Located in the heart of Chicago’s Cultural Mile, Columbia College Chicago has been a destination for innovators for over 135 years. A private, nonprofit institution, Columbia offers a distinctive curriculum that blends creative and media arts, liberal arts, and business across more than 40 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Columbia students graduate ready to lead—with sharp creative and critical thinking skills, real-world problem-solving abilities, compelling bodies of work, and industry connections that drive both personal and professional growth in today’s evolving creative economy.
From day one, students dive into hands-on learning guided by working professionals with deep industry insight. Our graduates are prepared not only for the careers they envision today but also for those yet to be imagined. We equip them with the ability to meet employer expectations and the creativity to thrive amid change. At Columbia, we celebrate and support every way of being and creating.
Hover over dots to see degrees offered and online availability.
MAJORS OFFERED:Acting for Stage and ScreenBachelors Degree
AnimationCertificate
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management Masters Degree
Audio ArtsBachelors Degree
Beauty ManagementMasters Degree
Comedy Writing and PerformanceBachelors Degree
Creative WritingBachelors Degree
DanceBachelors Degree
Data Management and AnalysisCertificate
Entrepreneurship and InnovationBachelors Degree
Certificate
Entrepreneurship for CreativesBachelors Degree
Masters Degree
Fashion DesignBachelors Degree
Financial ManagementCertificate
Fine ArtsBachelors Degree
Graphic DesignBachelors Degree
IllustrationBachelors Degree
Interior ArchitectureBachelors Degree
Music BusinessBachelors Degree
Music Composition for MediaBachelors Degree
Music Composition for the ScreenMasters Degree
Music ProductionBachelors Degree
Music TechnologyBachelors Degree
Musical TheatreBachelors Degree
Performance and SongwritingBachelors Degree
PhotographyBachelors Degree
Sound Design for Media and StageBachelors Degree
Strategic CommunicationMasters Degree
Sustainable Beauty ManagementCertificate
Masters Degree
Visual ArtsBachelors Degree
Acting for Stage and ScreenBachelors degree
ActingBachelors degree
AdvertisingBachelors degree
Art HistoryBachelors degree
Arts ManagementBachelors degree
ASL StudiesBachelors degree
BiologyBachelors degree
Black World StudiesBachelors degree
Broadcast MediaBachelors degree
Cinema and Television StudiesBachelors degree
Comedy Writing and PerformanceBachelors degree
Contemporary MusicBachelors degree
CraftBachelors degree
Creative WritingBachelors degree
DanceBachelors degree
Design ManagementBachelors degree
Devising Collaborative PerformanceBachelors degree
Entrepreneurship and InnovationBachelors degree
Environmental StudiesBachelors degree
Fashion for Game ArtBachelors degree
Fashion StylingBachelors degree
Feminist and Queer StudiesBachelors degree
Fine ArtsBachelors degree
Game ArtBachelors degree
Game DesignBachelors degree
Graphic DesignBachelors degree
Health and WellnessBachelors degree
Hip-Hop StudiesBachelors degree
IllustrationBachelors degree
Immersive MediaBachelors degree
Intellectual Property ManagementBachelors degree
Interactive Media Development and EntrepreneurshipBachelors degree
JournalismBachelors degree
Latino and Latin American StudiesBachelors degree
LiteratureBachelors degree
Media ActivismBachelors degree
Media for Social ImpactMasters degree
Motion GraphicsBachelors degree
Music BusinessBachelors degree
Performing Arts ManagementBachelors degree
PhotographyBachelors degree
Photojournalism Bachelors degree
PlaywritingBachelors degree
Pre-Law StudiesBachelors degree
Professional WritingBachelors degree
ProgrammingBachelors degree
Public RelationsBachelors degree
RadioBachelors degree
Social Media and Digital StrategyBachelors degree
Sports ManagementBachelors degree
Stage Combat Bachelors degree
Sustainable FashionBachelors degree
Talent ManagementBachelors degree
Theatre DirectingBachelors degree
User ExperienceBachelors degree
Video ProductionBachelors degree
Vocal PerformanceBachelors degree
VoiceoverBachelors degree
Web DevelopmentBachelors degree
Writing for TelevisionBachelors degree
| FULL-TIME | |
| TUITION | $ 0 |
| MANDATORY FEES | 0 |
| BOOKS & SUPPLIES | 0 |
| ON-CAMPUS ROOM & BOARD | N/A |
| OFF-CAMPUS ROOM & BOARD | 0 |
| OTHER | — |
Acceptance Rate = The percentage of students admitted out of applications received in a given year.
UNDERGRADUATE FTE1 = N/A
UNDERGRADUATE
| FULL-TIME | 0 |
| PART-TIME | 0 |
NOTE 1: "Full-Time Equivalent" is the common way to measure the relative size of colleges. This adjusts for differences in the percentage of part-time students (or faculty). For example: one full-time student = 1 FTE; three half-time students = 1.5 FTE, etc.
| APPLICATION: | Required |
| ONLINE APPLICATION: | Required |
| APPLICATION FEES: | $25 (approximate) |
| HOME EXAM: | Not Required |
| INTERVIEW: | Required, depending on program |
| ESSAY: | Required, depending on program |
| SAT / ACT: | Not Required |
| PORTFOLIO: | Required, depending on program |
| LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: | Not Required |
| IELTS: | N/A |
| TOEFL: | N/A |
TRANSCRIPTS
| HIGH SCHOOL: | Required |
| COLLEGE: | Required, if transferring |
FACULTY FTE1 = N/A
| FULL-TIME | 0 |
| PART-TIME | 0 |
STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO: FALL 2023
N/A
FTE STUDENTS PER FTE FACULTY1
FRESHMAN RETENTION
| FALL 2021 FRESHMEN RETURNING IN FALL 2022 |
N/A% |
| FALL 2022 FRESHMEN RETURNING IN FALL 2023 |
N/A% |
SIX-YEAR GRADUATION RATE
| FALL 2016 FRESHMEN GRADUATING WITHIN SIX YEARS |
N/A% |
| FALL 2017 FRESHMEN GRADUATING WITHIN SIX YEARS |
N/A% |
UNDERGRADUATE ETHNICITY
FALL 2023UNDERGRADUATE GENDER DISTRIBUTION
FALL 2023THIS DATA IS NOT AVAILABLE.
NEW STUDENT GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION2
FALL 2023Beauty Management MA Executive Program
RE:ALIZE Chicago Public Schools Dual Enrollment Program
Summer at Columbia Pre-College Program
Semester in L.A.
Comedy Study Semester at The Second City
South X Southwest
Study Abroad – exchange, faculty-led study abroad, independent study abroad
Study Away – faculty-led domestic trips (Miami, New York, and more)
Center for Student Wellbeing
College Advising Center
Career Center
Peer Career Coaches
Student Government Association
Student Organizations and Leadership
Student Diversity & Inclusion Office
Student Activities/Student Programming Board
The Makerspace
Digital Print Center
The Rack (Student Clothing Co-Op)
Columbia Cares (Student Support/Food Assistance)
Student gallery spaces
Writers @ Lunch Program
Academic Center for Tutoring
TRIO Mentorship Program
Scholars Project
Honors Program
Manifest Annual Arts Festival
New Student Convocation
New Student Programs & Orientation
Orientation Engage Leader Program
Engage Columbia Portal
International Student and Scholar Services
Services for Students with Disabilities
The Columbia Chronicle award-winning student newspaper
Homeroom student lounge
The Hive student event space
SHOPColumbia student boutique
Museum of Contemporary Photography
Wabash Arts Corridor
WCRX 88.1FM student-run radio station
Getz Theatre Center
Media Production Center
Fabrication Facility
Dance Center Stage
Sound Lab
Advanced Digital Audio Production Lab
Anechoic Chamber
Fashion Study Collection Research Center
Film Row Cinema
Game Lab
Letterpress Studio
Papermakers’ Garden
Film, Television, Sound, Recording, Post-Production Studios
Reverberation Chamber
Black-Box Venue
Screening Rooms
Offset Printing Studio
NOTE 1: "Full-Time Equivalent" is the common way to measure the relative size of colleges. This adjusts for differences in the percentage of part-time students (or faculty). For example: one full-time student = 1 FTE; three half-time students = 1.5 FTE, etc. NOTE 2: Geographic distribution is reported for first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates. NOTE 3: Includes all institutional scholarships and grants, but does not include College Work Study or third party awards.