Columbia College Chicago - Overview
About Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago is the largest and most diverse private non-profit arts and media college in the nation, with more than 120 academic programs and nearly 12,500 students. Because of the college's size, it offers an unparalleled array of courses with exceptional technological resources in the heart of one of America's greatest cities.
Located in downtown Chicago's vibrant South Loop neighborhood, Columbia is a non profit creative academic community that takes a practical approach to arts education. The college's programs in the visual, performing, and media arts are firmly rooted in a rigorous liberal arts and sciences curriculum, which provides students with the essential context in which to practice their crafts, develop their voices, and launch sustainable careers.
Just about every corner of Chicago speaks of the college's involvement in the community. Competitions, awards, and professional forums are sponsored by Columbia College Chicago. Current students, faculty, and alumni broadcast over the local television and radio airwaves, perform in city venues, and publish writing available in city bookstores. Every student at Columbia is a part of Chicago's vibrant and inspiring urban life -- as well as a critical player in the burgeoning growth of its world-class social and cultural scene.
Columbia College Chicago believes in the power of students' creativity. Those interested in joining the college's community of outstanding faculty and alumni should apply to become a Columbia student today.
Academic Life
Columbia College Chicago offers an incredible range of opportunities for students to explore what they love. Interested students can find a full list of majors and concentrations, from the college's new Art and Materials Conservation major, to the critically acclaimed Film and Video program, to the high-ranking Fashion Design program at: http://www.colum.edu/Academics/Majors_and_Programs.php.
Campus Life
At Columbia College Chicago, every facet of the collegiate experience is designed to empower the student.
With nearly 100 student organizations, Columbia College Chicago offers students myriad opportunities to independently organize events, clubs, and initiatives that give voice to their passions, politics, and creative interests. Whether a student has a passion for writing (Fictionary Magazine) or anime (Japanese Anime and Manga) or softball (Columbia Renegades), each one of the clubs, groups, and organizations on the campus is proudly student-created, student-run, and student-promoted. Columbia College Chicago happily gives students the venues and the resources they need to organize and execute their ideas.
Additionally, each Department offers its unique contribution to the city's arts landscape. The annual Story Week brings in a slate of writers that has the New Yorker Festival green with envy. The Fashion Week has New York fashion bloggers on attention as the college showcases emerging fashion talent from its program. The college hosts a citywide poetry festival, inviting the top undergraduate poets from the Columbia College Chicago and other top creative writing collegiate programs throughout Chicago. From student concerts to guest lectures, the list continues, and therein surely exists an opportunity for any student to shine.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
The college's Student Financial Services department is available to assist all students in the research of funding sources, including scholarships, grants, and loans. Comprehensive information is available at the department's website: http://www.colum.edu/Student_Financial_Services/.
Regarding scholarships, in 2010, nearly 48% of new freshmen received scholarship support from Columbia College with awards averaging $5,000¿$10,000 per student. Scholarship awards were based on the student's admission application date, high school GPA, and receipt of the student's FAFSA. The earlier prospective students apply, the better.
Visit the college's Web site to learn more about scholarships at Columbia College Chicago (http://www.colum.edu/scholarships).