Columbia College Chicago - Chicago, Illinois

Stephanie S.

Once your student is enrolled it’s crickets other than monthly newsletters. Pretty sure they send out to try to make themselves look good it’s an all a facade. When you have questions there are not any responses. Calls are left unreturned. Calls and waiting time to speak with people have sometimes been over an hour or I get disconnected. The tuition raises every year. Zero help from Financial Aid. Every inquiry you have they just redirect you everywhere. The cost is astronomical and their educational platform is not very encouraging or educational. Also when your child has a concern, the college educator's totally just dismiss it. When your child tells you, they’re not learning anything and that the instructors don’t respond to inquiries about classes or questions/concerns until the end of the quarters or semesters is just ridiculous. There’s zero accountability for the educators or staff because they’re protected by their contracts. Terrible educational facility, Don’t waste your hard earned money sending your child here.

Demi K.

Columbia only cares about getting money out of its students. It’s a broken business model that doesn’t actually care about the education it offers or providing proper support for students pursing their careers.

The student advisors will give you misleading information in an attempt to keep you there for more than 4 years.

I graduated from Columbia in 2016. I made the best of my time there and thankfully finished in 4 years (almost didn’t due to improper advising*), but it really broke my heart to see so many of my peers struggle, drop out, forced to stay 1-2 years longer than expected due to bad advice, or simply lack the skills they need to pursue their desired careers after graduation.

Also, they lied about the services that they promised to their alumni, and recently deleted THOUSANDS of our student emails with only two days notice, many of which were actively used and held documentation of our time at Columbia and our portfolios.

The disrespect that alone represents should tell you enough about their priorities.

Do yourself a favor and invest your money somewhere that will actually benefit the growth of your career.

Zara

We had a scheduled tour of Columbia college. Visited a few of their buildings. Great experience overal! Very artsy college in the beautiful downtown area of Chicago.

Asia H.

i wish i transferred out of this place when i had a chance to, 3 tuition raises in 3 full years i’ve gone here, and probably another coming this year if the pattern continues. tried to double charge me on a semester thinking i wouldn’t notice which is hilarious. this place is a joke and scam. they keep changing the curriculum, which messes with my graduation plan so nobody is even certain when i can truly graduate. they keep saying i need an extra semester each time i talk to a counselor and try to figure it out. also blatantly lied to me multiple times whenever i ask questions regarding classes, credits, accommodations, etc.: the answer always changes no matter who i ask. so confusing and definitely don’t recommend if you’re a first gen college student/don’t have anyone who’s been through this process before like myself. i was dreaming of this school since i was in grade school and i feel like my dreams were crushed!! (‘:

GIanna M.

Worst school to attend. Hated my freshman year here! DO NOT GO TO THIS UNIVERSITY. The school is in so much debt and they cut many classes that were requirements and didn’t give any refunds, had multiple incidents with roommates and Whitney, (a counselor)or whatever she was, was the rudest individual. The amount of money my family and I put into this school is ridiculous for the way I was treated by the staff. I wouldn’t recommend this school to my worst enemy. The only good part about this school were the PART TIME professors who actually cared about their jobs. To Whitney, you ruined my college experience and anything I was trying to be involved in just by not hearing both sides to every story, and to that I wish you the best because an individual like yourself does not deserve a job working with young adults!

Brigitte G.

HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE THERE, THE STAFF ARE FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL. THE TOUR WAS GREAT AND MY DAUGHTER WILL BE ATTENDING THE SCHOOL ON SEPTEMBER, 2021

Sherrae R.

1.5 stars - Your experience really depends on the professors you get. And as many have said for the tuition it's not worth it. I graduated about 5 years ago with a BA in art direction... through my education I had a handful of amazing passionate professors and many outrageously disappointing ones. Two that stick out in my mind are one who would put on movies and fall asleep saying "this job is to pad my retirement" I truly wish I was joking..we (the students) thought he was, but through inattentive ways saw he was serious. Another "exemplary" professor was teaching a digital art class but frequently had to ask students how to use Photoshop. My advisor had me drop classes that would have been beneficial when I entered the working world...

So yes, If you have another option for art school, please choose elsewhere. I entered the working world completely unprepared. There is little emphasis on portfolio building, or what is actually being looked for by companies that will hire you. Despite their claims, getting an internship is up to you, there is a student job board, but that is as far as the assistance goes. All responses & I got in regards to internships were from job boards outside of school. If you don't already have advanced technical skills, you better catch up fast and don't ask for help, the staff will be dismissive of you.

There is absolutely no sense of community, which is important for artists in regard to networking and enjoying your college experience as a whole. It has a commuter school vibe. That being said I did live off campus, student housing was more expensive than me getting my own place on Michigan Ave!!! So of course I opted for my own space.

I thought it bizarre that tuition was going up each year, yet class sizes were getting larger. I was of the last students who got to enjoy the crucial and extensive equipment rental in the Art & Design building. This equipment cage allowed me to complete many a project & was absolutely pivotal for what I ended up going into after graduation. My last semester there, they were in the process of sizing it down, to eventually be removed, as it had been decided that A&D students did not need this equipment.

And the cherry on top is the expensive diploma that I worked so hard for. It looks like something I could print at FedEx, no joke.

* positives - The fabrication labs, and printing facilities are nice, the downtown location is nice. and the few good professors I had over the years. End of year art fest is cool.

Katrina O.

Don't waste your time or money at this school. It's a scam. There are plenty of cheaper art schools even in Chicago that have more value, pay their staff and actually care about the future of their students, instead of how much money they can get out if them in 4+ years.