Columbia College Chicago

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at Columbia College Chicago was $29,270 a year.

In 2022, tuition increased 10%–from $26,610 the previous year. On average, college tuition goes up about 3% every year.

If this makes attending the college of your dreams sound impossible, remember, the total cost of tuition isn't necessarily what you will have to pay to attend a school. Many students owe far less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are applied. And, student loans can make theactual cost of attending college feel more doable until you're done with college.

Columbia College Chicago: In-state vs. Out-of-State Tuition

Columbia College Chicago is a private, nonprofit institution, so it has the same tuition for residents of Illinois as it does for students who live in other states.

Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state government. Public insitutions often offer a lower cost of attendance for those who qualify as Illinois residents.

Choosing a college where you qualify for in-state tuition can cut the cost of college tuition. Don't forget to confirm your state's guidelines for how to qualify for in-state residency. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. In many states, students must have lived in the state for 12 months before starting school to qualify for in-state tuition. There may be additional requirements too, depending on the state you and your parents currently reside in.

Explore other Illinois colleges

Columbia College Chicago International Student Tuition

Tuition at Columbia College Chicago is the same for every student.

International students are not eligible for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but should research private or school-specific aid and scholarships.

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Columbia College Chicago Living Expenses, Fees, and More

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In addition to the cost of tuition, there are other costs associated with college, like room and board, facility fees, and books and supplies. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Columbia College Chicago.

Room and Board Costs at Columbia College Chicago

Room and board at Columbia College Chicago costs $9,000 a year. This covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, and a dining plan that enables you to eat all or some of your meals the school dining halls.

Board costs can depend on how many meals are included in the plan you choose.

How Much Do Books Cost at Columbia College Chicago?

First-year students are sometimes surprised by how much books and supplies cost–and not in a good way. The actual cost of books depends on the courses you take and the textbooks, computer programs, or other materials are required.. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy books from students who have already taken the course.

Yearly Fees

The majority of colleges also have fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

Keep in mind, there could also be additional fees associated with participating in certain activities, like Greek Life, or playing on an intramural sports team. Many schools offer resources for students with demonstrated need to find ways to lower or eliminate these fees.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Transportation costs at Columbia College Chicago

The cost of getting around in college depends on a few key factors. Will you drive, fly, or take public transportation to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus easy to get around on foot? Do you plan to bring a car or will you need to use busses, subways, or other modes of transportation? All of these questions can make a big difference in your transportation budget.

A school's location can also have a big effect on transportation costs. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, transportation in a city could be costly, but there may be more trains, busses or affordable flights to actually get to school. The Columbia College Chicago campus is in a urban setting in Illinois, not far from Chicago.

Other Costs

When you're planning for college, be sure to take into account personal expenses, like entertainment, clothes, furnishings and toiletries.

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The Full Cost of Attending Columbia College Chicago

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Now, let’s go over all of the costs we've covered, to get a better idea of what is really costs to go to Columbia College Chicago.

How Much Does Columbia College Chicago Cost?

What will the cost of attending Columbia College Chicago be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2022 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$29,270
Room and Board	$9,000
Other expenses	$2,050

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus	$43,470
Off-Campus	$34,470

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

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Columbia College Chicago Financial Aid

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The majority of Columbia College Chicago undergrads use financial aid to help pay for school. In 2022, 4,497 of the 6,493 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Columbia College Chicago meets 68.1% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $23,771 a year. Around 75.95% of Columbia College Chicago undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Columbia College Chicago graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $24,954 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$18,334
Private Loans	$6,620

Most Common Loans for Columbia College Chicago Students
Federal Loans	75.44%
Private loans	14.05%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Columbia College Chicago financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Columbia College Chicago

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2022, Columbia College Chicago awarded 4,491 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $82.4 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $15.6 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Columbia College Chicago Net Cost

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Columbia College Chicago students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Columbia College Chicago was $23,771 in 2022. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Columbia College Chicago seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus	$19,699
Off-Campus	$10,699

What will attending Columbia College Chicago really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families understand the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Columbia College Chicago's net cost calculator on their website.

Columbia College Chicago Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Students cannot pay tuition in installments. Contact the financial aid office to verify this and discuss options.

Does Columbia College Chicago Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to offset the cost of attending. Some schools offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, other expenses and fees are the responsibility of the student.

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

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Learn More About Columbia College Chicago

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