- AcademicsB-
- ValueC+
- DiversityA
- CampusB
- AthleticsNG
- Party SceneA
- ProfessorsB+
- LocationA+
- DormsB
- Campus FoodB
- Student LifeB+
- SafetyC+
Columbia College Chicago is ...
Private not-for-profit
Athletic Division
—
Athletic Conference
—
Columbia College Chicago Rankings
Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
88%
SAT Range
—
ACT Range
—
Application Fee
$50
SAT/ACT
Recommended
High School GPA
Required
Early Decision/Early Action
—
Application Website
Will You Get In?
Test Scores and GPA for Columbia College ChicagoSee Other Colleges
Cost
Net Price
$29,530/ year
National
$15,523Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
Student Loan Options from Lenders
Learn More
- 1% Cash Back + affordable rates starting at 3.82% APR w/auto debit discount
- No application, origination or disbursement fees
Academics
Professors
B+
Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
Student Faculty Ratio
13:1
Evening Degree Programs
No
- 83%
- of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.143 responses
- 58%
- of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.152 responses
- 64%
- of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.149 responses
Do You Work at Columbia College Chicago? Claim Your College Today!
Claim your free account to keep your college's data up-to-date and get insights on user activity for your profile.
Majors
Most Popular Majors
Cinematography and Video Production
339 GraduatesRetailing Management
118 GraduatesGraphic Design
108 GraduatesRadio, Television, and Digital Communication
101 GraduatesMusic Management
98 GraduatesCreative Writing
85 GraduatesRecording Arts Technician
78 GraduatesPhotography
71 GraduatesMusic History and Literature
63 GraduatesDrama and Theatre Production
62 Graduates
Students
Full-Time Enrollment
7,142Undergrads
Undergrads Over 25
6%
Pell Grant
35%
Varsity Athletes
—
Campus Life
Freshmen Live On-Campus
71%
Poll
- 91%
- of students say they don't have Greek life.133 responses
Poll
- 88%
- of students say no one pays attention to varsity sports.216 responses
After College
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
$33,400/ year
National
$33,028Graduation Rate
45%
National
49%Employed 2 Years After Graduation
91%
National
83%- 67%
- of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.89 responses
Columbia College Chicago Reviews
2,473 reviews
All Categories
I love Columbia College Chicago, it has an extremely diverse student body! This is especially a great school for anyone who identifies as non-binary if that's something that concerns you. I will admit though, this is a no-nonsense kind of school. Attendance policy isn't very lax and this is by no means a party school. Some more useful information: The campus is split up into different building in downtown Chicago so there'll be some walking to go between buildings.
Columbia is a great college to attend with it's colorfully painted walls and random events that pop up almost a few times a week. They offer large opportunities for their students while also providing everything they need in multiple rooms such as Game Room, Tech Labs, Craft Stations and so much more! I definitely recommend anyone to consider attending Columbia College Chicago.
Columbia is a great place to LEARN. All of your professors are those who are working in your perspective field, today. They are living what they love, and what you love. The community is absolutely amazing, everyone encourages each other and wants to collaborate.
I would like to see change within the music department. There is not much of a high standard in ensemble groups. It not fair to those who get unwillingly placed in some groups, because of the tier system, and have to play in a group with other students who don't know what they're doing. Columbia lumps everyone together, sometimes, for the sake of being "nice".
Student Financial Aid office is super inconsistent. They have a phone line with very inexperienced SFA workers. Cherish the ones that are understandable, and empathetic, because they are rare.
I would like to see change within the music department. There is not much of a high standard in ensemble groups. It not fair to those who get unwillingly placed in some groups, because of the tier system, and have to play in a group with other students who don't know what they're doing. Columbia lumps everyone together, sometimes, for the sake of being "nice".
Student Financial Aid office is super inconsistent. They have a phone line with very inexperienced SFA workers. Cherish the ones that are understandable, and empathetic, because they are rare.