degrees for several more years.

On September 30, 1962, Lutherans from across Michigan gathered on the grounds of the former Earhart estate in Ann Arbor to install the cornerstone of a building that would soon become the centerpiece of a new college.

The Board for Higher Education votes to purchase the site where Concordia University is today on November 2, 1963.

Located in Irvine since 1972, the university will not only oversee its largest collective class, but Concordia will graduate a record number of students in each of the above mentioned programs.

He takes office on April 1, 1973.

Concordia celebrates 35th anniversary (1976). Center for Public Policy established.

In 1977, an association of local Lutheran churches, the Portland Lutheran Association for Christian Education, assumed ownership and management of the high school as Portland Lutheran High School.

In 1978, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod authorized Concordia to become a four-year accredited college that would provide instruction in teacher education, nursing, medical assistant, social work, and engineering.

Twenty fifth anniversary - 1st graduating class (1980). First year graduation is held at UCI's Bren Center.

1982 First class of students to graduate with BA degrees

On August 27, 1989, the Board of Regents approved the move to university status, and Concordia University Wisconsin became the first university among the 10-member Concordia University System.

Christ College Irvine becomes Concordia University Irvine, the tenth campus in the national Concordia University System that was formed by the LCMS in 1992.

In February 1993 the Board of Regents of Christ College Irvine, responding to a decision by the LCMS to incorporate its ten colleges and universities into the Concordia University System (CUS), voted to change the name of Christ College Irvine to Concordia University Irvine.

In 2002, the master's degree in education became Concordia's first program to also be fully online.

In March 2007, Concordia purchased Schlumberger's former campus, the Austin Hill Country Reserve.

On October 26, 2008, Concordia celebrated the opening of the new campus, which enables Concordia to expand and improve the services offered to students and other constituents.

In 2009, Concordia started a program for conferring a bachelor's degree in music.

In 2012 Concordia opened a School of Law in Boise, Idaho, which offers a Juris Doctor Degree and an innovative 3+3 program which allows undergraduate students to earn both a bachelor’s degree and law degree in just six years.

In July 2013, a strategic partnership between CUAA and Concordia University Wisconsin became official.

Commencement activities begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2014 with the Baccalaureate Service at Concordia University Center for Worship and Performing Arts.

The Concordia University School of Law was located in Boise, Idaho, and graduated its first class of students in August 2015.

Launched in 2016, Concordia Irvine’s online Master of Healthcare Administration program emphasizes leadership, practical application, and professional development.

Coupled with expanding academic programs and athletic offerings, enrollment reached an all-time high at Concordia University Ann Arbor during the 2017-18 academic year with a total of 1,081 students.

In February 2020, Concordia University's parent entity, the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, reneged on a promise of continued financial support, and the university announced its plan to close after the completion of the spring 2020 semester, with a shut down as of April 25.