Columbia College Chicago Tuition, Acceptance Rate and Admissions (2026)

Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · Graduate degree · College Scorecard data · Updated September 10, 2026

In-State Tuition$34,088
Out-of-State Tuition$34,088
Acceptance Rate89%
Average SATNot published

Columbia College Chicago vs. State and National Averages

Columbia College ChicagoIL AverageNational Average
In-state tuition$34,088$18,678$18,082
vs. average—+83%+89%

Other colleges in Chicago

CollegeTypeUndergraduatesTuition
University of ChicagoPrivate nonprofit7,569$70,662
School of the Art Institute of ChicagoPrivate nonprofit2,805$56,420
Loyola University ChicagoPrivate nonprofit11,737$53,710
Illinois Institute of TechnologyPrivate nonprofit2,833$52,386
DePaul UniversityPrivate nonprofit14,090$45,999

Tuition shown is in-state tuition for schools that report one, otherwise the published tuition for the school's largest program. Source: College Scorecard.

Outcomes and student profile at Columbia College Chicago

Median earnings 10 years after enrolling$42,195
Graduation rate (within 150% of normal time)52%
Median debt among graduates who borrowed$25,000
Undergraduates receiving Pell grants46%
Undergraduates aged 25 and over6%
First-generation students25%

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. Earnings and debt figures cover students who received federal financial aid.

FAQ

What is the tuition at Columbia College Chicago?

In-state tuition at Columbia College Chicago is $34,088 and out-of-state tuition is $34,088, according to College Scorecard data.

What is the acceptance rate at Columbia College Chicago?

The acceptance rate at Columbia College Chicago is 89%.

How hard is it to get into Columbia College Chicago?

With an acceptance rate of 89%, Columbia College Chicago is moderately selective among U.S. colleges.

What SAT score do you need for Columbia College Chicago?

College Scorecard does not publish an average SAT score for Columbia College Chicago. Schools without a published figure are usually test-optional, open-admission, or they do not report test scores to the federal survey.

How big is Columbia College Chicago?

Columbia College Chicago enrolls about 5,368 undergraduate students. The student-faculty ratio is 15:1.

Is Columbia College Chicago expensive?

In-state tuition at Columbia College Chicago is $34,088, which is 83% above the IL average of $18,678.

How much do graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn?

Median earnings ten years after enrolling at Columbia College Chicago are $42,195 a year, according to College Scorecard.

How much debt do students at Columbia College Chicago take on?

The median debt among Columbia College Chicago graduates who borrowed is $25,000, according to College Scorecard.