Columbia College Chicago
- Graduation Rate
- 50% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $42,195 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $26,598 D
- 55% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 89% D+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A D+ overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 11.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $11.2 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $11.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,080,390.
What The Data Says
-
A D+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Inventor rate in the top 1% nationally — patents, startups, and new technology flow from its graduates.
-
Every $1 invested returns $11.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 260500.0%
- Top 1%
- Patents
- 0
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 44
- Downstream influence
Why Columbia College Chicago Matters
Columbia College Chicago is a private university in Chicago, IL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an unusually high rate of inventors and patents and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 5,368
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts, Communications, English & Literature, Physical Sciences
Why students choose Columbia College Chicago
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 89% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $26,598 a year after grants and scholarships — 55% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $42,195 ten years after enrolling — 3% above the typical college, against $25,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 100% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.70 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Columbia College Chicago has an acceptance rate of 89%, making it accessible to a wide range of students. With an enrollment of 5,368, the college maintains a vibrant campus life. This environment encourages creativity and collaboration among peers.
Graduates from Columbia College Chicago earn a median salary of $42,195 ten years after starting their careers. While the graduation rate stands at 50%, the school attracts a diverse student body, including 46% of students receiving Pell Grants. This reflects the college's commitment to supporting economically disadvantaged students, although specific mobility metrics are not available.
The net price of attending Columbia College Chicago is $26,598, with a median debt of $25,000 upon graduation. This financial landscape means students should be prepared for some debt, but the earning potential in fields like Visual & Performing Arts and Communications can help graduates manage their finances. Students who thrive here often have a passion for creative disciplines and appreciate a supportive, urban environment.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Columbia College Chicago is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Columbia College Chicago? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Columbia College Chicago, located in Chicago, Illinois, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 89%. The graduation rate is roughly 50%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 89%
- Retention Rate
- 66%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 37%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,323
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.72
- First-Gen Students
- 25%
- Applicants
- 7,701
- Admitted
- 7,298
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Columbia College Chicago? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Columbia College Chicago is $34,088, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $26,598. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,924 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $34,088
- Out-of-State
- $34,088
- Avg Net Price
- $26,598
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 46%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 56%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $20,924
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $21,423
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $25,590
- Family Income $110K+
- $36,436
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Columbia College Chicago — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Columbia College Chicago Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Columbia College Chicago report median earnings of $42,195, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $32,596
- 8 Years
- $37,399
- 10 Years
- $42,195
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.59x
- Earning > $25K
- 52%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (746)
- 42%
- 100% (746)
- 42%
- 100% (746)
- 42%
- 100% (746)
- 42%
How Columbia Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Columbia College Chicago Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Columbia College Chicago delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $26,598/year ($106,392 total). Graduates earn $42,195 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,186,782 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,080,390 (11.2× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 50% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $106,392
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,186,782
- Net Return
- $1,080,390
- ROI Multiple
- 11.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $26,598
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 50%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Columbia College Chicago Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Columbia College Chicago is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.04%, a more modest figure. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 28500% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 2.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.04%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 2.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 28500.0%
- Share of students
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Columbia College Chicago produces inventors at an exceptional rate — the top 1% of U.S. colleges, with 0 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 260500.00%
- Top 1% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 0
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 44
- Downstream influence
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.25%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-35,686,019
Top Programs
The fields Columbia College Chicago awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Visual & Performing Arts 74% $35,333 early-career
- Communications 7% $36,992 early-career
- English & Literature 5% $26,716 early-career
- Physical Sciences 3% $65,185 early-career
- Business & Marketing 3% $47,949 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 0%
- Humanities 0% $26,716 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Columbia College Chicago's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Columbia College Chicago? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Columbia College Chicago, located in Chicago, Illinois, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 89%. The graduation rate is roughly 50%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Columbia College Chicago? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Columbia College Chicago is $34,088, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $26,598. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,924 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
Is Columbia College Chicago Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Columbia College Chicago report median earnings of $42,195, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Columbia College Chicago Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Columbia College Chicago is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.04%, a more modest figure. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 28500% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 2.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder.
How Connected Is Columbia College Chicago? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Columbia College Chicago. Its economic connectedness score is 1.70, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 12% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Columbia College Chicago offer Early Decision?
No. Columbia College Chicago does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Columbia College Chicago.
- Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceProvidence, RI · Close peer55% grad $43,418 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Northwestern State University of LouisianaNatchitoches, LA · Close peer44% grad $47,021 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- The University of Tennessee-MartinMartin, TN · Close peer54% grad $44,213 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Augusta UniversityAugusta, GA · Close peer49% grad $48,472 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Troy UniversityTroy, AL · Close peer48% grad $42,062 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Purdue University Fort WayneFort Wayne, IN · Close peer34% grad $45,872 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Columbia College Chicago? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Columbia College Chicago. Its economic connectedness score is 1.70, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 12% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note