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Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago is situated in the heart of Chicago's downtown, offering students direct access to the city's vibrant arts and media scene. The campus is integrated into the urban landscape, rather than being a traditional enclosed space. The college fosters a creative and diverse student body focused on arts, media, and communication disciplines. Its location provides opportunities for internships and collaborations with numerous professional organizations, and it houses unique resources like the Museum of Contemporary Photography.
Avg Grad Earnings
$27,375/yr
Avg DegreeOutlook Score
25/100
Tuition (Sticker Price)
$32,520/yr
Financial Aid & Net Price
What students actually pay after grants and scholarships, by family income. 43% of students receive Pell Grants and 57% take federal loans.
| Family Income |
Avg Net Price/yr |
4-Year Net Cost |
Net-Price ROI |
| $0 – $30K |
$21,821 |
$87,284 |
3.1x |
| $30K – $48K |
$22,285 |
$89,140 |
3.1x |
| $48K – $75K |
$27,380 |
$109,520 |
2.5x |
| $75K – $110K |
$32,896 |
$131,584 |
2.1x |
| $110K+ |
$36,054 |
$144,216 |
1.9x |
| Sticker price (no aid) |
$32,520 |
$130,080 |
2.1x |
Net price = tuition + fees + room & board minus grants and scholarships. ROI = average 10-year graduate earnings ÷ 4-year net cost. Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey via College Scorecard.
All Programs at Columbia College Chicago
15 degree programs ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any program for full AI scenario analysis and 10-year earnings projections.
| Program |
DW Score |
Earnings |
AI Risk |
ROI |
Business Administration
Compare across schools |
48 |
$34,798/yr |
High |
3.8x |
Marketing
Compare across schools |
44 |
$36,386/yr |
Very High |
3.8x |
Public Relations & Advertising
Compare across schools |
43 |
$39,794/yr |
High |
3.4x |
American Sign Language
Compare across schools |
28 |
$33,775/yr |
High |
2.7x |
Graphic Communications
Compare across schools |
26 |
$26,309/yr |
High |
4.0x |
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
Compare across schools |
24 |
$24,191/yr |
High |
2.5x |
Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management
Compare across schools |
24 |
$23,844/yr |
High |
1.9x |
Journalism
Compare across schools |
23 |
$31,369/yr |
Very High |
2.8x |
Design and Applied Arts
Compare across schools |
22 |
$29,630/yr |
High |
2.5x |
Fine and Studio Arts
Compare across schools |
21 |
$22,765/yr |
Moderate |
2.2x |
Music
Compare across schools |
17 |
$19,943/yr |
High |
1.5x |
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Compare across schools |
15 |
$25,060/yr |
Very High |
2.0x |
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Compare across schools |
14 |
$23,905/yr |
High |
1.8x |
Audiovisual Communications Technologies
Compare across schools |
14 |
$20,927/yr |
High |
2.5x |
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Compare across schools |
14 |
$17,929/yr |
Moderate |
1.6x |
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →