Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, IL, USA

Tuition, Cost & Aid

Affordability and Cost

Average Net Price Average net price for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates paying the in-state or in-district tuition rate who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from federal, state or local governments, or the institution. Other sources of grant aid are excluded. Aid awarded anytime during the full aid year is included.

Average net price is generated by subtracting the average amount of federal, state or local government, or institutional grant and scholarship aid from the total cost of attendance. Total cost of attendance is the sum of published tuition and required fees (lower of in-district or in-state), books and supplies and the weighted average room and board and other expenses.
$28,568
Calculate your net cost
Average Net Price By Family Income
Income
Average Amount
< $30k
$27,020
$30k - $48k
$28,096
$48k - $75k
$31,221
$75k - $110k
$33,552
$110k+
$34,153
Tuition
In-State Tuition In-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. In-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students residing in the locality in which they attend school and may be a lower rate than in-state tuition if offered by the institution.
$31,026
Out-of-State Tuition Out-of-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who do not meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. Out-of-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students not residing in the locality in which they attend school.
$31,026
Additional Costs
Room and Board The weighted average for room and board and other expenses is generated as follows:
  • (amount for on-campus room, board and other expenses * # of students living on-campus.
  • + amount for off-campus (with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus with family
  • + amount for off-campus (not with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus not with family)
divided by the total # of students. Students whose living arrangements are unknown are excluded from the calculation. For some institutions the # of students by living arrangement will be known, but dollar amounts will not be known. In this case the # of students with no corresponding dollar amount will be excluded from the denominator.
$18,000
Books and Supplies
$1,700
Tuition Payment Plan
Yes
Financial Aid: visit page
Financial Aid Email: [email protected]

Aid & Grants

0
100
1%
Need Met
Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid. Federal gift aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
36%
Average Aid Per Year
$17,400
Students Receiving Grants Percent of undergraduate students awarded grant aid. Grant aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
36%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$3,025
Average Institution Grant Aid Per Year
$13,218
Students receiving state aid
30%
Average State Grant Aid Per Year
$4,793
Students receiving federal aid
88%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$3,025
Average Grant & Scholarship By Family Income
Income
Average Amount
< $30k
$23,759
$30k - $48k
$22,799
$48k - $75k
$18,477
$75k - $110k
$14,734
$110k+
$12,592
Total Needs Based Scholarships/Grants Total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to all undergraduates from the federal government, state/local government, the institution, and other sources known to the institution.
$79,525,352
Total Non-Need-Based Scholarships/Grants
$13,438,600

Student Loans

Students Borrowing Loans Loans to students - Any monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is the designated borrower. Includes all Title IV subsidized and unsubsidized loans and all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Does not include PLUS and other loans made directly to parents.
62%
Average Loan Amount Per Year
$7,453
Students receiving federal loans
61%
Average Federal Loans Per Year
$5,452
Average Other Loans Per Year
$17,168
Average Debt at Graduation The median federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated. This figure includes only federal loans; it excludes private student loans and Parent PLUS loans.
$19,424
Loan Default Rate
11%
US National: 7%
Median Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 5.05% interest rate.
$239

What Students Are Saying

As for the education, you do really get the education you want for your money. The room and board is the only thing that is a bit expensive, but it is all understandable because of the campuses location being downtown. Those students who live on campus in the downtown loop are close to everything which makes it all worth it.
Rey from Nashville, TN
The school may seem expensive, but for the private setting and all the resources you have at your disposal, it is well worth it. Every upperclassman that I have talked to already has a job lined up before they graduate. Since the staff are not only educators, but also work in the career paths they preach about, they can use their connections to help their students get their own careers. With the economy the way it is, I would say that any school that practically guarantees employment immediately after graduation is well worth the price.
Sarah from Burlington, WI
Columbia may seem expensive but the cost is fairly reasonable when compared to other art schools.
Laurel from Woodinville, WA
Your first year you start off in classes in your major. Although it is expensive, you really do get what you pay for.
Ariana from Chicago, IL
Columbia is an extremely expensive school. But they do a great job of trying to help their students from work upon graduation. They do this by mandatory internships, counseling, etc. I have one more year until I graduate so I'm not sure if my investment has paid off yet. But I have high hopes that Columbia will take care of me!
Lauren from Chicago, IL
I was considering staying home in New York and attending NYU for film, but I went with my gut and came to Columbia Chicago, and I never doubt that I made the right choice. In less than a year this school has not only given me increased skill and knowledge that I can apply to my every day work, but they have also opened up career and networking opportunities that I never would have gotten in NYC. Columbia is not about isolating who is the most talented, but rather building a creative posse that you will grow in your talents with simultaneously, who you know you can count on for the rest of your working career, and that is true collaboration in art.
Stephanie from Brooklyn, NY
Columbia is not that expensive and I feel like I am getting so much.
Catherine from Oak Park, IL