The average acceptance rate at Columbia College Chicago over the past 10 years is 90.56%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 89.46%. The acceptance rate at Columbia College Chicago is relatively high, giving applicants a greater chance of admission.
The acceptance rate has decreased each year for the past 3 years, indicating increasing selectivity.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 21.95%, and the 2025 yield is 15.14%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 38.01% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of Columbia College Chicago applicants decreased by 10.09% (794 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants decreased by 15.64% overall.
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 89.46%, demonstrating consistent admission standards over the past decade. The stability of this rate suggests that Columbia College Chicago maintains a predictable and steady admissions environment for prospective students.
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 15.14%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at Columbia College Chicago. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.
For the 2025 admission cycle, Columbia College Chicago received approximately 7,079 applications, admitted 6,333 students, and enrolled 959 students. The declining application volume may indicate shifts in student interest patterns or broader demographic changes affecting college enrollment. Understanding these trends is crucial for prospective students and families assessing Columbia College Chicago's position in the competitive admissions landscape.
Columbia College Chicago 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at Columbia College Chicago over the past decade show a consistent pattern of increasing selectivity, with the acceptance rate declining year-over-year for 3 consecutive years. The average acceptance rate over this period is 90.56%, while the most recent rate stands at 89.46%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 89.46%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 87.84% and for women is 92.20%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at Columbia College Chicago have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 88.06% | 84.03% | 90.46% |
| 2016-17 | 88.06% | 90.03% 5.99% |
87.27% -3.19% |
| 2017-18 | 91.61% 3.56% |
88.29% -1.74% |
93.55% 6.28% |
| 2018-19 | 86.75% -4.86% |
82.33% -5.95% |
89.45% -4.10% |
| 2019-20 | 90.22% 3.46% |
86.32% 3.98% |
92.46% 3.01% |
| 2020-21 | 89.53% -0.69% |
86.01% -0.31% |
91.69% -0.76% |
| 2021-22 | 96.00% 6.47% |
93.98% 7.97% |
97.01% 5.31% |
| 2022-23 | 94.77% -1.23% |
92.77% -1.21% |
95.89% -1.11% |
| 2023-24 | 91.17% -3.59% |
87.93% -4.84% |
93.07% -2.82% |
| 2024-25 | 89.46% -1.71% |
86.72% -1.21% |
91.14% -1.93% |
| Average | 90.56% | 87.84% | 92.20% |
Columbia College Chicago has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 24.43% in 2015 to 15.14% in 2025, representing a 38.01% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 21.95%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at Columbia College Chicago from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 38.01% over this period.
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 24.43% | 26.39% | 23.34% |
| 2016-17 | 21.21% -3.21% |
13.41% -12.98% |
35.19% 11.85% |
| 2017-18 | 19.40% -1.82% |
21.61% 8.19% |
18.18% -17.00% |
| 2018-19 | 18.54% -0.86% |
20.79% -0.82% |
17.27% -0.91% |
| 2019-20 | 26.08% 7.54% |
29.66% 8.87% |
24.16% 6.89% |
| 2020-21 | 25.30% -0.78% |
27.95% -1.71% |
23.78% -0.38% |
| 2021-22 | 25.00% -0.31% |
27.02% -0.92% |
23.00% -0.78% |
| 2022-23 | 22.01% -2.99% |
24.42% -2.61% |
20.69% -2.31% |
| 2023-24 | 22.40% 0.40% |
23.07% -1.34% |
22.03% 1.34% |
| 2024-25 | 15.14% -7.26% |
16.83% -6.24% |
13.01% -9.02% |
| Average | 21.95% | 23.12% | 22.06% |
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 7,832, the average number of admitted is 7,086, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 1,559.
The number of Columbia College Chicago applicants decreased by 10.09% (794 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants decreased by 15.64% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Columbia College Chicago from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 8,391 | 7,389 | 1,805 |
| 2016-17 | 8,324 -0.80% |
7,330 -0.80% |
1,555 -13.85% |
| 2017-18 | 8,121 -2.44% |
7,440 1.50% |
1,443 -7.20% |
| 2018-19 | 8,121 | 7,045 -5.31% |
1,306 -9.49% |
| 2019-20 | 7,430 -8.51% |
6,703 -4.85% |
1,748 33.84% |
| 2020-21 | 8,061 8.49% |
7,217 7.67% |
1,826 4.46% |
| 2021-22 | 7,218 -10.46% |
6,929 -3.99% |
1,732 -5.15% |
| 2022-23 | 7,701 6.69% |
7,298 5.33% |
1,606 -7.27% |
| 2023-24 | 7,873 2.23% |
7,178 -1.64% |
1,608 0.12% |
| 2024-25 | 7,079 -10.09% |
6,333 -11.77% |
959 -40.36% |
| Average | 7,832 | 7,086 | 1,559 |
The following table compares Columbia College Chicago' acceptance rate to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia College Chicago | 91.17% | 89.46% | -1.88% |
| Northwestern University | 7.69% | 7.15% | 7.55% |
| DePaul University | 75.89% | 73.53% | 3.21% |
| University of Chicago | 4.48% | 4.79% | -6.47% |
| Loyola University Chicago | 81.60% | 81.39% | 0.26% |
| National Louis University | 95.05% | 93.12% | 2.07% |
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