Cost of Columbia College Chicago
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $58,050 |
|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $37,344 |
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| Housing and food (on campus) | $20,429 |
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| Books and supplies | $3,450 |
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| Average net price after aid | $36,529 |
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Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|
| $0–30,000 | $32,185 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $32,183 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $34,435 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $39,200 |
| $110,001+ | $44,486 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Get your own estimate with Columbia College Chicago's net price calculator ↗.
Majors and programs at Columbia College Chicago
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (27)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 49 | $43,908 | $24,225 |
| Marketing | 82 | $43,402 | $23,587 |
| Physics | 81 | $42,234 | $24,250 |
| Journalism | 61 | $40,991 | $25,562 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | 151 | $39,601 | $20,000 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 552 | $38,905 | $25,000 |
| American Sign Language | 28 | $37,067 | $25,903 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 36 | $36,632 | $19,750 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 77 | $33,537 | $25,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 88 | $33,028 | $26,000 |
| Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | 35 | $31,949 | $27,000 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 459 | $30,716 | $24,525 |
| Graphic Communications | 323 | $28,397 | $26,025 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 282 | $27,894 | $26,000 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 82 | $26,973 | $26,000 |
| Music | 109 | $25,208 | $24,562 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 3 | — | — |
| Community/Environmental/Socially-Engaged Art | 3 | — | — |
| Computer Programming | 16 | — | — |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | — | — | — |
| Dance | 35 | — | $26,985 |
| English Language and Literature | 9 | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 11 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 2 | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 30 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (12)
Graduate certificate programs (2)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 5 | — | — |
| Movement and Mind-Body Therapies and Education | — | — | — |
Similar colleges in Illinois
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|
| National Louis University | Chicago | $10,364 | 95% | $52,883 |
| Lewis University | Romeoville | $17,318 | 71% | $59,389 |
| Aurora University | Aurora | $19,385 | 81% | $64,180 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago | $16,776 | 4.5% | $103,872 |
| Bradley University | Peoria | $22,469 | 77% | $76,013 |
| Northwestern University | Evanston | $34,420 | 7.7% | $104,255 |
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago | $10,171 | 84% | $64,661 |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst | $23,165 | 74% | $67,398 |
All colleges in Illinois →
Frequently asked questions
What is Columbia College Chicago's acceptance rate?
Columbia College Chicago admits 89% of applicants.
How much does Columbia College Chicago cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $58,050 a year (tuition and fees: $37,344). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $36,529 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $32,185.
How much do Columbia College Chicago graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $48,427 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 61st of 65 similar colleges in Illinois. The best-paid bachelor's program is public relations, advertising, and applied communication ($43,908 a year after graduation).
What is Columbia College Chicago's graduation rate?
47% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 66% of first-year students return for a second year.