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Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, Illinois · Private nonprofit · 4-year · City

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At a glance

Average net price
$26,598What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
89%
Graduation rate
50%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
5,368
In-state tuition
$34,088Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$34,088
SAT midpoint
Not reported
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$42,195Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$26,598

Better than 32% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

50%

Better than 34% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$42,195

Better than 17% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$25,000

Better than 40% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$51,889

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$26,598

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Columbia College Chicago
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time50%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return66%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$25,000
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$42,195

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Columbia College Chicago by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$39,79427
Marketing$36,38647
Business Administration, Management and Operations$34,7982
American Sign Language$33,77519
Journalism$31,36927
Design and Applied Arts$29,630258
Graphic Communications$26,309212
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other$25,99914
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies$25,06046
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication$24,19142
Film/Video and Photographic Arts$23,905162
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management$23,84490
Fine and Studio Arts$22,76552
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians$20,92724
Music$19,94353
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$17,929140
PhysicsNot reported30
Communication and Media StudiesNot reported20
DanceNot reported15
Computer ProgrammingNot reported7
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reported6
English Language and Literature, GeneralNot reported4
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reportedNot reported
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsNot reportedNot reported
Computer Software and Media ApplicationsNot reportedNot reported
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessNot reportedNot reported

All 26 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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