Columbia College Chicago

Nestled in the vibrant heart of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago stands as a dynamic private art college, renowned for its innovative "hands-on minds-on" approach to arts and media education. Since its founding in 1890, Columbia has empowered students to become the architects of their own culture, fostering an environment where creativity thrives and professional skills are honed for the contemporary world. With over 40 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, the college cultivates a rich learning experience, preparing its diverse student body to lead and innovate in various creative fields.

The college's journey began as the Columbia School of Oratory, established by Mary A. Blood and Ida Morey Riley, inspired by the upcoming 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Over the decades, it evolved significantly, expanding its curriculum from speech arts to embrace the burgeoning fields of radio broadcasting, television, journalism, and mass communication. Pivotal leadership, particularly from Norman and Mirron Alexandroff, transformed Columbia into an urban institution with a progressive social agenda and a robust liberal arts foundation, cementing its reputation as a hub for artistic and media innovation and contributing significantly to the cultural landscape of Chicago's South Loop.

Today, Columbia College Chicago continues its tradition of excellence, offering an engaging student experience marked by opportunities like Manifest, an annual urban arts festival, and ShopColumbia, a student art marketplace. Students benefit from learning directly from industry professionals and can engage in international exchange programs, broadening their global perspective. While the college has navigated periods of change, including significant internal discussions surrounding the Blueprint | Prioritization initiative in the early 2010s, its core mission to encourage students to "author the culture of their times" remains steadfast, making it an exciting and challenging environment for aspiring creatives.