Paying for Columbia College Chicago
Undergraduate Tuition & Fees
$34,088
Graduate Tuition & Fees
$2,544
On-campus Living Costs
$23,919
Off-campus Living Costs
$26,690
Undergraduate Tuition per Credit Hour
$1,115
Graduate Tuition per Credit Hour
$1,334
The 2025 tuition & fees of Columbia College Chicago are $34,088 for undergraduate programs. For graduate programs, the tuition & fees are $34,088 for graduate programs.
Compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Illinois, the undergraduate tuition & fees are average and the graduate tuition & fees are very inexpensive.
Compared to similar schools in rankings such as McKendree University and Erikson Institute, tuition & fees of Columbia College Chicago is expensive where the average tuition & fees of the schools are $24,152.
The average living cost of the school is $23,919 when a student lives in on-campus housing. When a student lives off-campus, the average living cost is $26,690.
*Data Source: 2024-2025 Tuition & Fees - NCES (Last Update: 6/05/2025)
2025 Tuition and Comparison Chart
The following chart visualizes the Columbia College Chicago's 2025 tuition & fees and compares to similar schools by school type, level, and location.
2025 Tuition & fees
The 2025 undergraduate tuition & fees at Columbia College Chicago are $34,088 on average over undergraduate programs. The undergraduate tuition & fees have increased by 4.82% from last year.
The 2025 graduate tuition & fees are $2,544 on average. The graduate tuition & fees have increased by 3.25% from last year.
The following table and chart show the 2025 tuition & fees and the tuition trends over the last 5 years.
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | Fees | Tuition | Fees | |
| 2021 | $26,610 | $1,176 | $26,610 | $1,176 |
| 2022 | $26,610 | $1,176 | $26,610 | $1,176 |
| 2023 | $29,270 | $1,756 | $29,270 | $1,756 |
| 2024 | $30,734 | $1,786 | $30,734 | $1,786 |
| 2025 | $32,272 | $1,816 | $32,272 | $1,816 |
Living Costs
The 2025 average on-campus living costs is $23,919 including room & board and other living expenses (a student lives in on-campus housing such as dormitory and school-owned apartment). For students living in off-campus housing, the average living cost is $26,690.
The living cost at the school has increased by 19.79% from last year.
The following table and chart show the living costs changes over the last 5 years.
| Year | On-Campus | Off-Campus | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Room & Board | Other Expenses | Room & Board | Other Expenses | |
| 2021 | $16,456 | $2,856 | $16,456 | $2,856 |
| 2022 | $16,456 | $2,856 | $16,456 | $2,856 |
| 2023 | $18,000 | $2,990 | $18,000 | $2,990 |
| 2024 | $16,838 | $3,130 | $22,000 | $3,130 |
| 2025 | $20,629 | $3,290 | $23,400 | $3,290 |
Books & Supplies Costs Trends Chart
The 2025 average cost for purchasing books & supplies is $1,900 at Columbia College Chicago. The books & supplies cost has increased by 5.56% from last year.
The following table and chart show the 2025 books & supplies costs and the trends over the last 5 years.
| Year | Books & Supplies Costs |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $1,600 |
| 2022 | $1,600 |
| 2023 | $1,700 |
| 2024 | $1,800 |
| 2025 | $1,900 |
Tuition Per Credit Hour
The 2025 undergraduate tuition per credit hour at Columbia College Chicago is $1,115 on average over undergraduate programs. The undergraduate tuition per credit hour has increased by 10.29% from last year.
The 2025 graduate tuition per credit hour is $1,334 on average. The graduate tuition per credit hour has increased by 5.04% from last year.
The following table and chart show the 2025 tuition per credit hour and its trends over the last 5 years.
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $919 | $1,174 |
| 2022 | $919 | $1,174 |
| 2023 | $1,011 | $1,209 |
| 2024 | $1,011 | $1,270 |
| 2025 | $1,115 | $1,334 |