More selective than 19% of Illinois colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
Share of students sending scores not reported.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose Columbia College Chicago over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
What Columbia College Chicago weighs when deciding
How much each part of an application counts for first-year applicants, as Columbia College Chicago reports it. Programs with their own criteria (nursing, music, honors) can weigh things differently.
- Rigor of high school courses
- High school GPA
- Class rank
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent or ability
- Character and personal qualities
- SAT/ACT scores
- Interview
- First-generation college student
- Alumni relation (legacy)
- Where you live
- State residency
- Religious affiliation
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Your demonstrated interest
Item C7. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
Early decision, early action and the waitlist
Items C2, C21-C22. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
Columbia College Chicago admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 89% | — | — | — | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 91% | — | — | — | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is Columbia College Chicago compared with other Illinois colleges?
Columbia College Chicago has the 43rd-lowest acceptance rate of 53 Illinois colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | University of Illinois Springfield | 86% | 53% | $9,833 |
| 40 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 87% | 62% | $13,297 |
| 41 | Wheaton College | 87% | 85% | $26,975 |
| 42 | Illinois State University | 88% | 65% | $19,398 |
| 43 | Columbia College Chicago | 89% | 52% | $26,598 |
| 44 | Dominican University | 90% | 55% | $11,745 |
| 45 | Monmouth College | 91% | 65% | $17,133 |
| 46 | Concordia University-Chicago | 93% | 36% | $18,436 |
| 47 | Rockford University | 93% | 47% | $22,436 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All Illinois colleges →
Who enrolls at Columbia College Chicago
College Scorecard; IPEDS
Columbia College Chicago admissions questions
What is the Columbia College Chicago acceptance rate?
Columbia College Chicago accepts 89% of applicants, most. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 7,178 of 7,873 applicants were admitted.
Does Columbia College Chicago require the SAT or ACT?
Columbia College Chicago does not consider SAT or ACT scores (test-blind), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023.
How many admitted students enroll at Columbia College Chicago?
22% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (1,608 of 7,178).
What does Columbia College Chicago look for in applicants?
Columbia College Chicago reports these as very important for first-year applicants: none. Important: rigor of high school courses, high school GPA. Considered: class rank, essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities, talent or ability, character and personal qualities. (Common Data Set 2025-26).
Is Columbia College Chicago getting harder to get into?
Columbia College Chicago accepted 89% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 91% for Fall 2023.
Is Columbia College Chicago the right fit for your family?
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; Columbia College Chicago's Common Data Set 2025-26; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Columbia College Chicago overview