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Design at Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Design and Applied Arts
22 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
23
Optimistic
22
Base Case
32
Pessimistic
Earnings $29,630/yr (-12% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 3.9x earnings multiple
Ranked #255 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Design graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $505K $504K $477K
Earnings Multiple 3.9x 3.9x 3.7x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 23 22 32

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$130,080
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$107,152
18% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,500
9.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,082
56% growth from Year 1

About Columbia College Chicago

A 91% acceptance rate means Columbia College Chicago is accessible to most applicants, serving 6,294 students in Chicago, IL. With 43% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Columbia College Chicago →

Top Career Paths

Art directors $111,040/yr
Architecture teachers, postsecondary $101,480/yr
Special effects artists and animators $99,800/yr
View all 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 290 schools offering Design →

Design at Other Schools

Carnegie Mellon University ($66,274) University of Southern California ($64,846) University of Washington-Seattle Campus ($63,449) University of California-Los Angeles ($57,615) Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus ($52,694) University of Cincinnati-Main Campus ($52,526) Utah State University ($52,431) Interior Designers Institute ($51,188)

Other Majors at Columbia College Chicago

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($39,794) Marketing ($36,386) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($34,798) American Sign Language ($33,775) Journalism ($31,369) Graphic Communications ($26,309) Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies ($25,060) Radio, Television, and Digital Communication ($24,191)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Design trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 22/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Design at Columbia College Chicago?
At 22/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Design programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Should I worry about AI if I study Design at Columbia College Chicago?
The 38% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →