Chicago, Illinois · Private nonprofit · 4-year · Large city
Overview
Columbia College Chicago is a private nonprofit four-year institution based in Chicago, Illinois. The campus sits in a large city. It enrolled 5,570 students in fall 2024, including 5,422 undergraduates and 148 graduate students.
Columbia College Chicago offers certificates, bachelor's degrees, and master's degrees across 58 programs. Its largest programs by number of graduates are Cinematography and Film/Video Production, Fashion/Apparel Design, and Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects. It awarded 1,379 degrees and certificates in 2024-25.
66% of full-time first-year students return for a second year. The student-to-faculty ratio is 15 to 1.
Mission
Columbia College Chicago is an undergraduate and graduate institution whose principal commitment is to provide a comprehensive educational opportunity in the arts, communications, and public information within a context of enlightened liberal education. Columbia’s intent is to educate students who will communicate creatively and shape the public’s perceptions of issues and events and who will author the culture of their times. Columbia is an urban institution whose students reflect the economic, racial, cultural, and educational diversity of contemporary America.
Key figures
5,570
Students enrolled
66%
First-year retention
1,379
Degrees and certificates awarded, 2024-25
58
Programs and majors
15:1
Student-to-faculty ratio
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Delivery modes
CampusHybrid
Program levels
CertificateBachelorMaster
Programs and majors offered 58
Graduate counts are degrees and certificates awarded in each program between July 2024 and June 2025. Largest fields are listed first.
Retention is for students who started in fall 2023 and returned in fall 2024.
First-year retention, full-time students
66%
First-year retention, part-time students
23%
Student-to-faculty ratio
15:1
Degrees and certificates awarded
Awards conferred between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Bachelor's degrees
1,324
Master's degrees
55
Enrollment
Students, fall 2024
5,570
Undergraduates, fall 2024
5,422
Graduate students, fall 2024
148
Full-time, fall 2024
95%
Students over the full 2024-25 year
5,875
Undergraduates, 2024-25
5,671
Graduate students, 2024-25
204
Full-time, 2024-25
93%
Size category
5,000 to 9,999 students
Student body
Share of all students enrolled during 2024-25. Small groups can round to zero and are not listed.
Women
61%
Men
39%
White
39%
Hispanic or Latino
27%
Black or African American
19%
Asian
4%
Two or more races
5%
International (U.S. nonresident)
5%
Race or ethnicity unknown
1%
Online and flexible learning
Distance education in 2024-25.
Students studying fully online
1%
Students taking some online courses
48%
Campus and services
Setting
Large city
Academic calendar
Semester
Carnegie classification
Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs
President
Shantay Bolton
Services and opportunities
Study abroad, Undergraduate research, Academic and career counseling, Student employment services, Job placement for graduates, Accepts AP credit, Credit for life experience
For veterans and service members
Yellow Ribbon Program, Credit for military training, Dedicated veterans contact, Student veteran organization