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Chicago , IL
Columbia College Chicago is a private liberal arts college located in the heart of downtown Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1890, the college has grown into a renowned institution focused on arts, media, and communication education. With a strong emphasis on hands-on learning and creative expression, Columbia College offers over 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in various fields, including fine and performing arts, journalism, cinema arts, creative writing, music, television, and more.
One of the key features that sets Columbia College Chicago apart is its urban location. Situated amidst the vibrant cultural scene of Chicago, students are exposed to endless opportunities for artistic inspiration and professional growth. The college maintains strong relationships with local organizations and industries, providing students with internships, job placements, and networking opportunities. Students can frequently engage with renowned artists, filmmakers, journalists, and other professionals through lectures, workshops, and special events that take place on campus.
Columbia College Chicago prides itself on its diverse and inclusive community, attracting students from all over the world who share a passion for creativity and artistic expression. The college values individuality and encourages students to explore their unique voices and perspectives. With state-of-the-art facilities, modern technology, and experienced faculty who are professionals in their fields, Columbia College Chicago provides students with the necessary tools and support to develop their skills and succeed in their chosen artistic careers.
Columbia College Chicago is a private four-year college located in Chicago, IL and set in an urban environment. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 75%. The freshman retention rate at Columbia College Chicago is 66% and the six-year graduation rate is 52%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is August 1. For transfer students, the application deadline is July 1.
To find out more about what Columbia College Chicago has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
5,422
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$32,272
Tuition
15:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
52%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to improve your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the university's criteria for admission. Here are the most vital facts you have to know about admission policy and requirements at Columbia College Chicago.
In 2025, the school accepted 6,338 new students. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively easy to get into.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.52. This implies that you'll probably need a GPA above the average to secure admission.
Deadlines
The final day for applications to Columbia College Chicago is August 1. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is July 1.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. When creating your list of possible schools to attend, make sure to consider the freshmen retention rate.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Columbia College Chicago was 66%.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 52%.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the perfect choice for you. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by learning more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Columbia College Chicago in 2025 was 5,570.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 37.6% for that year. There was a total of 5,422 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 212 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 416.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 2,019 male and 3,272 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 197 Asian students and 1,004 Afro-American students in 2025. 1,515 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 255 identified with more than one race. The school also had 2 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 13 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 49 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before submitting an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into account. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Columbia College Chicago? Here is what you need to know.
Tuition in 2025 was $32,272 for full-time domestic students. Columbia College Chicago is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 had to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,510.
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to take into consideration is the approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to set aside about $1,900 for books and supplies during their time at Columbia College Chicago.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What do schools typically charge for room and board?
In 2025, room and board cost at Columbia College Chicago amounted to $22,180 a year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 reached $17,346 for one academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 32,272 |
| Room and Board | $ 22,180 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,900 |
| Total Expense | $ 56,352 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial help can be a great deal for many students. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Columbia College Chicago, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 1,333 freshmen. The average financial aid package awarded to students added up to $24,250.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet other eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
4,769 students secured some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Columbia College Chicago is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 4,862. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $17,717,021, and state $17,400,039. The students of Columbia College Chicago received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $70,679,943, and external in the amount of $1,110,059.
$11,189
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
1,127 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 200 full-time freshman. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $14,485,133. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $790,804 USD.
Majors
Faculty
15:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Columbia College Chicago was 15:1: that means 15 students per one teacher. The faculty of this school consists of 615 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 373 men and 242 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Columbia College Chicago: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some details about campus life at Columbia College Chicago.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
This school has 80 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. You have a passion for media and communication? Columbia College Chicago publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Columbia College Chicago, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Columbia College Chicago.
All in all, campus life at Columbia College Chicago is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Columbia College Chicago.
Career Counselling
At Columbia College Chicago, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career.
FAQ
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Columbia College Chicago is located in Chicago, IL.
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Columbia College Chicago offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Columbia College Chicago is 32,272 USD, based on the most recent data.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Columbia College Chicago is 75%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Columbia College Chicago is 66%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.