Our History
On Firm Foundation GroundedConcordia College was dedicated Oct. 31, 1891, only 10 years after the first Norwegian settlers had made their home in the Red River Valley. These settlers valued education and their religious heritage, and one of their first priorities was to establish a quality school.
Concordia opened with 12 students, three instructors and courses in English literature, natural sciences, mathematics, and piano. Enrollment steadily increased, reaching 60 students by the end of the first semester and 200 one year later. Academic programs were quickly added as well, including religion, business, Norwegian, voice, geography and history. Twenty-one students graduated June 7, 1893, during the college's first Commencement.
Becoming a College
As the country and the Norwegian settlement matured, so did the college. The necessity for adding regular liberal arts courses on the college level to those offered on the academy level was soon apparent. A complete college department was organized in 1913.
Today, more than 2,800 students from 39 states and 37 countries representing 52 religions and denominations attend Concordia, including 117 international students. The college employs 203 full-time faculty and offers 78 majors, including 18 honors majors, and 12 preprofessional programs.
Music Tradition
Concordia's national and international reputation for outstanding music is built on a longstanding history of music classes, lessons, ensembles and concerts. Since its beginning, the college has placed an emphasis on the importance of music, beginning first with piano, organ and voice lessons, then expanding to band in 1900 (an ensemble that would eventually grow into The Concordia College Band), choir in the 1920s and finally an established orchestra in 1968. Today, the college maintains 17 music organizations, including five choirs, two bands, two orchestras, two handbell choirs, four jazz ensembles, a marimba choir and percussion ensemble.
In 1927, Concordia held its first Christmas Concert, now an important tradition and a popular seasonal event attended by more than 20,000 people in Moorhead and Minneapolis, and enjoyed by thousands more on television and radio. What started as a small concert held in the college's campus now involves more than 420 students in five voice choirs and a symphony orchestra each December.
Read the history of the Concordia Christmas Concerts.
Who are the Cobbers?
Swedish students at Hope Academy, another institution in Moorhead at the time, developed a taunting cheer - in mock Norwegian - about Concordia students during the early years, playing off of Concordia's location near fields of corn:
"Corncobs! Corncobs!
Hva' ska' di ha? (What will they have?)
Lutefisk og lefse! (Lutefisk and Lefse)
Ya! Ya! Ya!" (Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!)
"Corncobs" gradually became "Corncobbers" and then "Cobbers" as Concordia students decided to embrace, rather than avoid, the term. Today, students and alumni are proud to call themselves Cobbers.
Lutheran Connection
Concordia College has always maintained a strong relationship with Lutheran congregations in the Upper Plains area. It is owned and operated by the congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in northern Minnesota, North Dakota and Montana. The ELCA Division for Education supervises the college and grants a yearly appropriation toward its support.
Concordia maintains its ties to local churches and the ELCA through:
- Campus Ministry - encourages the Concordia community to root itself in the gospel of Christ through chapel, communion, Bible study, music, prayer and service
- CHARIS Ecumenical Center - provides continuing education opportunities for lay leaders and clergy
- Church Relations - nurtures and supports the ministry of regional congregations, while strengthening the relationships between the college and those churches
- Dovre Center for Faith and Learning - assists Concordia faculty with connecting their faith to their work and the college identity
- Parish Nursing Center - offers education, consultation and support of the parish nurse ministry within congregations.
