Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium ProgramsPrivate nonprofitHSI
Columbia College Chicago
6-yr Graduation
52%
-16.5pp vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs
Total enrollment
5,570
peer median 8,315
Avg net price
$26,598
-$6.9k vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs
Use this data
About
Columbia College Chicago (CCC) is a private art college in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1890, it has 4,200 students pursuing degrees in more than 40 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Admissions & acceptance rate
First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.
Applied
7,079
7,079 candidates competed
Admitted
6,333
89.5% acceptance rate
Enrolled
959
15.1% yield
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Overall completion
52%-16.5pp vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs
Overall completion
52%-16.5pp vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs
4-year graduation
42%
4-year graduation
42%
6-year graduation (bachelor’s)
52%
6-year graduation (bachelor’s)
52%
Full-time retention
66%
Full-time retention
66%
Pell equity
7.2pp gap
Pell recipients
47%206 of 443
Non-Pell (all)
54%461 of 851
Subsidized loan, no Pell
55%181 of 328
No Federal Aid
54%280 of 523
Non-Pell students graduate at a 7.2-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 37 Title IV programs, 21 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 0 fail. 16 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Total programs
37
Passing
21
56.8% of portfolio
Failing (GE)
0
0.0% of portfolio
Fail rate
0.0%
-0.6pp vs 0.6% national
Pass / fail distribution
37programs
- Passing21 · 56.8%
- No Data16 · 43.2%
- Failing0 · 0.0%
Severity spectrum
Critical
0
Severe
0
Recoverable
0
At Risk
0
Watch
9
Safe
12
No data
16
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Program
Typical
Benchmark
EP gap
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Master's Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$53,147
$48,304
National Same-Field BA Median
+10.0%
+$4,843
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Master's Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
+10.0%
$53,147 vs $48,304
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Bachelor Degree · English Language And Literature/Letters
$39,751
$34,808
Same-State HS Median
+14.2%
+$4,943
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Bachelor Degree · English Language And Literature/Letters
+14.2%
$39,751 vs $34,808
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$39,986
$34,808
Same-State HS Median
+14.9%
+$5,178
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
+14.9%
$39,986 vs $34,808
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Master's Degree · English Language And Literature/Letters
$57,240
$49,483
National Same-Field BA Median
+15.7%
+$7,757
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Master's Degree · English Language And Literature/Letters
+15.7%
$57,240 vs $49,483
Music
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$40,734
$34,808
Same-State HS Median
+17.0%
+$5,926
Music
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
+17.0%
$40,734 vs $34,808
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$41,200
$34,808
Same-State HS Median
+18.4%
+$6,392
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
+18.4%
$41,200 vs $34,808
Dance
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$41,842
$34,808
Same-State HS Median
+20.2%
+$7,034
Dance
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
+20.2%
$41,842 vs $34,808
Fine and Studio Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$42,176
$34,808
Same-State HS Median
+21.2%
+$7,368
Fine and Studio Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
+21.2%
$42,176 vs $34,808
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Program
Median debt
Median earnings
Debt burden
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Master's Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$56,338
$53,147
106%
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Master's Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$56,338 debt · $53,147 earn
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Master's Degree · English Language And Literature/Letters
$60,538
$57,240
106%
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Master's Degree · English Language And Literature/Letters
$60,538 debt · $57,240 earn
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Bachelor Degree · English Language And Literature/Letters
$26,000
$39,751
65%
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Bachelor Degree · English Language And Literature/Letters
$26,000 debt · $39,751 earn
Dance
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$27,000
$41,842
65%
Dance
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$27,000 debt · $41,842 earn
Music
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$25,951
$40,734
64%
Music
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$25,951 debt · $40,734 earn
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$25,250
$39,986
63%
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$25,250 debt · $39,986 earn
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$24,675
$41,200
60%
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$24,675 debt · $41,200 earn
Fine and Studio Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$24,775
$42,176
59%
Fine and Studio Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$24,775 debt · $42,176 earn
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
AccreditedInstitutional accreditor
Higher Learning Commission
Accredited since 1974Next review Aug 2029
Action history · 1
- Mar 2019Renewal of AccreditationHigher Learning Commission
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Aid exceeds costFamily pays
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Avg net price (private)
$26,598
-$6,938vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs median $33,537
Federal loans
55.5%
In-state tuition
$34,088
Out-of-state
$34,088
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 2,820 students received $16.8M in Pell grants, alongside $48.6M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients
2,820
AY 2024–25
Pell disbursed
$16.8M
$16,770,213 total
Direct Loans
$48.6M
6,975 loan awards
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
3k’20
3k’21
3k’22
3k’23
3k’24
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Subsidized$12.2M
2,894 loan awards
Unsubsidized · UG$10.0M
3,122 loan awards
Unsubsidized · Grad$1.3M
74 loan awards
Parent PLUS$23.6M
845 loan awards
Grad PLUS$1.5M
40 loan awards
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 2,192 borrowers who entered repayment, 40 (1.8%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate
1.8%
-0.5pp vs 2.3% national
Borrowers in repayment
2,192
Defaulted
40
Measurement window
3 years
Federal CDR standard
Default rate vs national, by cohort
2016
9.4%+0.1
2017
9.2%
2018
6.1%-0.9
2019
1.8%-0.5
2020*
0.0%
This institutionNational rate
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at Columbia College Chicago
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Distinct CIP programs58
UndergraduateOffered
GraduateOffered
Top program families by completions
1,387 total completions
01Visual/Performing Arts
1,02173.6%
01Visual/Performing Arts
1,02173.6%
02Communication
906.5%
02Communication
906.5%
03Comm. Technologies
815.8%
03Comm. Technologies
815.8%
04English Language
745.3%
04English Language
745.3%
05Physical Sciences
453.2%
05Physical Sciences
453.2%
06Business
423.0%
06Business
423.0%
07Foreign Languages
171.2%
07Foreign Languages
171.2%
08Multi/Interdisciplinary
70.5%
08Multi/Interdisciplinary
70.5%
09Area/Ethnic Studies
60.4%
09Area/Ethnic Studies
60.4%
10Computer Sciences
40.3%
10Computer Sciences
40.3%
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Fall total
5,570
12-mo unduplicated
5,875
Undergraduate
5,671
Graduate
204
Gender split
Men
39%2,272
Women
61%3,603
Race / ethnicity composition
White
39.5%
Hispanic
28.2%
Black
18.7%
Two or more
4.8%
Non-resident
4.0%
Asian
3.7%
Unknown
0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native
0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
0.0%
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
Criminal offenses · per 1,000 students
2.91
19 offenses · 6,529 students
3-year trend
6.832 yrs ago5.121 yr ago2.91Latest
Offenses · 3-yr
99
Last three years
VAWA · 3-yr
55
DV, dating, stalking
Hate crimes · 3-yr
1
Res-hall fires · 3-yr
4
Criminal offenses by type
Robbery
9
Rape
6
Fondling
3
Motor vehicle theft
1
By location
19total
- On campus8
- Public property11
Includes 7 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).
VAWA offenses
4
Domestic violence
1
Dating violence
16
Stalking
21 total under the Violence Against Women Act.
Hate crimes by bias
No hate crimes reported.
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
CategoryArrestsReferrals
Weapons21
Drugs336
Liquor091
Residence-hall fires
- University Center1 fireMachinery/IndustrialDamage $1,000-$9,999
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
Student-to-faculty
15.0:1
Instructional staff (full-time equivalent)
222
Columbia College Chicago vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions Columbia College Chicago selected for federal comparison reporting.
This institutionPeer median
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectColumbia College Chicago | 52% | — | 5,570 | $26,598 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs |
| 70% | 95.3% | 8,803 | $33,147 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 67% | 43.5% | 8,369 | $49,465 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 76% | 76.8% | 4,777 | $22,719 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 82% | 65.4% | 9,760 | $46,555 | R2 Research | |
| 68% | 75.9% | 21,210 | $30,902 | R2 Research | |
| 55% | 90.3% | 3,803 | $11,745 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 78% | 79.4% | 21,153 | $38,509 | R1 Research | |
| 77% | 51.3% | 5,263 | $49,180 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 76% | 69.0% | 4,767 | $33,926 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 75% | 81.6% | 17,384 | $36,079 | R2 Research | |
| 59% | 93.1% | 4,250 | $23,696 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 49% | 82.6% | 1,601 | $36,861 | Baccalaureate | |
| 30% | 95.1% | 8,915 | $12,641 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 88% | 9.2% | 56,832 | $37,050 | R1 Research | |
| 58% | 68.5% | 2,557 | $16,948 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 60% | 75.9% | 13,634 | $30,892 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 74% | 73.3% | 5,356 | $52,659 | — | |
| 46% | 97.2% | 4,281 | $20,194 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 57% | 84.3% | 3,485 | $10,970 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 69% | 83.0% | 18,550 | $49,430 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 67% | 77.5% | 3,394 | $49,790 | — | |
| 84% | 45.9% | 22,589 | $38,793 | R1 Research | |
| 69% | 63.5% | 9,068 | $58,741 | R2 Research | |
| 92% | 9.8% | 46,566 | $32,740 | R1 Research | |
| 64% | 86.2% | 8,260 | $27,047 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| Peer group median | 69% | 76.8% | 8,315 | $33,537 |
Institutions like Columbia College Chicago
Explore the federal data for institutions in Columbia College Chicago's comparison group.
- Doctoral/ProfessionalTennessee
Belmont University
Grad rate70%Admit rate95.3%Enrollment8,803Net price$33,147View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsMassachusetts
Berklee College of Music
Grad rate67%Admit rate43.5%Enrollment8,369Net price$49,465View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalIllinois
Bradley University
Grad rate76%Admit rate76.8%Enrollment4,777Net price$22,719View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
Chapman University
Grad rate82%Admit rate65.4%Enrollment9,760Net price$46,555View data - R2 ResearchIllinois
DePaul University
Grad rate68%Admit rate75.9%Enrollment21,210Net price$30,902View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsIllinois
Dominican University
Grad rate55%Admit rate90.3%Enrollment3,803Net price$11,745View data - R1 ResearchPennsylvania
Drexel University
Grad rate78%Admit rate79.4%Enrollment21,153Net price$38,509View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsMassachusetts
Emerson College
Grad rate77%Admit rate51.3%Enrollment5,263Net price$49,180View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsNew York
Ithaca College
Grad rate76%Admit rate69.0%Enrollment4,767Net price$33,926View data - R2 ResearchIllinois
Loyola University Chicago
Grad rate75%Admit rate81.6%Enrollment17,384Net price$36,079View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalLouisiana
Loyola University New Orleans
Grad rate59%Admit rate93.1%Enrollment4,250Net price$23,696View data - BaccalaureateNew York
Marymount Manhattan College
Grad rate49%Admit rate82.6%Enrollment1,601Net price$36,861View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalIllinois
National Louis University
Grad rate30%Admit rate95.1%Enrollment8,915Net price$12,641View data - R1 ResearchNew York
New York University
Grad rate88%Admit rate9.2%Enrollment56,832Net price$37,050View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsIllinois
North Park University
Grad rate58%Admit rate68.5%Enrollment2,557Net price$16,948View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalNew York
Pace University
Grad rate60%Admit rate75.9%Enrollment13,634Net price$30,892View data - New York
Pratt Institute-Main
Grad rate74%Admit rate73.3%Enrollment5,356Net price$52,659View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalIllinois
Roosevelt University
Grad rate46%Admit rate97.2%Enrollment4,281Net price$20,194View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsIllinois
Saint Xavier University
Grad rate57%Admit rate84.3%Enrollment3,485Net price$10,970View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsGeorgia
Savannah College of Art and Design
Grad rate69%Admit rate83.0%Enrollment18,550Net price$49,430View data - Illinois
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Grad rate67%Admit rate77.5%Enrollment3,394Net price$49,790View data - R1 ResearchNew York
Syracuse University
Grad rate84%Admit rate45.9%Enrollment22,589Net price$38,793View data - R2 ResearchNew York
The New School
Grad rate69%Admit rate63.5%Enrollment9,068Net price$58,741View data - R1 ResearchCalifornia
University of Southern California
Grad rate92%Admit rate9.8%Enrollment46,566Net price$32,740View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsMissouri
Webster University
Grad rate64%Admit rate86.2%Enrollment8,260Net price$27,047View data
Columbia College Chicago Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
Office
Office of Institutional Effectiveness
Email
ieoffice [at] colum.edu
Address
600 S. Michigan Ave., Room 725, Chicago, IL 60605-1996
The Office of Institutional Effectiveness leverages institutional data to facilitate data-informed decisions advancing Columbia College Chicago’s mission, values, and effectiveness.
Visit IR office pageTeam
2 members
- John DennisInterim Director
- Kyung Sun Chung, Ph.D.Assistant Director
Reports & documents (2)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- Strategic planRenaissance Rising: Shaping Tomorrow Together2026Columbia College Chicago's Strategic Plan for 2026-2029, titled 'Renaissance Rising: Shaping Tomorrow Together', aims to guide the institution through a transformative period. This plan focuses on four priorities: stabilizing enrollment, elevating the college's brand, strengthening philanthropy, and enhancing operational effectiveness. The development of this strategic plan involved over 600 stakeholders, reflecting a collective effort that aligns the college's direction with the evolving creative economy.about.colum.edu
Notable alumni of Columbia College Chicago (14)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Scott AdsitEntertainment
- Mauro FioreFilm
- Aidy BryantEntertainment
- CommonMusic
- Becky LynchSports
- Pat SajakTelevision
- Nadine VelazquezEntertainment
- Shea CouleeEntertainment
- Janusz KamińskiFilm
- Bob OdenkirkEntertainment
- Lena WaitheEntertainment
- Aiden EnglishSports
Showing 1–12 of 14
1 / 2
Frequently asked questions about Columbia College Chicago
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Columbia College Chicago.
What is the graduation rate at Columbia College Chicago?
Columbia College Chicago reports a 6-year graduation rate of 52% per the latest IPEDS.
How many students attend Columbia College Chicago?
Columbia College Chicago reports a total enrollment of 5,570 students per the latest IPEDS.
What is the average net price at Columbia College Chicago?
The average net price at Columbia College Chicago is $26,598 per the latest College Scorecard. Net price is the published cost of attendance minus grant aid.
What is the yield rate at Columbia College Chicago?
Columbia College Chicago's yield rate is 15.1%, the share of admitted students who enrolled, per the latest IPEDS.
Where is Columbia College Chicago located?
Columbia College Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois 60605-1996.
Who runs Institutional Research at Columbia College Chicago?
Columbia College Chicago's IR work is done by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
IPEDS2025 provisional data (Fall 2025–26 release, July 28, 2026)
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.
DAPIP accreditationContinuously refreshed
Accreditation status for institutions and programs, reported by recognized accrediting agencies.
Federal Pell Grant volumeAY 2025–26 (through Q3), through March 31, 2026
Pell Grant recipient counts, award amounts, and disbursements by institution and award year.
Federal student loan volumeAY 2025–26 (through Q3), through March 31, 2026
Federal Direct Loan recipient counts and disbursement volume by institution and award year.
Cohort Default RatesFY 2022 official rates
Institution-level federal student loan default rates, measuring borrowers who default within three years of entering repayment.
Equity in Athletics (EADA)Academic year 2024–25
Athletics participation, coaching, revenues, and expenses by sport and gender for Title IV institutions.
Campus Safety & SecurityData through reporting year 2024
Criminal offenses, arrests, disciplinary actions, VAWA offenses, and fire statistics reported by campus under the Clery Act.
Last reviewed July 2026All data sources & release dates →
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