Columbia College Chicago Rankings by Salary Score™

Disgustingly terrible administrative help. If you want to study anything that requires technical expertise, look ANYWHERE else. The teachers themselves are very kind, knowledgeable, and professional educators. However, the college is a money hungry institution that will try to squeeze every penny from their students. Their administrative services like admissions, academic counseling, or their treasury department have a blatant disregard for the students, and will make the process as inconvenient as possible,... Read More taking up to a week to respond to a simple email. My academic counselor would not let me change my major even though I would be able to complete the changed major in the same time. The treasury will take at least a week to get back to you, so if you have ANY issues that are time sensitive with your scholarships, student loans, or academic transcripts you are going to be on the losing end. If you want professional expertise, great administrative services, and not have to be drowning in student debt (I received scholarships and still have loans), go to almost any other school in the Chicagoland area (College of DuPage, UIC, DePaul to name a few). Unless this is your LAST RESORT, I would not recommend going here, practicing your craft by yourself (unless you cannot afford equipment) would be more beneficial than this college.

I really liked my fiction writing program. It turned me into a better writer. Becoming student body president helped me to become a leader. Overall my gratitude to Columbia is great. However, if I was not provided with many scholarships, I do not know if I would have the same feelings. Fiction writing is no longer a part of my career, but it gave me deep empathy and understanding that I plan to bring into my counseling career. I had some of the best educators of my life at Columbia College Chicago. They were... Read More understanding, talented and could teach that talent which is not an easy feat. I am disappointed to hear that many programs have been cut or merged for the sake of budget cuts, especially the fiction writing department. That department was special and uniquely why I applied to the school. While I loved going there in the past, I don't know if I would have the same urgency or energy towards that ideal now. Though I do admit it is pretty cool that they finally finished the student center they always talked about building. I hope that it breathes new life in the teachers and students, but especially the administration. We deserve to have an art school that is affordable, mindful of its students and encouraging of creativity and individuality. That's what I signed up for when I went, though I don't know if you can say the same now. Ultimately, I would recommend this school because the faculty deeply care about their students and that helps art grow.