Columbia College Chicago is a private nonprofit 4-year college in Chicago, Illinois with 5,368 undergraduates. It admits 90% of applicants, costs an average of $36,529 a year after grants and graduates 47% of its students.
Figures from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, released October 15, 2026. What each number covers.
Columbia College Chicago acceptance rate and admissions
Columbia College Chicago admitted 90% of applicants for fall 2024. The median acceptance rate at 4-year colleges is 77%.
Test scores: Neither required nor recommended (as reported for fall 2024 admission). That means you can apply without SAT or ACT scores. Check the admissions office for the current policy.
Columbia College Chicago application deadlines 2026-27
| Round | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Rolling admission | Applications reviewed as they arrive |
Application fee through the Common App: free for U.S. applicants. Confirm dates on Columbia College Chicago’s admissions page; see every college on the deadline calendar.
Source: Common App 2026-27 first-year deadlines, fees and requirements grid, updated Sep 25, 2026.
Columbia College Chicago tuition, cost and net price
| Tuition and fees (2025-26) | $37,344 |
|---|---|
| On-campus housing and food (2025-26) | $20,429 |
| Total cost of attendance (2024-25) | $58,050 |
| Average net price after grants (2024-25) | $36,529 |
Students who get federal aid pay an average of $36,529 a year after grants and scholarships, $21,521 less than the full cost of attendance.
What families pay, by income
Average yearly cost after grants for aided first-time students, by family income (2024-25):
Your own price depends on your family's full situation. Run Columbia College Chicago's net price calculator for a personal estimate, or make a "what it costs us" card.
Columbia College Chicago graduation rate, earnings and debt
- 47% of first-time, full-time students finished within six years (students who started in 2019).
- Former students earned a median of $48,427 a year, 10 years after they started (students who received federal aid and were working).
- Students who completed left with a median of $25,000 in federal student loans.
Earnings compared
Debt compared
Median debt is 52% of median earnings 10 years after entry. Many advisers suggest keeping total student debt below one year of expected pay. See the monthly payment.
Columbia College Chicago majors and what graduates earn
Columbia College Chicago awarded bachelor's degrees in 24 fields recently. The best-paid graduates four years out came from public relations and advertising ($66,798).
All 24 majors at Columbia College Chicago
| Major | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public relations and advertising | 22 | $43,908 | $66,798 | $24,225 |
| Marketing | 35 | $43,402 | $65,686 | $23,587 |
| Business administration | 1 | n/a | $56,482 | n/a |
| Radio, TV and digital media | 35 | $33,537 | $54,357 | $25,000 |
| Journalism | 34 | $40,991 | $51,639 | $25,562 |
| Arts management | 61 | $39,601 | $50,592 | $20,000 |
| Interdisciplinary studies, other | 16 | n/a | $49,593 | n/a |
| Graphic and industrial design | 294 | $38,905 | $48,601 | $25,000 |
| American Sign Language | 9 | $37,067 | $45,619 | $25,903 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 5 | n/a | $44,703 | n/a |
| Graphic Communications | 111 | $28,397 | $43,970 | $26,025 |
| Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | 11 | $31,949 | $43,731 | $27,000 |
| Fine and studio arts | 36 | $33,028 | $42,176 | $26,000 |
| Dance | 20 | n/a | $41,842 | $26,985 |
| Film and photography | 297 | $30,716 | $41,200 | $24,525 |
| Music | 56 | $25,208 | $40,734 | $24,562 |
| Theater | 142 | $27,894 | $39,986 | $26,000 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 36 | $26,973 | $39,751 | $26,000 |
| Physics | 51 | $42,234 | n/a | $24,250 |
| Communication | 16 | $36,632 | n/a | $19,750 |
| Computer Programming | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| English | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Game design and digital arts | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Liberal arts and general studies | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Four-year earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Fields with few graduates have no published earnings.
Graduate programs at Columbia College Chicago
9 graduate programs awarded degrees recently. Largest first.
Show 9 graduate programs
| Program | Degree | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Film and photography | Master's | 28 | n/a | $89,978 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | Master's | 16 | $47,989 | $61,500 |
| Arts management | Master's | 15 | $49,053 | $59,756 |
| Theater | Master's | 13 | n/a | n/a |
| Music | Master's | 12 | n/a | n/a |
| Fine and studio arts | Master's | 7 | n/a | n/a |
| Business/Corporate Communications | Master's | 6 | n/a | n/a |
| Communication | Master's | 1 | n/a | n/a |
| Movement and Mind-Body Therapies and Education | Master's | 0 | n/a | n/a |
Students and location
- 5,368 degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2024)
- 60% women, 40% men
- 15 students for every faculty member
- Setting: large city
- Accredited by Higher Learning Commission
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Columbia College Chicago?
Columbia College Chicago admitted 90% of applicants for fall 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
How much does Columbia College Chicago cost?
Tuition and fees for 2025-26 are $37,344. After grants and scholarships, aided students paid an average net price of $36,529 a year in 2024-25.
Is Columbia College Chicago test-optional?
For fall 2024 admission, Columbia College Chicago reported that test scores were: neither required nor recommended. Policies change, so confirm with the admissions office.
What is the graduation rate at Columbia College Chicago?
47% of first-time, full-time students finished within six years.
How much do Columbia College Chicago graduates make?
Former students who received federal aid earned a median of $48,427 a year 10 years after they started, in 2024 dollars.
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More: all colleges in Illinois · colleges in Chicago · Columbia College Chicago on the College Scorecard
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, data release of October 15, 2026. What each figure means and the year it covers.