Columbia College Chicago ROI Analysis
Comprehensive ROI analysis based on tuition costs, graduate earnings, financial aid, and long-term earning potential.
ROI Summary
Total 4-Year Cost
$130,080
In-state tuition x 4
Earnings Premium
$-2,404/yr
below high school diploma avg
Break-Even Point
N/A years
After graduation
20-Year ROI
-137%
Return on investment
ROI Analysis
Columbia College Chicago has a high acceptance rate of 91.2% but a low graduation rate of 47.8%. The retention rate is 64%. The annual tuition cost is $32,520. One year after graduation, the median earnings are $24,908. Five years after graduation, the median earnings are $32,596, and ten years after graduation, the median earnings are $42,195.
The median debt for students is $25,000. The one-year earnings are less than the annual tuition cost. The five-year earnings are approximately equal to the annual tuition cost. The ten-year earnings are more than the annual tuition cost. 57.3% of students receive financial aid.
Based on the provided data, it would take more than one year to earn the equivalent of the annual tuition cost. The debt-to-income ratio cannot be calculated with the available data.
Generated from College Scorecard & IPEDS data
The Numbers
Annual Tuition (In-State)
$32,520
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
Median Earnings (5yr)
$32,596
Graduation Rate
48%
Receive Financial Aid
57%
Avg Aid Amount
N/A
Program-Level ROI
| Program | Median Earnings (5yr) | Est. 20yr ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $44,627 | 48% |
| Design and Applied Arts | $38,783 | -42% |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $27,628 | N/A |
| Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management | $48,271 | 104% |
| Graphic Communications | $56,600 | 232% |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $48,195 | 103% |
| Music | $31,880 | N/A |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $38,875 | -40% |
| Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | $38,837 | -41% |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $44,687 | 49% |
| Journalism | $43,458 | 30% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $52,782 | 173% |
Peer Comparison
Financial Aid Impact
Before Aid
After Aid (Estimated)
Frequently Asked Questions
Methodology
ROI calculations are based on data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. The earnings premium is calculated as the difference between median graduate earnings and the national average earnings for high school diploma holders ($35,000).
The 20-year ROI formula: ((Earnings Premium x 20) - Total Cost) / Total Cost x 100. Break-even point: Total Cost / Annual Earnings Premium. All figures use in-state tuition and do not account for inflation, opportunity cost, or financial aid variations.