Columbia College Chicago
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions. freshman retention is below 65%. a private nonprofit school with 6,294 students.
About This School
Columbia College Chicago is a private nonprofit institution located in Chicago, Illinois with approximately 6,294 undergraduate students enrolled. Columbia College Chicago has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 91%. The average net price after financial aid is $26,788 per year. The graduation rate is 48%, and the typical graduate earns $39,200 within 10 years of enrollment.
Columbia College Chicago is a private art college in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1890, it has 4,200 students pursuing degrees in more than 40 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: a 48% graduation rate and 64% freshman retention rate suggest that many students who start here don't finish, which is a real red flag worth discussing before enrolling. For creative students drawn to Chicago's arts and media scene, the 40+ programs in film, music, journalism, and design offer genuine opportunities — but median earnings of $39,200 a decade out means you'll want to be strategic about how much debt you take on, even though the $16,500 median debt at graduation is relatively manageable. Worth considering if you have a clear creative career goal and a plan to stay enrolled, but not a school to choose casually.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (6,294 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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