Columbia College Chicago is a private arts and media college in Chicago, Illinois. It began in 1890 as the Columbia School of Oratory, founded by Mary Blood and Ida Morey Riley, who took the name from the coming World's Columbian Exposition and taught English, literature and public speaking in the Stevens Art Gallery Building. The school became Columbia College of Expression and later Columbia College, with sources differing on the dates. In the 1960s it moved toward a liberal arts-based college under long-serving president Mike Alexandroff, whose tenure grew enrollment from 200 to 7,000 students. Wikipedia's infobox lists 5,570 students for 2024, while its text gives 4,200 for fall 2025. Shantay N. Bolton became president and CEO on July 1, 2025. Admission is entirely test-free, and the Interior Architecture BFA requires a 2.75 high school GPA.
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Columbia College Chicago's admission process is entirely test-free, so scores play no role in admission or merit scholarships.
Dates, fees and criteria change every session. Always confirm them on the official admissions page before applying.
Location
600 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL, Illinois, United States
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