Class of 2023 by the Numbers

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Get to know a little bit about the makeup of the Columbia College Chicago class of 2023.

Columbia College Chicago is celebrated another class of creatives who are ready to shape what’s next in a variety of industries.  

The 2023 commencement exercises on May 13 and 14 at the Arie Crown Theatre honored the more than 1,000 students who worked through the challenge of COVID-19 and still managed to learn, create, and innovate.  

While every graduate has a story (a few of which were told in our Salute to Grads), much can be learned about the class of 2023 thanks to these preliminary numbers. 

  • More than 1,400 graduates will cross the stage at Arie Crown Theatre. The youngest graduates are 19 years old and the oldest is 58
  • Columbia students come from all over to launch their creative careers. This graduating class has representation from 47 states and the District of Columbia. Students will travel to learn at Columbia. There are graduates from 40 countries outside the US, including from as far away as South Africa, China, Ukraine, Colombia, and French Polynesia. 
  • The class of 2023 took advantage of the variety of academic programs available. There were 7 types of degrees awarded and most came in the form of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts.
  • Graduates in the class of 2023 excel in numerous disciplines. They come from 17 departments across the college. The departments with the most graduates in 2023 are:   
    • Cinema and Television Arts - 313
    • Theatre - 162
    • Business and Entrepreneurship - 153  
    • Design - 148  
    • Interactive Arts and Media - 139