by our College Data Analytics TeamThe majority of college students don’t pay the full price for their education, as financial aid packages, including scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study opportunities, help to offset the costs.
Discover the financial aid possibilities at Columbia and learn what assistance you might qualify for by continuing to read.
Columbia College Chicago average financial aid offer for freshmen students is $16,957.00. Approximately 98% of incoming freshmen obtain financial assistance, with the majority being offered as grants and scholarships.
Financial aid helps reduce the cost, or the full retail price of the college. However, be aware that the only true college discount is scholarships & grants.
Uneasy about the debt that may be included in your financial aid plan? Find the average amount of debt per student at Columbia College Chicago.
Financial awards given by a college or university to its students, known as institutional scholarships and grants, help to offset the cost of tuition and other education-related expenses. These awards fall into two categories: merit-based and need-based, and they do not need to be paid back. Merit-based institutional scholarships are granted to students who have shown outstanding academic accomplishments, special talents, or abilities in a particular field. Factors such as high school performance, standardized test results, or involvement in extracurricular activities often contribute to these scholarship decisions. Conversely, need-based institutional grants cater to students who demonstrate financial need. The awarded amount is typically based on the student’s family’s financial standing and is intended to cover the difference between the cost of attendance and the family’s ability to contribute. Colleges and universities might use data from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or other financial aid forms to determine a student’s eligibility for need-based grants. Institutional scholarships and grants are a vital source of financial support for students, as they can significantly reduce the cost of attending college and help make higher education more accessible.
The following numbers pertain to assistance that is supplied by Columbia College Chicago.
97% of new students (1690 total) were given scholarships at Columbia College Chicago, averaging $13,218.00 per student. This puts it the top 25th percentile among colleges and universities nationwide.
In addition to scholarships, 88% of freshman students (1529 total) obtained federal grant aid, averaging $3,025.00 a piece.
The table below shows grant and scholarship distributions by income for first-year students getting any sort of federally-funded Title IV aid, including Federal PLUS loans.
| Income Level | Percent of Freshman | Average Assistance |
|---|---|---|
| Income 0-30k | 22.78% | $23,759.00 |
| Income 30k-48k | 12.46% | $22,799.00 |
| Income 48k-75k | 10.90% | $18,477.00 |
| Income 75k-110k | 10.03% | $14,734.00 |
| Income 110k + | 18.57% | $12,592.00 |
The table above shows undergrads who are getting Title IV aid, which is federal assistance from the government in the form of grants, loans, and work-study. Learn more here.
98% of the 1734 undergraduates at Columbia College Chicago receive some sort of grant aid. This is a total of about 1694 students getting an average of $16,957.00 per person.
Check out the Tuition and Fees page or the Cost Per Credit Hour page to find out more.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.