- The Inkwell
- Illinois
- Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, ILCity: largeZIP 60605Founded 1890
- Sector
- Private nonprofit
- Founded
- 1890
- Carnegie class
- Master's: medium programs
- Highest degree
- Graduate degree
- Federal aid since
- 1967
- Website
- www.colum.edu
IllinoisPrivate nonprofit
Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago is a private nonprofit college in Chicago, Illinois, with 5,368 undergraduates. It admits 90% of applicants, graduates 47% within six years and costs $36,529 a year after aid.
47%graduate
Admission rate90%
Retention66%
4-year graduation39%
Pell Grant share51%
Federal loans60%
$36,529net price / year
90%admission rate
—average SAT
47%graduate in 6 years
$48,427median earnings, 10 yrs
$25,000median debt
#1,322 of 1,704 for earnings#1,615 of 1,739 for lowest net price#1,141 of 1,738 for graduation rate#1,167 of 1,552 for selectivity
what it costs
Cost and net price
Net price is the average annual cost after grants and scholarships for full-time students who receive federal aid; it varies with family income.
Published cost
- Cost of attendance
- $58,050tuition, fees, housing, books, per year
- Tuition & fees, in-state
- $37,344
- Tuition & fees, out-of-state
- $37,344
- Average net price
- $36,529national median $19,980
Net price by family income
$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
getting in
Admissions and test scores
Admission
- Admission rate
- 90%national median 77%
- Average SAT
- —
- SAT reading, middle 50%
- —
- SAT math, middle 50%
- —
- ACT composite, middle 50%
- —
Against the national median
Admission rate · this college90%
Admission rate · U.S. median77%
Retention · this college66%
Retention · U.S. median76%
Graduation · this college47%
Graduation · U.S. median55%
Pell share · this college51%
Pell share · U.S. median39%
after enrolling
Graduation, earnings and debt
Completion
- Graduation rate, 6 years
- 47%within 150% of normal time
- Graduation rate, 4 years
- 39%
- First-year retention
- 66%
- Award within 8 years, all students
- 55%
Earnings and debt
- Median earnings, 6 years after entry
- $40,125
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry
- $48,427middle 50%: $29,251–$70,965
- Median debt at graduation
- $25,000
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0%
Earnings ten years after entry
Upper quarter$70,965
Median, Columbia College Chicago$48,427
Lower quarter$29,251
U.S. median, all colleges$58,886
Former students working and not enrolled · College Scorecard
who studies here
Students and faculty
Undergraduates
- Degree-seeking undergraduates
- 5,368
- Part-time
- 4.1%
- Women / men
- 60% / 40%
- Average age at entry
- 21.0
- First-generation students
- 25%
- Pell Grant recipients
- 51%
Faculty and resources
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- 15 : 1
- Full-time faculty
- 37%
- Average faculty salary
- $9,323 / month
- Instructional spending per student
- $10,551
- Endowment, end of year
- $191,973,543
Race and ethnicity, undergraduates
White40%
Hispanic28%
Black19%
Asian3.7%
Two or more races4.8%
U.S. nonresident4.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
Unknown0.9%
11 fields of study
Most popular fields
Share of bachelor’s degrees awarded, by broad field (CIP family).
Visual & performing arts74%
Communication & journalism6.7%
Communications technologies6.1%
English language & literature4.6%
Physical sciences3.4%
Business & management2.9%
Foreign languages & linguistics1.2%
Multi/interdisciplinary studies0.5%
keep comparing
Similar colleges
Private nonprofit colleges in Illinois
| College | Net price | Grad. | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Louis University Chicago, IL | $10,364 | 32% | $52,883 |
| Lewis University Romeoville, IL | $17,318 | 57% | $59,389 |
| Aurora University Aurora, IL | $19,385 | 60% | $64,180 |
| Bradley University Peoria, IL | $22,469 | 74% | $76,013 |
| University of Chicago Chicago, IL | $16,776 | 95% | $103,872 |
| Saint Xavier University Chicago, IL | $10,171 | 55% | $64,661 |
Same Carnegie class, similar price
| College | Net price | Grad. | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keuka College Keuka Park, NY | $35,459 | 49% | $62,019 |
| Albertus Magnus College New Haven, CT | $31,731 | 48% | $62,459 |
| Tuskegee University Tuskegee, AL | $40,141 | 55% | $57,833 |
| Nichols College Dudley, MA | $31,983 | 54% | $66,716 |
| MidAmerica Nazarene University Olathe, KS | $30,947 | 42% | $70,804 |
| Roger Williams University Bristol, RI | $37,645 | 67% | $77,127 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education — institution file, most recent cohorts. UNITID 144281. Founding year, motto and memberships: Wikidata Q5149662.