Columbia College Chicago's tuition & fees has increased from $24,344 (2015) to $34,088 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 40.03% over the past 10 years. The graduate school tuition & fees has raised from $25,388 (year 2015) to $2,544 (year 2025).
Columbia College Chicago's tuition increase rate is higher than the Illinois's average increase rate of -3.38%. Compare to all colleges in United States, it's increase rate is higher than the average increase rate of 10.99%.
The total cost of attendance (COA), including tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs, increased by 43.15% from 2015 ($41,850).
For the current academic year 2024-2025, Columbia College Chicago's COA is $59,907, which is increased by 10.35% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to Columbia College Chicago's COA over the past 10 years.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $41,850 | $41,850 | - |
| 2016-17 | $43,168 | $43,168 | 3.15% |
| 2017-18 | $43,707 | $43,707 | 1.25% |
| 2018-19 | $45,644 | $45,644 | 4.43% |
| 2019-20 | $48,212 | $48,212 | 5.63% |
| 2020-21 | $48,698 | $48,698 | 1.01% |
| 2021-22 | $48,698 | $48,698 | |
| 2022-23 | $53,716 | $53,716 | 10.30% |
| 2023-24 | $54,288 | $59,450 | 1.06% |
| 2024-25 | $59,907 | $62,678 | 10.35% |
The tuition & fees have increased 40.03% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $32,272. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at Columbia College Chicago over last the 10 years.
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate | Change By Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $24,344 | $25,388 | - |
| 2016-17 | $25,334 | $26,784 | 4.07% |
| 2017-18 | $26,474 | $27,702 | 4.50% |
| 2018-19 | $27,176 | $2,237 | 2.65% |
| 2019-20 | $27,756 | $2,320 | 2.13% |
| 2020-21 | $27,786 | $2,350 | 0.11% |
| 2021-22 | $27,786 | $2,350 | |
| 2022-23 | $31,026 | $2,385 | 11.66% |
| 2023-24 | $32,520 | $2,464 | 4.82% |
| 2024-25 | $34,088 | $2,544 | 4.82% |
The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $1,900, and it has increased 18.75% from the year 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,600 | - |
| 2016-17 | $1,600 | |
| 2017-18 | $1,600 | |
| 2018-19 | $1,600 | |
| 2019-20 | $1,600 | |
| 2020-21 | $1,600 | |
| 2021-22 | $1,600 | |
| 2022-23 | $1,700 | 6.25% |
| 2023-24 | $1,800 | 5.88% |
| 2024-25 | $1,900 | 5.56% |
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 46.38% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 63.34% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025. The following table shows the changes in living costs at Columbia College Chicago.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $15,906 | $15,906 | - |
| 2016-17 | $16,234 | $16,234 | 2.06% |
| 2017-18 | $15,633 | $15,633 | -3.70% |
| 2018-19 | $16,868 | $16,868 | 7.90% |
| 2019-20 | $18,856 | $18,856 | 11.79% |
| 2020-21 | $19,312 | $19,312 | 2.42% |
| 2021-22 | $19,312 | $19,312 | |
| 2022-23 | $20,990 | $20,990 | 8.69% |
| 2023-24 | $19,968 | $25,130 | -4.87% |
| 2024-25 | $23,919 | $26,690 | 19.79% |
The following table compares 2025 tuition and increase rate from last year between Columbia College Chicago and similar schools.
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia College Chicago | $34,088 | $32,520 | 4.82% |
| Northwestern University | $68,322 | $65,997 | 3.52% |
| DePaul University | $45,405 | $44,174 | 2.79% |
| University of Chicago | $69,324 | $65,619 | 5.65% |
| Loyola University Chicago | $53,710 | $51,716 | 3.86% |
| National Louis University | $13,245 | $14,601 | -9.29% |
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