Chicago, Illinois · Private Non-Profit ·City
Columbia College Chicago
At a glance
Basics
- Type
- Private Non-Profit
- Setting
- City
- Enrollment
- 5,368 students
- Women / Men
- 60.4% / 39.6%
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 89.5%
Cost
- Avg net price
- $26,598
- Sticker price
- $51,889
- Tuition (in-state)
- $34,088
- Tuition (out-of-state)
- $34,088
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 51.6%
- Retention rate
- 66%
- Median earnings (10y)
- $42,195
- Median debt
- $25,000 (~$271/mo)
Financial aid
- On Pell grants
- 46%
- Take federal loans
- 55.5%
All majors at Columbia College Chicago
29 programs listed in federal data. Every row opens a school-specific page; listings without a positive program signal stay available for users but out of Google's index.
Cost & ROI
Is Columbia College Chicago worth it?
Pay $26,598/yr after aid. Graduates earn a median of $42,195 ten years out — about 1.6× the annual cost. Value grade: D.
- Avg net price
- $26,598/yr
- Median earnings
- $42,195/yr (10y out)
- Median debt
- $25,000~$271/mo
- 4-year est. cost
- $106,392net of aid
Frequently asked questions
What is Columbia College Chicago's acceptance rate?
Columbia College Chicago admits 89.5% of applicants — accessible on admissions, compared to the national average of 72.3%.
How much does Columbia College Chicago cost per year?
The average annual net price — what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — is $26,598. The sticker price before any aid is $51,889, so most students receive substantial discounts. Over four years that net cost adds up to roughly $106,392.
How much debt do Columbia College Chicago graduates have?
Graduates leave Columbia College Chicago with a median federal student loan balance of $25,000, which works out to about $271 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. About 55.5% of students take federal loans.
Is Columbia College Chicago worth the cost?
Ten years after enrolling, Columbia College Chicago graduates earn a median of $42,195 per year (national median: $50,834). That's about 1.6× the annual net price. EduGradify assigns Columbia College Chicago a value grade of D.
What is the graduation rate at Columbia College Chicago?
51.6% of full-time undergraduates graduate from Columbia College Chicago within six years of enrolling — national average is 49.9%. First-year retention is 66%.
What are the most popular majors at Columbia College Chicago?
29 programs are listed in federal data; 26 have positive share data. The largest reported major at Columbia College Chicago is Design and Applied Arts (17.3%), followed by Graphic Communications (15.1%).
What percent of Columbia College Chicago students receive financial aid?
46% of Columbia College Chicago students receive a federal Pell Grant — the main need-based federal aid program. 55.5% take federal student loans.
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