Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, IL • 4-year Private • Acceptance Rate 89%
Columbia College Chicago is a private university in Chicago, Illinois. Columbia College Chicago was founded in 1890 and enrolls 6,888 students.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Total Enrollment | 6,888 |
| Campus Setting | city |
| Admission rate | 89% |
| Tuition and fees | |
|---|---|
| In State | $32,520 |
| Out-of-State | $32,520 |
| Paying For College |
See The Official 2025-2026 CC Calendar for projected decision dates.
Admissions
For information about applying to Columbia College Chicago, see the school’s admission page and online application.
| Consideration | Required | Not required but considered | Not considered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary school GPA |  |
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| Secondary school rank | |
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| Secondary school record | |
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| Completion of college-preparatory program | |
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| Recommendations | |
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| Formal demonstration of competencies | |
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| Admission test scores | |
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| English Proficiency Test | |
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| Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.) | |
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| Work experience | |
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| Personal statement or essay | |
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| Legacy status | |
Tuition & Fees
Visit the financial aid office’s website to learn more about the cost of attending Columbia College Chicago.
| Cost Breakdown | In State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $30,734 | $30,734 |
| Fees | $1,786 | $1,786 |
| Room and Board | $16,838 | $16,838 |
| Books | $1,800 | $1,800 |
| Total (Before Financial Aid): | $51,158 | $51,158 |
Majors
| Major | Bachelors | Masters | Doctorate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cinematography and Film/Video Production | 237 | 0 | |
| Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects | 111 | ||
| Fashion/Apparel Design | 94 | ||
| Acting | 58 | 13 | |
| Graphic Design | 71 | ||
| Photography | 57 | 8 | |
| Illustration | 55 | ||
| Creative Writing | 36 | 16 | |
| Acoustics | 51 | ||
| Game and Interactive Media Design | 45 | ||
| Music Management | 41 | 0 | |
| Music, General | 36 | ||
| Marketing/Marketing Management, General | 35 | ||
| Fine/Studio Arts, General | 28 | 4 | |
| Musical Theatre | 31 | ||
| Interior Design | 29 | 0 | |
| Fine and Studio Arts Management | 13 | 15 | |
| Journalism | 26 | 0 | |
| Comedy Writing and Performance | 26 | ||
| Music, Other | 13 | 12 | |
| Radio and Television | 22 | ||
| Film/Cinema/Media Studies | 0 | 20 | |
| Dance, General | 20 | ||
| Communication, General | 16 | 1 | |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 16 | 0 | |
| Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General | 15 | ||
| Advertising | 14 | ||
| Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia | 13 | ||
| Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology | 12 | ||
| Recording Arts Technology/Technician | 11 | ||
| Sign Language Interpretation and Translation | 9 | ||
| Computer Programming/Programmer, General | 9 | ||
| Public Relations/Image Management | 8 | ||
| Photojournalism | 8 | ||
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, General | 7 | 0 | |
| Art History, Criticism and Conservation | 6 | ||
| Business/Corporate Communications, General | 6 | ||
| Intermedia/Multimedia | 2 | 3 | |
| English Language and Literature, General | 5 | ||
| Deaf Studies | 4 | ||
| Music Theory and Composition | 4 | ||
| Documentary Production | 3 | ||
| Community/Environmental/Socially-Engaged Art | 3 | ||
| Music Technology | 3 | ||
| General Studies | 2 | ||
| Retail Management | 1 | ||
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other | 1 |
Data source: IPEDS as of the January 6, 2026 release