Design and Applied Arts bachelor's degree outcomes at Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · Federal field 5004

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are close to the same-degree benchmark.

$2,889 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 55.6% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: Not reached
10-year scenario: −87% · Negative payoff
Price evidence: College-wide context only

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+56%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$29,630 → $46,082

266Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

316Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

428Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

397Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$43,871Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

—Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$26,598

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$27,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$48,601

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$286/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$26,598Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$51,889Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE89.5%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE51.5%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$29,630Year 1

$48,601Year 4

$46,082Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

7.1% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$4,050

Estimated loan payment$286

397borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$48,601 vs. $51,490

$2,889 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for—not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$62,960 median wageIL estimate · 4,170 jobs · 25-1121+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 8k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeGraphic Designers$62,560 median wageIL estimate · 8,960 jobs · 27-1024-1.7% projected U.S. growth · 16k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommercial and Industrial Designers$83,910 median wageU.S. estimate · 480 jobs · 27-1021+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 2.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeDesigners, All Other$77,460 median wageIL estimate · 30 jobs · 27-1029+1.2% projected U.S. growth · 2.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeArtists and Related Workers, All Other$71,240 median wageU.S. estimate · 6,930 jobs · 27-1019+2.0% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: No formal educational credentialWeb and Digital Interface Designers$85,710 median wageIL estimate · 2,050 jobs · 15-1255+6.0% projected U.S. growth · 8.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSpecial Effects Artists and Animators$81,180 median wageIL estimate · 630 jobs · 27-1014-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 4.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSet and Exhibit Designers$75,240 median wageU.S. estimate · 330 jobs · 27-1027+1.4% projected U.S. growth · 2.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeArchitecture Teachers, Postsecondary$104,580 median wageIL estimate · 230 jobs · 25-1031+2.6% projected U.S. growth · 0.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeArt Directors$103,550 median wageIL estimate · 2,960 jobs · 27-1011+4.2% projected U.S. growth · 12.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFashion Designers$80,960 median wageU.S. estimate · 21,450 jobs · 27-1022+0.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeInterior Designers$76,290 median wageIL estimate · 2,570 jobs · 27-1025+2.7% projected U.S. growth · 7.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree

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