Columbia College Chicago

What are the graduation rates for students at Columbia College Chicago?

Columbia College Chicago reports overall graduation rates that are lower compared to many other institutions. The total graduation rate stands at 48%, placing it in the bottom 35% nationally. When broken down by gender, men graduate at a rate of 45%, ranking in the bottom 40%, while women's graduation rate is slightly higher at 51%, but still in the bottom 30%. These figures suggest that more than half of the students enrolling do not complete their programs within a reasonable timeframe.

Looking specifically at timeframes, the four-year graduation rate is 39%, which remains in the lower half of comparable colleges, ranking in the bottom 45%. The six-year graduation rate only improves modestly to 48%, maintaining a position in the bottom 35%. Additionally, the retention rate, a key indicator of student persistence, is relatively low at 64%, falling within the bottom 25% nationally. This indicates challenges in keeping students enrolled beyond their first year.

While detailed graduation rates by major are not provided, Columbia College Chicago's popular fields such as Visual and Performing Arts and Communications Technologies enroll significant numbers of students. The overall data reflects the institution's difficulty in ensuring student completion across programs.

What is the earning potential for graduates at Columbia College Chicago?

Graduates from Columbia College Chicago experience varied earning potentials depending on their chosen fields of study. Among the highest earning disciplines are Physics, where alumni report average earnings of $54,861, and Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication with an average income of $38,669. Business Administration, Management and Operations also offers a solid earning potential at $34,500, closely followed by Marketing at $36,175.

Students who graduate in Journalism can expect average earnings around $30,841, while those in Radio, Television, and Digital Communication earn approximately $29,840 on average. Degrees in Design and Applied Arts and American Sign Language show average incomes of $29,065 and $28,692 respectively, reflecting competitive returns in creative and communicative fields.

Other areas such as Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other, and Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management offer moderate earnings, averaging $30,229 and $26,467 respectively. Graduates in Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians and Fine and Studio Arts report earnings of $23,934 and $24,822, while those in Graphic Communications and Film/Video and Photographic Arts tend to earn near $22,857 and $21,616 respectively.

Theater and performance-related degrees such as Dance and Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft generally yield more modest incomes, with average earnings of $20,411 and $20,854. The field of Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies shows an average income of $19,356, while Music degrees average around $18,502, indicating lower monetary returns in these artistic disciplines compared to some other majors.