Columbia College Chicago is a private arts and media college in Chicago’s South Loop, with 5,570 students, 5,422 of them undergraduates, in fall 2024. Its pros are hands-on programs in film, music, design, fashion and theatre, a downtown location and grants for every freshman; its cons are a high net price, a 66% freshman retention rate, falling enrollment and recent budget turmoil.
Below is each pro and con in detail, followed by cost, outcome and accreditation figures from the federal College Navigator database, so you can decide whether Columbia College Chicago is a good school for your goals.
Columbia College Chicago at a Glance
- Type: private not-for-profit arts and media college.
- Location: 600 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago; its buildings are spread through the South Loop and Near South Side (“City: Large”).
- Founded: 1890, as the Columbia School of Oratory.
- Schools: Audio and Music; Business and Entrepreneurship; Communication and Culture; Design; Fashion; Film and Television; Theatre and Dance; Visual Arts.
- Enrollment (fall 2024): 5,570 total, 5,422 undergraduate.
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 15 to 1.
- Admission: 89% of applicants were admitted for fall 2024.
It is not affiliated with Columbia University or with any other Columbia College.
Pros: What Columbia College Chicago Does Well
- Specialised creative programs. Eight schools cover film and television, audio and music, design, fashion, theatre and dance and the visual arts, so creative students can go deep in their field from the first year.
- Real production facilities. The Media Production Center, opened in 2010, has two film production soundstages, a motion-capture studio, digital labs and animation suites for the cinema, television and interactive media programs.
- A downtown Chicago campus. Studying on South Michigan Avenue puts students close to the city’s galleries, theatres, studios and media employers for internships and networking.
- Every freshman gets grant aid. In 2023-2024, 100% of full-time beginning students received grants or scholarships, averaging $22,780.
- Open doors. With 89% of applicants admitted, Columbia is accessible to students whose strengths are creative rather than test scores.
- Cultural centers on campus. The college hosts the Museum of Contemporary Photography, the Center for Book and Paper Arts and the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago.
Cons: What to Weigh Before You Enroll at Columbia College Chicago
- A high net price. Even after grants, the average net price for full-time beginning students was $29,473 in 2023-2024. Families earning up to $30,000 still paid an average of $20,924.
- Housing costs jumped. On-campus food and housing rose 22.5% to $20,629 for 2024-2025, and the estimated total cost of living on campus was $59,907.
- Many students do not return. 66% of full-time freshmen who started in fall 2023 returned in fall 2024. Of the fall 2018 cohort, 52% graduated within six years and 28% transferred out.
- Budget cuts and labor disruption. From October 30 to December 17, 2023, adjunct faculty went on a 49-day strike over plans to cut more than 300 spring courses, and Wikipedia reports further layoffs in 2026 tied to budget deficits.
- Shrinking enrollment. Wikipedia puts enrollment at 4,200 students as of fall 2025, down from the 5,570 reported to College Navigator for fall 2024.
- Heavy borrowing. 53% of full-time beginning students took out student loans in 2023-2024.
What Columbia College Chicago Costs: Tuition, Housing and Net Price
| Item (2024-2025 unless noted) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees | $34,088 |
| On-campus food and housing | $20,629 |
| Total cost, living on campus | $59,907 |
| Average net price (2023-2024) | $29,473 |
By income, the 2023-2024 net price ranged from $20,924 for families earning up to $30,000 to $36,436 for families earning over $110,000. Compare the result from the college’s net price calculator with the cost of a public university that offers the same major.
Is Columbia College Chicago a Good School? What the Numbers Say
For a creative student who knows what they want to make and who will use Chicago’s industry connections, Columbia offers real facilities and a specialised curriculum that general universities often cannot match.
The outcome and finance numbers are the caution. A 66% freshman retention rate, a 52% overall graduation rate, a net price near $30,000 and recent course cuts mean students should arrive with a clear plan, confirm that their program is stable, and keep borrowing under control.
Who Accredits Columbia College Chicago?
Columbia College Chicago is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with institutional accreditation dating from 1974. College Navigator lists an estimated next review in 2029.
Who Columbia College Chicago Suits, and Who Should Look Elsewhere
A good fit for: film, television, music, design, fashion, theatre and visual arts students who want an urban campus and hands-on production work, and whose aid package makes the price workable.
Worth comparing alternatives if: you are undecided about a creative career, you need a low net price, or you want a traditional campus with Division I sports and a broad academic range.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Columbia College Chicago part of Columbia University? No. It is a separate, independent college.
- Is Columbia College Chicago hard to get into? No. It admitted 89% of applicants for fall 2024.
- Is Columbia College Chicago accredited? Yes, by the Higher Learning Commission.
- What is Columbia College Chicago known for? Arts and media programs, especially film and television, music, design and performing arts.