Tuition & net price

How much does Columbia College Chicago cost?

Published tuition is $34,088, with a full cost of attendance of $51,889 a year. After aid, families pay between $20,924 and $36,436 depending on income.

Tuition$34,088before aid
Cost of attendance$51,889tuition + living
Lowest net price$20,924families under $30k
Highest net price$36,436families over $110k

What families actually pay Average net price after grants and scholarships, by household income.

Household incomeNet price a yearShare of the sticker price
Under $30,000 $20,924 40%
$30,001–$48,000 $21,423 41%
$48,001–$75,000 $25,590 49%
$75,001–$110,000 $31,677 61%
Over $110,000 $36,436 70%

Net price is the federal measure of what students actually pay: total cost of attendance minus the grant and scholarship aid they receive. It is the only cost figure worth comparing between universities — the published tuition above is a list price that most students never pay in full.

Who pays how The mix of grant aid and borrowing at this university.

On Pell grants
46%
Take federal loans
56%
Typical repayment
$265/mo

A high Pell share means the university enrols many lower-income students, and usually that its net price for those families is well below the sticker price. A high loan share means the gap between aid and cost is being filled with borrowing — the repayment record shows how that works out afterwards.

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How the price compares Universities charging a similar amount in Illinois.

UniversityIn-stateOut-of-stateCost of attendanceNet price (under $30k)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign $16,004 $35,124 $33,642 $2,038
Benedictine University $35,940 $35,940 $46,713 $20,168
Quincy University $37,140 $37,140 $50,091 $16,502
Rockford University $37,780 $37,780 $49,169 $20,877
Saint Xavier University $37,940 $37,940 $43,244 $7,572
University of Illinois Chicago $14,338 $29,884 $27,521 $7,529

Columbia College Chicago costs: common questions

How much is tuition at Columbia College Chicago?
Published tuition is $34,088 a year before aid.
What does Columbia College Chicago actually cost after financial aid?
It depends on family income. After grants and scholarships, families earning under $30,000 pay a net $20,924 a year, while families over $110,000 pay $36,436.
What is the total cost of attendance at Columbia College Chicago?
$51,889 a year as the institution reports it — tuition, fees, housing, books and living costs combined. Almost nobody pays this in full; the net price above is what families actually pay.
Is Columbia College Chicago worth the money?
Graduates earn a median $42,195 ten years after starting, against $25,000 of median debt — see the full payback breakdown for the arithmetic.

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition and cost of attendance are as reported by the institution; net price is the average paid by students receiving federal aid, by household income band. Figures imported 28 Aug 2026.