CHICAGO, IL · PRIVATE NONPROFIT
Columbia College Chicago reported a $26,598 average net price, a completion rate of 49.9%, $47,092 median earnings four years after completion, and $25,000 median federal debt among completers in the June 2026 College Scorecard release.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College ScorecardPage compiled September 16, 2026Download source data ↗
01 · Earnings after completion
Columbia College Chicago’s median earnings were $47,092 four years after completion and $41,854 five years after completion, based on 2,513 and 2,719 working graduates, respectively.
The red marker shows the federal earnings threshold where available. Earnings cover graduates who were working and not enrolled; they do not include every former student.
02 · Cost after grant aid
Columbia College Chicago reported a $26,598 average net price. Published lower-income figures were $20,924 for households below $30,001 and $21,423 for households from $30,001 to $48,000.
| Federal income band | Average net price |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $20,924 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $21,423 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $25,590 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $31,677 |
| $110,001+ | $36,436 |
Average net price is cost of attendance minus average grant and scholarship aid for the defined cohort. Your actual price depends on the institution’s aid offer.
03 · Student progress and aid
Columbia College Chicago reported a completion rate of 49.9%, a retention rate of 65.0%, a Pell-recipient share of 46.0%, and a federal-loan share of 55.5%.
These percentages have different denominators. Completion and retention describe first-time student cohorts; Pell and federal-loan shares describe undergraduate aid receipt.
04 · Federal student debt
Median federal debt among Columbia College Chicago completers was $25,000 across 1,870 reported borrowers. The figure is cumulative debt, not annual cost or a monthly payment.
$25,000
Borrower repayment progress after four years: 25.0% across a reported cohort of 2,788 undergraduate completers.
05 · Field-of-study evidence
12 Columbia College Chicago programs met this site’s evidence threshold, including Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Marketing, and Business Administration, Management and Operations.
A program page requires at least 75 working graduates plus published four-year earnings and median debt. This is our evidence threshold, not a federal rating.
06 · Nearby comparison set
This report lists 6 other private nonprofit institutions in Illinois that match Columbia College Chicago on state and control type; the set is not ranked.
Answers at a glance
The Columbia College Chicago FAQ reports $26,598 average net price, $47,092 four-year median earnings, and $25,000 median federal debt.
The reported average net price was $26,598 for the applicable Title IV student cohort. It is a cohort average, not an individual aid offer.
Columbia College Chicago’s median earnings were $47,092 four years after completion and $41,854 five years after completion, based on 2,513 and 2,719 working graduates, respectively.
Median federal debt among Columbia College Chicago completers was $25,000 across 1,870 reported borrowers. The figure is cumulative debt, not annual cost or a monthly payment.
