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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.
Located in Chicago, IL and set in an urban environment, Columbia College Chicago is a private four-year college. This institution follows 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. The transfer application deadline is July 1.
Read more about what Columbia College Chicago has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
5,422
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$32,272
Tuition
15:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
52%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you discover as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will significantly improve. Check out some essential data about admission 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. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by August 1. If you are applying as a transfer student, the application deadline is July 1.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. When creating your list of possible schools to attend, make sure to consider the freshmen retention rate.
The freshman retention rate for Columbia College Chicago was 66% in 2025.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It provides valuable insight into the percentage of students who complete their studies within a designated timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 52%.
Student Body
Picking a school that is the best fit for you is not a simple task. You can better understand the culture and life of the school by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution enrolled 5,570 students.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 37.6. There was a total of 5,422 students pursuing undergraduate degrees, including 212 international students. The school reported to have a total of 416 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 2,019 male and 3,272 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to expanding the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 197, while the number of Black American students was 1,004. 1,515 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 255 as multirace. 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 you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Columbia College Chicago.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Columbia College Chicago is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
Tuition in 2025 was $32,272 for full-time domestic students. As this is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $1,510 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to take into consideration is the estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university. The approximate expense of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $1,900.
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 is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Columbia College Chicago was $22,180 in 2025. If you only needed a room on the campus, it cost $17,346 for the 2025 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 aid can be a great deal for a number of students. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Columbia College Chicago, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent records show that 1,333 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $24,250 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
There were 4,769 students who secured need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Columbia College Chicago is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 4,862. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up 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
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
1,127 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this school in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 200 full-time freshman. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants 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. $790,804 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
15:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
In 2025, this ratio at Columbia College Chicago was 15:1. That means that there were 15 times more students than teachers at this school. This school has recently reported to have 615 faculty members. This number included 373 male and 242 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some information 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.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 80. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. For individuals with an interest in 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. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
This school has 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 all you need for a comfortable stay.
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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According to the latest information, you would need to pay about 32,272 USD per academic year for Columbia College Chicago.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Columbia College Chicago is 75%.
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The most recent reported 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.
