At a glance
Average net price
$26,598
In-state, after aid
6-year graduation rate
51.5%
Admission rate
89%
Undergrad size
5,368
In-state tuition
$34,088
Out-of-state tuition
$34,088
Cost of attendance
$51,889
Median earnings (10y)
$42,195
Admissions
- SAT average
- Not available
- ACT midpoint
- Not available
- Retention
- 66.0%
- Locale
- City
Programs breakdown
11 program areas reported · Heavily focused on humanities & arts (83% of credentials).
- STEM5%
- Business3%
- Humanities & arts83%
- Social sciences0%
- Trades & services9%
- ~3,748 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~504 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- Communication8.0%~429 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~213 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- English3.2%~171 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Business2.6%~137 students/yr · BusinessCompare schools
- ~67 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~38 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Computer science0.6%~33 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~21 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Liberal arts0.2%~9 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
Share of all degrees and certificates awarded in each broad CIP-2 program area (U.S. Department of Education, latest reporting year). Estimated students/yr = share × undergrad size.
Specific majors offered
31 specific majors with reported completions. Earnings shown are median annual earnings 1 year after graduation; debt is median student-loan debt at graduation.
| Major | Credential | Grads | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts. | Bachelor's | 497 | $29,065 | $27,000 |
| Graphic Communications. | Bachelor's | 421 | $22,857 | $25,000 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts. | Bachelor's | 338 | $21,616 | $26,000 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. | Bachelor's | 284 | $20,854 | $26,977 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management. | Bachelor's | 177 | $26,467 | $26,000 |
| Music. | Bachelor's | 99 | $18,502 | $27,000 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. | Bachelor's | 96 | $29,840 | $25,420 |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Bachelor's | 87 | $24,822 | $26,000 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. | Bachelor's | 86 | $19,356 | $27,000 |
| Marketing. | Bachelor's | 80 | $36,175 | $26,250 |
| Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians. | Bachelor's | 68 | $23,934 | $27,000 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. | Bachelor's | 55 | $38,669 | $26,000 |
| Journalism. | Bachelor's | 52 | $30,841 | $26,000 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. | Master's | 51 | $32,614 | — |
| Physics. | Bachelor's | 43 | $54,861 | — |
| American Sign Language. | Bachelor's | 42 | $28,692 | $28,818 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management. | Master's | 36 | $37,418 | — |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor's | 34 | — | — |
| Dance. | Bachelor's | 34 | $20,411 | $27,000 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts. | Master's | 32 | $26,785 | — |
| Music. | Master's | 27 | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. | Bachelor's | 25 | $30,229 | $27,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Master's | 23 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature, General. | Bachelor's | 15 | — | — |
| Computer Programming. | Bachelor's | 13 | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies. | Bachelor's | 11 | $21,894 | — |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Master's | 11 | — | — |
| Business/Corporate Communications. | Master's | 10 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. | Master's | 6 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor's | 5 | $34,500 | $27,000 |
| Movement and Mind-Body Therapies and Education. | Master's | 2 | $42,521 | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study. Earnings cover graduates who received federal financial aid and are working / not enrolled. Cells marked "—" are not reported or were suppressed for privacy.
About Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago is a large institution located in Chicago, Illinois, primarily awarding the bachelor's degree. It enrolls roughly 5,368 undergraduate students in a city setting. The most popular fields of study include Visual & performing arts, Communications tech, Communication.
Cost & tuition
The average net price at Columbia College Chicago — what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships — is $26,598 per year, which is above the national average compared to other U.S. institutions. Published tuition is $34,088 per year before aid. Total cost of attendance, including housing, books, and living expenses, comes to about $51,889 annually.
Graduation & earnings outcomes
The 6-year graduation rate is 51.5%, a above-average completion outcome. 66.0% of first-time students return for a second year, a useful proxy for student satisfaction and academic fit. Ten years after enrolling, the median graduate earns $42,195 per year according to U.S. Department of Education earnings tracking.
Programs & majors
Columbia College Chicago confers degrees and certificates across 11 broad program areas, with the largest concentrations of completions in Visual & performing arts, Communications tech, Communication. Grouped into wider academic categories, the mix is led by humanities & arts (83% of credentials), trades & services (9% of credentials), stem (5% of credentials), which gives a quick read on the school's overall academic profile. Use the programs breakdown below to see every reported area, an estimated number of students per program per year, and links to compare other U.S. colleges in the same field.
Admissions
Columbia College Chicago accepts 89% of applicants, making it open or near-open admission.
Location & campus
Set in Chicago, Illinois (city), Columbia College Chicago draws students from across Illinois and beyond. Prospective students often weigh proximity, cost of living, and local industry demand when choosing between schools in this area.
Frequently asked questions about Columbia College Chicago
Q.How much does Columbia College Chicago cost?
The average net price at Columbia College Chicago is $26,598 per year after grants and scholarships, with total cost of attendance around $51,889.
Q.What is the graduation rate at Columbia College Chicago?
Columbia College Chicago has a 6-year graduation rate of 51.5% according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data.
Q.How hard is it to get into Columbia College Chicago?
Columbia College Chicago admits 89% of applicants, which is considered open or near-open admission.
Q.How much do Columbia College Chicago graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median Columbia College Chicago graduate earns $42,195 per year.
Q.What is tuition at Columbia College Chicago?
Published tuition is $34,088 in-state. Most students pay less than the sticker price after financial aid.
Q.Where is Columbia College Chicago located?
Columbia College Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois (ZIP 60605).
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS, the federal sources colleges are required to report to. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with Columbia College Chicago at their official website.