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Columbia College Chicago
10.0(2)
VerifiedPrivate (Not for Profit)Estd. 1890
Founded
1890
Type
Private (Not for Profit)
University Guide
About Columbia College Chicago
Explore overview, courses, fees, admissions, campus life, scholarships and student accommodation guidance in one premium Admistay guide.
Columbia College Chicago is recognised among the Best Film Schools in the US. The college is committed to provide a comprehensive educational opportunity in the arts, communications, and public information within a context of enlightened liberal education. Currently around 6,000+ students are enrolled at CC comprising an international population representing 60 countries across the world. Admissions at Columbia College Chicago are quite lenient with an acceptance rate of 90%. Applications at the college are invited on a rolling basis for the seasonal intakes of Fall, and Spring.
Programs offered at Columbia College include more than 60+ undergraduate, and graduate degree programs. The total cost to attend the college is around 24,874 USD annually. The college also provides several scholarships and financial aids to international students of upto 26,199 USD per student on average. Nearly 90% of students graduating from CC are placed every year. Also check External Scholarships to study in the US
Columbia College Chicago Rankings
- Ranked at #16 in Most Innovative Schools and #75 in Top Performers on Social Mobility by US News and World Report, 2023
- Ranked under 600th in US College Rankings by The Times Higher Education, 2022
- Rank at #3 College for Video Game Design by College Magazine.
- At #4 in Animation School in the Midwest and at Graphic Design Program in Illinois, Top 50 Nationally by Animation Career Review.
- In addition to this, the college has also been ranked at 12th in Top American Film Schools by the Hollywood Reporter.
Highlights
| Type of college | Private |
| Faculty Members | 570+ |
| Number of Undergraduate Students | 6,542 |
| Percentage of International Students | 5.6% |
| Application fees | 25 USD |
| Annual Acceptance Rate | 90% |
| Graduation Rate | 49.88% |
| Retention Rate | 68% |
| Official Website | www.column.edu |
Columbia College Chicago Campus
Columbia College has more than 15 academic, administrative, and residential buildings in the South Loop neighborhood. The University is located in the city of Chicago which is one of the best and most student-friendly cities in the U.S, and the campus of the college covers approximately a mile divided into 3 blocks.
- Some of the famous attractions at the college include Museum of Contemporary Photography along with a 180-seat Ferguson Memorial Theater with facilities like television studios, video editing, and classrooms.
- The 754 South Wabash Students Center has a film-screening room, dining options, a fitness center, a reflection room for meditation and prayer, and event spaces for meetings, performances, and receptions.
- The college has over 85+ student organizations from the Student Dance Organization to Japanese Anime and Manga to express the diversity, interests, and energy of the students.
- Columbia College Chicago also organises hundreds of cultural events such as student performances and gallery showings, faculty and guest lectures, readings, and performances.
Read Student reviews of Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago Accommodation
The college provides on campus housing facilities to students through its four residential halls namely 30 East Balbo, The Arc, The Dwight and the University Center. All the residential buildings are located at a walking distance from the main building close to public transportation.
- The Arc is remodeled and modernized halls with a contemporary design, stylish amenities, and an engaging public space.
- The 30 East houses approximately 340 Columbia College Chicago students and has in apartment style units, with 2 to 5 students per unit in single and double-occupancy bedrooms.
- The UC is situated in the heart of the college campus, between Congress and Harrison on South State Street. It has the options of a state-of-the-art building including one or two person semi suites and a person apartment.
The costs of housing of all the residential buildings along with the rooms are given below:
| Residential Halls | Costs per year (in USD) |
|---|---|
| University Center | Private room suite single: 19,098 Deluxe double semi-suite: 15,798 Quad semi-suite double: 14,424 |
| 30 E. Balbo | Single room, full size bed: 15,222 Double shared room: 11,480 Small double shared room: 10,896 Studio apartment: 17,108 |
| The Dwight | Single room: 14,946 Single room, full size bed: 15,222 Double shared room: 11,480 |
Read Off-campus housing options in the US
Columbia College Chicago Programs
The college offers more than 60+ undergraduate and graduate degree programs which help students to build a solid foundation in the liberal arts and sciences that is essential to any creative career.
- The course offerings at the college in major subjects areas combinex the conceptual study with practical application, resulting in realistic career preparation.
- Undergraduate programs of the college are offered at Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Science degree levels whereas the PG programs offered at Columbia College Chicago are taught at the Master of Arts, Master of Arts Management and Master of Fine Arts levels.
- The college also offers a buddy program for the new international candidates to match their course levels with the current Colombian students.
Columbia College Chicago Application Process
The college provides admissions to international students from over 60 countries in more than 60 degree programs. Students can submit their applications with all the required documents before the specified application deadline to get enough time for their F1 Visa.
Application Portal: Common Application or Columbia College Online Application
Application Fees: 25 USD
Application Deadlines:
| Application Type | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall 2023 | December 1 |
| Spring 2023 | November 15 |
| Priority Deadline | January 19 |
Admission Requirements:
- A completed application
- Official high school transcripts
- Standardized scores
- Writing Sample
- Portfolio, Audition and Interviews
- Self-Assessment Essay
- Two letters of recommendation
- Copy of your passport
- English Proficiency Test Scores
- TOEFL: 80
- IELTS: 6.5 or above
Columbia College Chicago Cost of Attendance
The budget of education in Columbia College Chicago is an important aspect. To help with the expenses of the stay at the university, the approximate cost of living in the US is as follows:
| Expenditure | Undergraduate Cost (in USD) | Graduate Cost (in USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 13,305 | 14,088 |
| Estimated Fees | 807-1,073 | 588-864 |
| Books and Supplies | 800 | 962 |
| Miscellaneous | 1,003 | 1,003 |
| Transportation | 425 | 425 |
| Loan Fees | 40 | 104 |
| Room and board | 8,228 | 8,228 |
| Total | 16,646 | 25,674 |
Columbia College Chicago Scholarships
Columbia College Chicago provides a number of scholarships and financial aid to international candidates in the form of internal and external scholarships. Around 90% of incoming students receive some sort of financial aid of 26,199 USD per student on an average.
- Talent based scholarships are offered to international students who need to submit a portfolio of creative samples along with their undergraduate application. The deadline is January 15.
- Dean Scholarships are awarded to new incoming freshman and transfer students based on their academic achievements. Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. The awards are decided based on the review of their scholarship.
Also check Education loans to study in the US
Columbia College Chicago Alumni
The college has more than 96,000 alumni networks spread across the world. They provide a number of benefits to their alumni members such as library access, career resources, handshake, resume guides, career planning guides and many more.
Notable Alumni:
- Luis de la Parra- Senior VP at Univision
- Ben Mills- Head of product at Venmo
- Pablo Martinez Monsivais- Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist
- Len Amato- President, HBO Films
- Jonathan McReynolds- Grammy nominated
- Michael George- Actress
Columbia College Chicago Placements
Around 90% of the students are employed or get placed within one year of their graduation from the college. The college also has a Career Center which helps candidates in building resumes or cover letters, providing internships opportunities, getting interviews and many more. The best paying degree of the college is Bachelor of Arts with an average salary of 54,000 USD annually.
Given below are average salaries for different jobs offered at CC:
| Jobs | Average Salary (in USD) |
|---|---|
| Marketing, Product & Communications | 78,000 |
| Media, Communication & Advertising | 62,000 |
| Programme & Project Management | 60,000 |
| Sales & Business Development | 48,000 |
| Support Functions & Translation | 37,000 |
| IT & Software Development | 35,000 |
Also check Job opportunities in the US
The Columbia College of Chicago is counted among the top colleges in the US for liberal arts, film and animation. It reviews the first-round of decisions for early applicants in late-October. After that an admissions decision is usually released within the four to six weeks of application submission with all the required materials.
The college does not offer an early decision or early action option, but it encourages students to apply as early as possible. The college attracts study abroad candidates because of its affordable education and high returns. The highest salary package observed at Columbia College Chicago is 78,000 USD.
FAQs
Ques. Does Columbia College Chicago accept everyone?
Ans. The college has been ranked as the best school in animation. It has an acceptance rate of 90% which means if 100 students had applied for the admission almost 90 of them will get selected for admission.
Ques. What GPA do I need to get into Columbia College Chicago?
Ans. You must have to maintain a GPA of 3.4 to get a safest admission at the college.
Ques. Do I need a student visa to study at Columbia College?
Ans. Yes. If you are getting admission as a full time student at the college, you need to apply for a F-1 Student Visa at the nearest US embassy. To apply for the visa, you need an i-20 form or a DS 2023 that will be issued by the college after acceptance.
Ques. How do I register for orientation after admission?
Ans. All of the students are required to sign up for an orientation session that takes place either at the college or online. You have to sign up for orientation via your Columbia Connect Portal.
Ques. Does Columbia College Chicago require an interview?
Ans. Yes, the college will conduct an interview for admission at most of the programs as a part of their application requirements.
Ques. What is the Buddy Program?
Ans. The Buddy Program is designed for new international students. It pairs you with a current Colombian student who will be your Buddy for a semester. They help you in guiding and in transportation from the airport to Columbia.
Courses & Fees
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Courses
52
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₹21,20,719.5
Exams
IELTS · TOEFL
Showing 5 of 50 bachelors
Overview
Degree TypeBachelor
Duration4 years
Study ModeFull Time
LanguageEnglish
Fees
Tuition FeeINR 21.2 L/Yr
Native FeeUSD 22,650 /Yr
Fee trendTuition progression
Admission Guide
Admission Process
Columbia College, Chicago is a private college accepting fresh students in the seasonal intakes of fall and spring. With an acceptance rate of 90%, the admission policy of the college is lightly selective. International students can pursue more than 60 degree programs at Columbia College across arts discipline. However, admissions to graduate courses of the institute are offered on a rolling basis around the year.
The college accepts online applications through the college's portal and common application. Prospective students need to deposit a fee of 75 USD when applying for admissions at the college. Students need a competitive GPA along with satisfactory scores in standardized exams to study in USA to be eligible for admission. Nearly all the freshmen in the college receives some type of scholarships to study in USA.
Highlights
| Application portal | Columbia’s application or common application |
| Application fee | 75 USD (international students) |
| Acceptance rate | 90% |
| Average SAT score | 1060 |
| Average ACT score | 24 |
| Mode of payment | Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express/ pay by mail, etc. |
| Academic calendar | Semester-based |
| Intake seasons | Fall/Spring |
| Financial aid | Scholarships/student loans/grants/work-study |
| Work experience | Not required |
Columbia College Admission Deadlines
THe college offers an array of programs for the international student admissions, provided in different intakes. Some of the upcoming deadlines at the university are as compiled below.
- Spring: November 15
- Fall: December 1.
- Priority deadline for other programs: January 19.
Graduate Students: All graduate programs have a rolling basis of admissions post the priority deadline except for a few.
Columbia College International Student Admissions
Columbia College Chicago gives an opportunity to all international students to enroll in their programs. The college identifies anyone without a US citizenship, green card/residency as an international student. The students can apply for either a bachelor’s degree or master’s in the array of programs offered in various fields of arts. The degrees offered include BS, BA, BFA, MA, MFA, MAM, and many more.
Application portal: Columbia’s application or Common Application
Application fee: 75 USD
Basic Admission requirements: The general admission requirements for the undergraduate programs are as follows:
- Transcripts (high school/college)
- Proof of English proficiency
- Test scores (Undergraduate supplementary requirement)
- Portfolios/Auditions (Undergraduate supplementary requirement)
- Standardized exams to study in the USA.
- Submission of letters of recommendation is mandatory for international applicants.
- Applicants may have to submit a statement of purpose/intent.
- A valid passport and visa.
- Applicants may have to submit a graduation certificate or leaving certificate.
English Proficiency Test Scores
All international students at the college need to submit proof of English language proficiency. The applicants can take any recognized test and submit its scores. The minimum required scores are:
Visa Process for International Students
International students require an F-1 visa to study in the USA on a student permit. To apply for the visa, the student is required to have an I-20 form, issued by the college/university which indicates that they are accepted in a US university.
Columbia would issue an I-20 only when a student is admitted to the college and they have filled their I-20 request form on their status page.
Additionally, the university would also require the following documents,
- A photocopy of your passport.
- Proof of finances (official bank letter/statement)
- If not personally funded, then proof of financial aid.
The I-20 should be issued within a few weeks of submitting all the documents.
Columbia College Undergraduate Admissions
The institute offers a multitude of degrees through their three schools, ranging from fine and performing arts, liberal arts and sciences to media arts. The college offers four degrees, BA, BS, BFA, BMus. A student can apply for an undergraduate degree at the university if they’ve finished their high school and never have been enrolled in a post-secondary college. To apply, here are a few requirements that students need to meet.
Application portal: Apply online at the official website
Application fee: 25 USD (domestic)/ 75 USD (international students)
Basic Admission Requirements: The admission requirements for the undergraduate programs at Columbia College are minimal and are as follows:
- Official high school transcripts.
- Proof of English proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/ACT/SAT)
- Test scores (ACT (School Code (1002))/SAT (School Code (1135))/AP/IB)
- Portfolios or auditions (only for students applying to BFA or BMus Program)
International students might be required to submit additional transcripts, such as, “leaving certificate” or “graduation certificate” with the certified results. The transcripts are to be sent by the schools to the college at Columbia College Chicago Admissions at 600 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60605. The transcripts are all to be mailed or handed over in a sealed envelope.
Columbia College Graduate Admissions
Columbia’s School of Graduates Studies offers a wide array of master’s degree options to its applicants from across the world hoping to study in the USA. The school has graduate studies in the fields of arts, media and the business of arts. Students can apply for a master’s degree at Columbia College Chicago, given that they’ve completed their bachelor’s degree.
Additionally, to an online application at their portal or a common application, students are required to see program-specific requirements. Such specific requirements for some of the popular majors at the institute are as tabulated below.
| Requirements | MAM business and entrepreneurship | MFA fine arts | MFA creative producing | MFA Cinema and Television directing | MA Entrepreneurship for Creatives |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee (non-refundable) | 60 USD (domestic) 75 USD (international) |
60 USD (domestic) 75 USD (international) |
60 USD (domestic) 75 USD (international) |
60 USD (domestic) 75 USD (international) |
60 USD (domestic) 75 USD (international) |
| Transcripts | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| GRE/GMAT | GRE | Not required | Not required | Not required | Not required |
| Essay | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Work experience | Not required | Not required | Not required | Not required | Not required |
| Professional CV/Resume/portfolio | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| LOR | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Admission interview | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Deadline | Rolling | rolling | rolling | Closed | rolling |
The Institute offers graduate programs mostly on a rolling basis, however, it is recommended that students apply as early as possible to get started with the visa application. I-20 forms would be issued within 2-3 weeks of a student getting accepted and then submitting the required documents to the admissions of the college. The university is open to all students who promise to excel in their studies. International applicants can be considered for talent-based scholarships by submitting a digital portfolio/ online audition demonstrating their talents.
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Columbia College Chicago Placement Details
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