Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois · Private, nonprofit · 5,368 undergraduates
All 22 programs with reported earnings leave graduates out-earning a typical Illinois high-school graduate (about $36,082/yr). Another 18 programs did not have enough data to judge.
What families actually pay
| Family income | Net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30k | $20,924 |
| $30k to $48k | $21,423 |
| $48k to $75k | $25,590 |
| $75k to $110k | $31,677 |
| $110k and up | $36,436 |
| All families (average) | $26,598 |
Net price is the yearly cost after grants and scholarships, by family income (College Scorecard). Credit: TuitionTracker.
Program earnings vs a high-school graduate
| Program | Credential | Median earnings | vs HS grad | Verdict | Median debt | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts | Bachelor's Degree | $48,601 | +$12,519 | clears the bar | $24,500 | 2 yrs |
| Graphic Communications | Bachelor's Degree | $43,970 | +$7,888 | clears the bar | $20,000 | 2.5 yrs |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | Bachelor's Degree | $41,200 | +$5,118 | clears the bar | $25,000 | 4.9 yrs |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | Bachelor's Degree | $39,986 | +$3,904 | clears the bar | $25,500 | 6.5 yrs |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | Bachelor's Degree | $50,592 | +$14,510 | clears the bar | $25,000 | 1.7 yrs |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | Bachelor's Degree | $54,357 | +$18,275 | clears the bar | $23,400 | 1.3 yrs |
| Music | Bachelor's Degree | $40,734 | +$4,652 | clears the bar | $25,625 | 5.5 yrs |
| Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | Bachelor's Degree | $43,731 | +$7,649 | clears the bar | $26,250 | 3.4 yrs |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $39,751 | +$3,669 | clears the bar | $27,000 | 7.4 yrs |
| Fine and Studio Arts | Bachelor's Degree | $42,176 | +$6,094 | clears the bar | $25,000 | 4.1 yrs |
| Marketing | Bachelor's Degree | $65,686 | +$29,604 | clears the bar | $25,250 | 0.9 yrs |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | Bachelor's Degree | $66,798 | +$30,716 | clears the bar | $24,225 | 0.8 yrs |
| Journalism | Bachelor's Degree | $51,639 | +$15,557 | clears the bar | $24,525 | 1.6 yrs |
| American Sign Language | Bachelor's Degree | $45,619 | +$9,537 | clears the bar | $26,000 | 2.7 yrs |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | Master's Degree | $53,147 | +$17,065 | clears the bar | $83,900 | 4.9 yrs |
Showing the 15 largest programs by graduates. See all 22 on the full profile.
Access and outcomes: 46% of students receive Pell grants · 52% complete their program.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10). Earnings are median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing, compared to the state high-school-graduate earnings threshold. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Something look wrong? Report it.