Columbia College Chicago Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Columbia College Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, serving roughly 5,368 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 89.46% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $42,195 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $34,088
- 2024 Average Net Price: $26,598 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 89.46% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 5,368 95.9% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 51.55%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
- First-Generation Students: 24.9%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 4.8% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 5.8% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 37.4%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,671
- Applicants (IPEDS): 7,873
- Room & Board: $20,629 annual estimate
Columbia College Chicago: what the data shows
Common questions about Columbia College Chicago, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Columbia College Chicago?
Columbia College Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (ZIP 60605-1996).
NCES locale classification: City.
Is Columbia College Chicago public or private?
Columbia College Chicago is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Columbia College Chicago cost?
Published tuition: $34,088.
Average net price after aid: $26,598.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $20,924 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $21,423 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $25,590 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $31,677 |
| $110,001+ | $36,436 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $136,352.
How hard is it to get into Columbia College Chicago?
Admission rate: 89.46%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Columbia College Chicago?
Total enrollment: 5,368 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 5,671 students.
Graduate enrollment: 148 students.
About 96% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Columbia College Chicago?
150%-time completion rate: 51.55%.
First-year retention: 66.0%.
What do graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn?
Median earnings: $32,596 six years after entry; $42,195 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $25,000.
45.96% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Columbia College Chicago known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Cinematography and Film/Video Production (237 completions)
- Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects (111 completions)
- Fashion/Apparel Design (94 completions)
- Graphic Design (71 completions)
- Acting (71 completions)
- Photography (65 completions)
- 05.0041 (55 completions)
- Creative Writing (52 completions)
- Acoustics (51 completions)
- Game and Interactive Media Design (45 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Columbia College Chicago a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 89.46%; completion rate 51.55%; median earnings $42,195 at 10 years; net price $26,598. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$34,088
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Columbia College Chicago was $34,088.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$26,598
2024 Value
In 2024 Columbia College Chicago had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $26,598.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$106,392 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$26,598 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$136,352 4-Year Tuition
$20,629 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,900 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$56,617 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$226,468 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Columbia College Chicago.
Financial Aid by Income Level
45.96% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
55.53% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Columbia College Chicago was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Columbia College Chicago in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $22,792 | $22,792 | $29,162 |
| 2014 | $23,544 | $23,544 | $28,416 |
| 2015 | $24,344 | $24,344 | $29,589 |
| 2016 | $25,334 | $25,334 | $29,828 |
| 2017 | $26,474 | $26,474 | $31,597 |
| 2018 | $27,176 | $27,176 | $30,924 |
| 2019 | $27,756 | $27,756 | $31,099 |
| 2020 | $27,786 | $27,786 | $26,258 |
| 2021 | $27,786 | $27,786 | $24,611 |
| 2022 | $31,026 | $31,026 | $25,328 |
| 2023 | $32,520 | $32,520 | $26,788 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
89.46% Acceptance Rate
7,873 Total Applicants
7,178 Students Admitted
1,608 First-Time Students Enrolled
22.40% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Columbia College Chicago reported total enrollment of about 5,368 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 40% male and 60% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (39.5%), Hispanic or Latino (28.2%), and Black or African American (18.7%). About 45.96% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 24.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
95.9% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Columbia College Chicago in 2024 is 5,368 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 5,671 students. Graduate enrollment is about 148 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
66.0%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 39.5%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
41.89% 100% Completion Time
51.55% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 41.89% of students graduating from Columbia College Chicago completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Cinematography and Film/Video Production: 51% male / 49% female
- Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects: 42% male / 58% female
- Fashion/Apparel Design: 13% male / 87% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Columbia College Chicago.
Return on Investment
$25,000 Median Student Debt
$42,195 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
59.25% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
296.60% Return on Investment
5.9 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Columbia College Chicago.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 49 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Cinematography and Film/Video Production: 237 completions
2. Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects: 111 completions
3. Fashion/Apparel Design: 94 completions
4. Graphic Design: 71 completions
5. Acting: 71 completions
6. Photography: 65 completions
7. 05.0041: 55 completions
8. Creative Writing: 52 completions
9. Acoustics: 51 completions
Most popular programs at Columbia College Chicago.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Columbia College Chicago graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Columbia College Chicago from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 37.4%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $9,323
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,551
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Columbia College Chicago is a private non-profit institution located in Chicago, IL, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Cinematography and Film/Video Production, Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects, Fashion/Apparel Design. Enrollment is approximately 5,368 students. Student body composition includes White (39.5%), Hispanic or Latino (28.2%), Black or African American (18.7%). The admission rate is 89.46%. The 150%-time completion rate is 51.55%. Approximately 45.96% of students receive Pell Grants. About 24.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
Location
Chicago, IL 60605-1996
Region: Great Lakes
Insights and Analysis
Columbia College Chicago provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Columbia College Chicago located?
Columbia College Chicago is located in Chicago, IL.
What is Columbia College Chicago's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Columbia College Chicago is 89.5% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 7,873 applicants and 7,178 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Columbia College Chicago cost?
Reported tuition is $34,088 and average net price is $26,598 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $20,629 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Columbia College Chicago?
Columbia College Chicago reports undergraduate enrollment of about 5,671 students, White (39.5%), Hispanic or Latino (28.2%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Columbia College Chicago?
About 24.9% of students at Columbia College Chicago are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn?
Median earnings are $32,596 six years after entry and $42,195 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Columbia College Chicago?
The 150%-time completion rate is 51.5% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Columbia College Chicago students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $25,000.
Is Columbia College Chicago public or private?
Columbia College Chicago is a private nonprofit institution located in Chicago, IL.
Is Columbia College Chicago an HBCU?
No. Columbia College Chicago is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Columbia College Chicago a tribal college?
No. Columbia College Chicago is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Columbia College Chicago a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Columbia College Chicago reports 28.2% Hispanic enrollment share.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Illinois college costs
- Illinois colleges by ROI
- Chicago, Illinois city profile
- Great Lakes regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Illinois
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.