Columbia College Chicago
600 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60605
Chicago, IL 60605
View map for Columbia College Chicago
https://www.colum.edu/| Feature | Note |
|---|---|
| Main telephone | 312-369-1000 |
| Feature | Note |
|---|---|
| Public or private | Private |
| Type of school | 4-year college |
| Date founded | 1890 |
| Degrees offered | Bachelor's, Master's, Other advanced degrees |
| School accreditation | North Central Association of Colleges and Schools |
| Setting | Urban (in a large city) |
| Closest major metropolitan area | Chicago |
| County | Cook |
| Feature | Note |
|---|---|
| Number of full time, freshmen men | 382 |
| Number of full time, freshmen women | 559 |
| Total number of full time freshmen | 944 |
| Number of part time, freshmen men | 9 |
| Number of part time, freshmen women | 6 |
| Total number of part time freshmen | 15 |
| Total number of freshmen men | 391 |
| Total number of freshmen women | 565 |
| Total number of freshmen | 959 |
| Number of full time, undergraduate men | 1,972 |
| Number of full time, undergraduate women | 3,198 |
| Total number of full time undergraduates | 5,174 |
| Number of part time, undergraduate men | 118 |
| Number of part time, undergraduate women | 129 |
| Total number of part time undergraduates | 248 |
| Total number of undergraduate males | 2,090 |
| Total number of undergraduate females | 3,327 |
| Total number of undergraduate students | 5,422 |
| Number of male graduate students | 62 |
| Number of female graduate students | 86 |
| Total number of graduate students | 148 |
| Total number of male undergraduate and graduate students | 2,152 |
| Total number of female undergraduate and graduate students | 3,413 |
| Total enrollment | 5,565 |
| American Indian/Alaskan Native | Less than 1% |
| Asian | 3% |
| Black | 18% |
| Hispanic | 28% |
| White | 39% |
| Race/ethnicity unknown | Less than 1% |
| These figures reflect responses of people who chose to indicate their racial-ethnic background. All categories except Hispanic represent non-Hispanic students. International students are not included in these figures so they may not add up to 100 percent. | |
| Percentage of students from out of state | 38% |
| Number of states and territories represented | 51 |
| Percentage of students from outside the US | 3% |
| Number of countries represented | 46 |
| Percentage of students 25 or older | 7% |
| Feature | Note |
|---|---|
| Tuition year | 2025-2026 |
| Full time costs are based on x units per year | 30 credits |
| In-state tuition | $33,886 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $33,886 |
| Fees | $1,846 |
| Books and supplies | $1,950 |
| Room and board (live on campus)* | $22,848 |
| * Room and board costs may vary by housing facility and number of meals in meal plan | |
| Installment plan (you can pay tuition in several payments over the course of the term) | Yes |
| School employees and their children | Yes |
| Undergraduate costs are for ... | (Costs are for the 2025-2026 academic year. Full-time costs are based on 30 credits per year.) |
| Feature | Note |
|---|---|
| Submit these forms | FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), state financial aid form |
| Application deadline (for fall term) | June 30 |
| School year financial aid data is from | 2023-2024 |
| Average financial aid package awarded to freshmen | $26,523 |
| For freshmen, percentage of need* met by aid package | 57% |
| Average amount of financial aid awarded to freshmen | |
| Loan | $3,192 |
| Scholarship or grant | $24,748 |
| Average financial aid package awarded to undergraduates (including freshmen) | $24,250 |
| For all undergraduates, percentage of need* met by aid package | 57% |
| Average amount of financial aid awarded to undergraduates | |
| Loan | $4,144 |
| Scholarship or grant | $21,856 |
| Work study | $4,130 |
| * "Need" as defined for financial aid results from a formula based on a student's situation. The formula considers family and student income, family size, unusual expenses, and the school's costs. | |
| Number of freshmen who applied for aid | 1,492 |
| Number of freshmen who received aid | 1,333 |
| Number of undergraduates who applied for aid | 5,334 |
| Number of undergraduates who received aid | 4,841 |
| Percentage of students who took out loans to pay for school | 65% |
| Average student loan debt for last graduating class | $32,621 |
| Loans | |
| Federal PLUS loans (for parents) | Yes |
| Federal Direct Stafford loans (subsidized) | Yes |
| Federal Direct Stafford loans (unsubsidized) | Yes |
| Need-based scholarships and grants | |
| Federal Pell Grants | Yes |
| Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) | Yes |
| Privately-sponsored scholarships and grants | Yes |
| State-sponsored scholarships and grants | Yes |
| Merit-based scholarships and grants | |
| School-sponsored scholarships in academics | Yes |
| School-sponsored scholarships in art | Yes |
| School-sponsored scholarships in special achievements | Yes |
| School-sponsored scholarships for special characteristics | Yes |
| Student employment | |
| Work study | Yes |
| Non-proprietary financial aid data are from ... | (Financial aid data are for the 2023-2024 academic year.) |
| Feature | Note |
|---|---|
| Admissions contact person | Derek Brinkley |
| Admissions contact title | Assistant Vice President Undergraduate Admissions |
| Admissions contact e-mail | |
| Electronic application website | Find more information on this website |
| For incoming students | Minimally difficult (about 95% of applicants accepted) |
| Number of male applicants | 3,137 |
| Number of male applicants accepted | 2,328 |
| Number of male applicants who enrolled | 391 |
| Number of female applicants | 5,238 |
| Number of female applicants accepted | 3,994 |
| Number of female applicants who enrolled | 565 |
| Total number of applicants | 8,375 |
| Total number of applicants accepted | 6,322 |
| Total number of applicants who enrolled | 956 |
| High school education | High school diploma required and GED accepted. |
| Fall* application deadline | Continuous |
| Notification date for fall admission applicants | Continuous |
| Fall transfer application deadline | Continuous |
| Notification date for fall transfer applicants | Continuous |
| * Application dates for winter, spring, or summer term admission are likely to be different. | |
| Online application available | Find more information on this website |
| Application fee | $25 |
| Submit these items: | |
| High school transcript or GED certificate | Required for all students |
| Written essay or personal statement | Recommended, but not required |
| High school GPA | Important |
| Difficulty of high school courses | Important |
| Standardized test scores | Not considered |
| High school class rank | Considered |
| Recommendations | Considered |
| Application essay | Considered |
| Character/personal qualities | Considered |
| Interview | Not considered |
| Talent or ability | Considered |
| Extracurricular activities | Considered |
| Level of applicant's interest | Not considered |
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered |
| Related to a school graduate | Not considered |
| First generation college student | Not considered |
| Accepted students can defer admission for a period of time | Yes |
| College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) general | Yes |
| College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) subject | Yes |
| Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) | Yes |
| Age limit on courses to be transferred | No limit |
| Average GPA (on 4.0 scale) | 3.52 |
| Percentage in top 50% of their high school class | 68% |
| Percentage in top 25% | 37% |
| Percentage in top 10% | 15% |
| Percentage of freshmen who returned for their sophomore year | 66% |
| Percentage of full-time students who complete their bachelor's degree: | |
| In four years or less | 41% |
| Between four and five years | 7% |
| Between five and six years | 2% |
| Feature | Note |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | Yes |
| Master's | Yes |
| Other advanced degrees | Yes |
| Academic calendar | Semesters |
| Number of faculty on campus | 615 |
| Student faculty ratio | 15:1 |
| Required number of credits for a bachelor's degree | 120 |
| All students must meet: | |
| Core curriculum or school-wide requirements | Yes |
| Math or science requirement | Yes |
| Senior project requirement | Depends on major |
| Evenings | Yes |
| On-line/distance learning | Yes |
| Part time | Yes |
| Summer school | Yes |
| Weekends | Yes |
| Double major | Yes |
| Honors program | Yes |
| Student-designed major | Yes |
| At these US schools or through this program | Semester in L.A., Comedy Studies at The Second City |
| Study abroad available | Yes |
| Army ROTC | Yes |
| Air Force ROTC | Yes |
| Naval ROTC | Yes |
| Independent study | Yes |
| International Baccalaureate | Yes |
| Internships | Yes |
| Computers on campus for student use | Yes (70) |
| Computer lab available to students | Yes |
| Computer network can be accessed from dorm rooms | Yes |
| Computer network can be accessed from off campus | Yes |
| Online registration for classes | Yes |
| Main library name | Columbia College Chicago Library |
| Feature | Note |
|---|---|
| Choral groups | Yes |
| Drama or theater groups | Yes |
| Newspaper | Yes |
| Radio station | Yes |
| TV station | Yes |
| Number of student clubs and associations with open membership | 80 |
| Feature | Note |
|---|---|
| Percentage of students who live on campus | 34% |
| Percentage of students on campus on a typical weekend | 33% |
| School owns or operates housing | Yes |
| Highest year that students are required to live on campus | Not required |
| Housing availability for first year students | No special consideration |
| Housing is available for students with disabilities | Yes |
| Dorms require a key or code to enter | Yes |
| School owns or operates housing for | Single graduate students |
| Feature | Note |
|---|---|
| English as a Second Language (ESL) program | Yes |
| Remedial education courses | Yes |
| Health clinic | Yes |
| Low-cost health insurance | Yes |
| Psychological counseling | Yes |
| Orientation | Yes |
| Housing | Yes |
| Services for students with learning disabilities | Yes |
| 24-hour emergency phone and alarms on campus | Yes |
| Campus patrolled by trained security personnel | Yes |
| Late night transport service | Yes |
| Feature | Note |
|---|---|
| Alumni networking and mentoring | Yes |
| Career counseling | Yes |
| Career interest testing | Yes |
| Career library | Yes |
| Job bank | Yes |
| Job fairs | Yes |
| Job interviews | Yes |
| Job interview preparation | Yes |
| On campus recruitment by employers | Yes |
| Résumé preparation assistance | Yes |
| Feature | Note |
|---|---|
| Grad admissions contact person | David Marts |
| Grad admissions contact title | Graduate Admissions Director |
| Grad admissions contact e-mail address | |
| Number of full time, male graduate students | 47 |
| Number of full time, female graduate students | 74 |
| Total number of full time graduate students | 121 |
| Number of part time, male graduate students | 15 |
| Number of part time, female graduate students | 12 |
| Total number of part time graduate students | 27 |
| Total number of male graduate students | 62 |
| Total number of female graduate students | 86 |
| Total number of graduate students | 148 |
| Number of undergraduate men | 2,090 |
| Number of undergraduate women | 3,327 |
| Total number of undergraduate students | 5,417 |
| Total number of male undergraduate and graduate students | 2,152 |
| Total number of female undergraduate and graduate students | 3,413 |
| Total enrollment | 5,570 |
| Tuition year | 2024-2025 |
| In-state tuition* | $1,334 |
| Out-of-state tuition* | $1,334 |
| Fees | $1,210 |
| * Tuition may vary by program | |
| Graduate costs are for ... | (Costs are for the 2024-2025 academic year.) |