Columbia College Chicago Net Price Calculator and Real Cost Breakdown
U.S. Department of Education data Net price 2022-23 Charges 2023-24 Verified 2026-08-13 Methodology
The published cost of attendance at Columbia College Chicago is about $76,288 for 2023-24 ($32,520 tuition and fees plus housing and food, books and supplies, and other on-campus expenses), and the average student paid $29,790 after grants and scholarships (2022-23 federal data). Your actual price depends mostly on family income. Use the estimator below.
Source: U.S. Department of Education IPEDS, net price 2022-23, published charges 2023-24. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
Estimate your net price
Select your household income to see the average net price students in your bracket actually paid at Columbia College Chicago (2022-23 federal data).
per year, estimated
Average net price by household income
| Household income | Average net price (2022-23) |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $21,821 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $22,285 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $27,380 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $32,896 |
| $110,001 and up | $36,054 |
Average net price for full-time first-time undergraduates awarded grant or scholarship aid. Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2022-23. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
Where the aid comes from
Aid received by full-time first-time undergraduates at Columbia College Chicago in 2022-23, by source:
- 53 percent received a federal Pell Grant, averaging $5,658.
- 99 percent received institutional grants or scholarships from the school itself, averaging $14,781.
- 40 percent received state or local government grants, averaging $6,618.
- 53 percent took out federal student loans, averaging $5,363. Loans must be repaid and do not reduce the net price.
Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2022-23, full-time first-time undergraduates. Retrieved 2026-08-13. These figures describe a past cohort and are not an offer or estimate of aid.
Published cost vs what students actually pay
99 percent of full-time first-time undergraduates received grant or scholarship aid (2022-23 IPEDS).
That average net price is $8,954 above the Illinois average of $20,836 across 62 reporting 4-year institutions (IPEDS SFA 2022-23, retrieved 2026-08-13).
Is the net price rising or falling?
The average net price at Columbia College Chicago rose $4,528 over the two years ending 2022-23.
Average net price by year, 2020-21 through 2022-23, from the IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
Size, retention, debt, earnings, and completion
- 5,368 degree-seeking undergraduates enrolled. Source: College Scorecard, most recent fall. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
- 66 percent of full-time first-time students returned for a second year. Source: College Scorecard, most recent cohort. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
- 52 percent of students complete within 150 percent of normal time. Source: College Scorecard. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
- $25,000 median federal loan debt at graduation. Source: College Scorecard, most recent cohort. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
- $32,596 median earnings of former students 6 years after entry. Source: College Scorecard median earnings, most recent cohort. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
- $42,195 median earnings of former students 10 years after entry. Source: College Scorecard median earnings, most recent cohort. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
Earnings, debt, retention, and completion describe past federal aid cohorts as reported by the College Scorecard. They are not a promise of any individual outcome.
Common questions about Columbia College Chicago costs
What is the real cost of Columbia College Chicago?
Published tuition and fees at Columbia College Chicago are $32,520 for 2023-24. The average net price, the full cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid, was $29,790 (2022-23 IPEDS Student Financial Aid data, retrieved 2026-08-13). Your price depends mostly on household income.
How much aid do students at Columbia College Chicago get?
99 percent of full-time first-time undergraduates at Columbia College Chicago received grant or scholarship aid in 2022-23 (IPEDS, retrieved 2026-08-13). The income bracket table on this page shows the average net price after that aid.
Do students at Columbia College Chicago get Pell Grants?
53 percent of full-time first-time undergraduates at Columbia College Chicago received a federal Pell Grant in 2022-23, averaging $5,658 (IPEDS Student Financial Aid data, retrieved 2026-08-13). Pell eligibility is determined by your FAFSA, not by the school.
Is Columbia College Chicago worth the cost?
Federal data reports outcomes without judging value. Median federal loan debt at graduation is $25,000. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $42,195 (College Scorecard). Compare those figures with the net price for your income bracket to judge fit for your situation.
The school's official calculator
For a personalized federal estimate including your assets and family details, use Columbia College Chicago's official net price calculator.
CollegeNPC.com is not affiliated with or endorsed by Columbia College Chicago. Data is compiled from U.S. Department of Education public datasets. For the school's official net price calculator, visit the school's site.