- Acceptance rate: 89% for fall 2024
- Average high school GPA: 3.52, as reported by the college for 2024–25
- Average net price: $29,790 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Type your GPA to compare it with what Columbia College Chicago reported: an average GPA of 3.52 (2024–25) and an acceptance rate of 89% for fall 2024.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Columbia College Chicago reviews each application.
Columbia College Chicago average GPA
Columbia College Chicago reported an average high school GPA of 3.52 for its first-year students who submitted one (96% did), in its 2024–25 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether it's weighted or unweighted.
An average, not a cutoffColleges calculate GPA in different ways, so this figure can't be compared directly with your own GPA.
Columbia College Chicago acceptance rate
Columbia College Chicago admitted 6,333 of 7,079 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 89%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Columbia College Chicago is a private nonprofit 4-year college in Chicago, Illinois, with 5,422 undergraduates.
Admission requirements
What Columbia College Chicago looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Considered if submitted |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Considered if submitted |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Considered if submitted |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Considered if submitted |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Considered if submitted |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Considered if submitted |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
Columbia College Chicago didn't report SAT or ACT scores for its fall 2024 first-year students.
AP credit
Columbia College Chicago awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It also awards credit for life experience, such as work or military service.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $29,790 a year at Columbia College Chicago in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Can a 3.0 GPA get you into Columbia College Chicago?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Columbia College Chicago admitted 89% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It considers a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
How hard is it to get into Columbia College Chicago?
Not very selective: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Columbia College Chicago admitted 89% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What percent of applicants does Columbia College Chicago accept?
Columbia College Chicago's acceptance rate was 89% for fall 2024: it admitted 6,333 of 7,079 first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education.
What GPA do you need to get into Columbia College Chicago?
Columbia College Chicago doesn't set a minimum GPA we could verify. Its first-year students averaged 3.52, as reported by the college in its 2024–25 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether that average is weighted or unweighted.
Does Columbia College Chicago require the SAT or ACT?
Check Columbia College Chicago's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Columbia College Chicago didn't consider SAT or ACT scores, even if you sent them (test blind), according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024).
How important is GPA for getting into Columbia College Chicago?
It's one factor among several: Columbia College Chicago requires high school record. It considers high school GPA, high school class rank, college preparatory program, recommendations, essay or personal statement, demonstration of competencies and work experience if you send them. It doesn't consider test scores, other tests and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Does Columbia College Chicago look at legacy status?
No. Columbia College Chicago doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What do students pay at Columbia College Chicago after grants?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $29,790 a year at Columbia College Chicago in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does Columbia College Chicago require an essay?
No, but it considers one. Columbia College Chicago doesn't require a personal statement or essay but considers one if you send it, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Can you get college credit for AP scores at Columbia College Chicago?
Yes. Columbia College Chicago awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Before you apply, check Columbia College Chicago's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Columbia College ChicagoU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- Columbia College Chicago Common Data Set 2024–25Columbia College Chicago: average high school GPA of first-year students.
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