Your college, your career.
There’s so much more to Columbia College Chicago than what we could put in the folder you’re holding right now :
Our degree programs that prepare you for professional success
Our city where you can get connected to opportunities in your field
Our campus where you’re surrounded by faculty and fellow students who are as driven to pursue their passions as you are
And, of course, the creative career you’ll be ready for when you graduate
According to surveys of the graduating class of 2023:
96% are employed or achieving success in their creative practice. Top companies include Disney, NBC, Apple, CBS, and Warner Brothers
65% of bachelor’s degree recipients completed at least one internship while enrolled at Columbia
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So let’s dive in, shall we? We’ll see you on the next page.
OUR COMMITMENT
At Columbia College Chicago, we prepare our students to succeed in creative careers. We do this with a curriculum that emphasizes the ways business and technology intersect with creative practice.
We do it with a faculty and a campus that are connected to a city where industries are eager to hire creative talent.
We do it by embracing human and disciplinary diversity because we know that encountering new perspectives will always strengthen creative work.
“I don’t feel afraid about my career prospects. I feel like I can apply for an internship and not be scared that my experience and knowledge is not enough. Having that confidence is really nice.”
“For my Chemistry class, I’m taking Fabrics and Dyes. Trendspotting is more of a research class. We work on macrotrends like sustainability. I’m focusing on upcycling.”
OUR CLASSROOMS
With dozens of creative programs to choose from, you can discover and follow a path that’s all your own. Columbia College Chicago offers a diverse array of classrooms, studios, labs, and social spaces, all created with our students and their professional needs in mind.
Our degree programs encompass all aspects of the visual, performing, and media arts, communication, design, fashion, and business and entrepreneurship. We prepare our students to be the driving force behind the next cultural moment — which includes understanding how technology and commerce intersect with the creative industries to which they aspire.
Celine Berger Acting Frankfurt, Germany they/them Mae Mendoza Animation Aurora, IL she/her
Zuhura Soldat Fashion Decatur, GA she/her
“The faculty help us create our own toolkit drawing from all the different strategies and techniques.”
OUR CULTURE
Columbia College Chicago is intensely pragmatic about creativity. We understand that for our students to be successful after graduation, they need to not only understand their craft, but also be able to leverage it in the real world. This means being able to take the creative concept and translate it into the time and money required to execute it — to pitch an idea, read and understand a contract, manage a budget, and collaborate with others in ways that balance the idealistic with the practical.
We want our students to explore all the ways creativity can manifest itself and to understand that it isn’t just something that’s “nice to have,” it is essential to the human experience and your professional success.
“I feel like the usual ‘Art School’ standard is that other students are your competition, but here everyone is your collaborator. There’s a huge focus on building creative community.”
“I decided to attend Columbia because I loved the diversity. I love that everyone can be themselves. There’s no judgement here. It’s really open and you can express yourself however you want.”
“Columbia has everything at your fingertips. Don’t waste your time; take advantage because it’s all available to you.”
OUR CAMPUS
Chicago is in our name for a reason, and our students make the most of their city. You’ll have access to museums, theaters, concert venues, boutiques, and galleries right outside your door. Whatever your ambition — artist, entrepreneur, game designer, writer, actor — Chicago is the place for you to start building a network of collaborators and dive into your career before you even graduate.
Our South Loop campus will be your home base. In between classes, you’ll stroll the Wabash Arts Corridor, named one of the ten best arts districts in the country. You’ll work in facilities like our Media Production Center and Fabrication Studio designed to help students explore, practice, collaborate, make productive mistakes, and bring their visions to life.
And in between, you’ll relax and build community in our Student Center or in one of our residence halls located just blocks from campus.
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Alivia King Fine Arts Janesville, WI she/they
Alice Bortel Photography Minneapolis, MN she/her
Tristan Stewart Music Buda, TX he/him
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Music Center
The Columbia Chronicle Newsroom
Media Production Center
OUR CAREERS
Blanca covers all things in the world of entertainment, music, film, TV, and pop culture. She has previously written for and contributed to publications like Teen Vogue, Rolling Stone, The Washington Post, VICE, and Vox.
Jacey founded her company with the understanding that a hat isn’t just a hat—it is a visual reminder of power, beauty, diversity, and expression. Her journey has taken her to Churchill Downs where she served as the official milliner of the 2025 Kentucky Derby Festival.
Dan is known for bold and resonating design work across industries: entertainment, music, drag, and activism. Dan’s client list includes Britney Spears, Fall Out Boy, and fellow alum and “Drag Race” winner Shea Coulee ’11.
Norman’s work centers on community, craft, and Black cultural history. His studio produces experimental furniture and public projects that challenge the design canon while uplifting underrecognized voices.
OUR COST
One of the most important questions in your college journey is “How are you going to pay for it?” At Columbia College Chicago, we’re committed to doing everything we can to make our cost (and our value) as transparent and manageable as possible.
The chart below shows how, while tuition at private, creatively-focused colleges continues to rise, Columbia has succeeded in keeping our base price significantly lower than our peers.
And, of course, you can subtract any merit-, need-, or talent-based scholarships and grants from that base number.
Columbia’s tuition and fees for the 2025–2026 academic year are $37,344.
We’d invite you to compare that with the 2025–2026 tuition rates at other private colleges with programs in creative fields:
Some good news: There are ways to reduce that number and Columbia is here to help. Columbia offers scholarships to incoming students based on academic merit, financial need, and artistic talent.*
In Fall 2024, the average domestic first-year student received $13,237 in scholarships—or $52,948 over four years.
Many of our students are eligible for Federal and State grants to support enrollment. Some students and families offset the cost through Federal loans like the Stafford and PLUS programs. Hundreds of Columbia students earn additional money through on-campus employment. Finally, Columbia offers interest-free payment plans that can spread your remaining costs out over the full calendar year.
*Portfolio and audition requirements and deadlines can vary by program. The FAFSA is only available to US citizens and permanent residents; other students should ask their admissions representative about alternatives.
Dan Polyak ’11
Graphic Artist and Creative Director
Norman Teague ’12
Designer
Jacey Rhorer ’00
Milliner and Owner of Rhorer Couture
Bianca Betancourt ’15
Digital Culture Editor for Harper’s Bazaar
