2024-2025 Undergraduate Cost of Attendance

A student's cost of attendance is always based on the student’s financial aid enrollment status and is constructed to allow the student a reasonable cost of living based on the amount of time a student will spend attending classes or completing academic activities. For a list of Columbia's direct costs, please review the tuition and fees page.

Note: because Columbia does not charge students a mandatory health insurance fee, the college is unable to include an allowance for health insurance costs as part of the standard cost of attendance construction.

Here is an estimated budget for students attending Columbia full-time during the 2024-25 academic year.

Undergraduate cost of attendance, full time, per semester (fall/spring)*
Tuition  $16,136
Fees (including estimated U-Pass) $908
Books and Supplies  $950
Miscellaneous - An estimated amount of expenses for personal costs. $1,130
Transportation  $475
Loan Fees  $40
Subtotal $19,639
Room and board for students living with parents  $6,030
Total for students living with parents $25,669
Room and board for students living without their parents  $11,700
Total for students living without their parents $31,339

*Costs are per semester. These numbers show tuition and fees for full-time undergraduate students, including degree programs, certificate programs, and student-at-large. The costs above reflect 12-18 credit hours. 

For students registered for fewer than 12 credit hours (for fall/spring semesters), please keep reading to review estimated budgets.

Please note: Costs are per semester. 

  • Three-quarters time (9-11 credits)
    Undergraduate students registered for 9-11 credit hours (fall/spring)*
    Tuition  $12,265
    Estimated Fees (including estimated U-Pass)* $606
    Books and Supplies $713
    Miscellaneous

    An estimated amount of expenses for personal costs; prorated for any enrollment status less than Full-Time.

    		 $848
    Transportation $356
    Loan Fees $40
    Subtotal

    $14,828

    *Final U-Pass cost pending Chicago Transit Authority approval

    Room and board for students living with parents $5,486
    Total for students living with parents $20,314
    Room and board for students living without their parents $9,724
    Total for students living without their parents $24,552

     

  • Half-time (6-8 credits)
    Undergraduate students registered for 6-8 credit hours (fall/spring)*
    Tuition  $8,920
    Estimated Fees (including estimated U-Pass)* $606
    Books and Supplies $475
    Miscellaneous

    An estimated amount of expenses for personal costs; prorated for any enrollment status less than Full-Time.

    		 $565
    Transportation $238
    Loan Fees $40
    Subtotal $10,844

    *Final U-Pass cost pending Chicago Transit Authority approval

    Room and board for students living with parents $4,918
    Total for students living with parents $15,762
    Room and board for students living without their parents $7,743
    Total for students livingwithout their parents $18,587
  • Less-than half-time (5 credits or less)
    Undergraduate students registered for less than 5 credit hours (fall/spring)*
    Tuition  $5,575
    Estimated Fees $453
    Books and Supplies $238
    Transportation $119
    Subtotal $6,385
    Room and board for students living with parents $1,508
    Total for students living with parents $7,893
    Room and board for students living without their parents $2,925
    Total for students living without their parents $9,310

For students attending Columbia full-time during the 2025 summer semester, please review the estimated budget.

Undergraduate cost of attendance, summer session**
Tuition  $9,792
Estimated Fees (includes estimated U-Pass)* $870
Books and Supplies $760
Miscellaneous

An estimated amount of expenses for personal costs.

 $860
Transportation $360
Loan Fees $26
Subtotal $12,668

*Final U-Pass cost pending Chicago Transit Authority approval.

Room and board for students living with parents $4,524
Total for students living with parents $17,192
Room and board for students living without their parents $6,624
Total for students living without their parents $19,292

**Tuition costs are per credit hour. The costs above reflect exactly 12 credit hours. Each additional credit hour is $816.

For students registered for fewer than 12 credit hours (for summer semesters), please keep reading to review estimated budgets.

  • Three-quarters time (9-11 credits)
    Undergraduate students registered for 9-11 credit hours (summer)
    Tuition $8,976
    Estimated Fees (includes estimated U-Pass)* $568
    Books and Supplies $570
    Miscellaneous

    An estimated amount of expenses for personal costs; prorated for any enrollment status less than Full-Time.

    		 $645
    Transportation $212
    Loan Fees $26
    Subtotal $10,997

    *Final U-Pass cost pending Chicago Transit Authority approval.

    Room and board for students living with parents $4,149
    Total for students living with parents $15,146
    Room and board for students living without their parents $5,724
    Total for students living without their parents $16,721
  • Half-time (6-8 credits)
    Undergraduate students registered for 6-8 credit hours (summer)
    Tuition  $6,528
    Estimated Fees (includes estimated U-Pass) $568
    Books and Supplies $380
    Miscellaneous

    An estimated amount of expenses for personal costs; prorated for any enrollment status less than Full-Time.

    		 $430
    Transportation $142
    Loan Fees $26
    Subtotal $8,074

    *Final U-Pass cost pending Chicago Transit Authority approval.

    Room and board for students living with parents $3,774
    Total for students living with parents $11,848
    Room and board for students without their parents $4,824
    Total for students living without parents $12,898
  • Less-than half-time (5 credits or fewer)
    Undergraduate students registered for 5 or fewer credit hours (summer)
    Tuition  $4,080
    Estimated Fees $453
    Books and Supplies $190
    Transportation $71
    Subtotal $4,794
    Room and board for students living with parents $1,131
    Total for students living with parents $5,925
    Room and board for students living without their parents $1,656
    Total for students living without their parents $6,450
Academic Dates and Deadlines