Yes. You are automatically considered for a merit-based scholarship at the time of admission based on your academic record. To be considered for a talent-based scholarship, submit creative samples of work along with your undergraduate application by January 15 for priority consideration. For details on how to submit a portfolio of your best creative work, visit colum.edu/portfolio-info.
You will be notified of your total financial aid package, including Columbia scholarships, on your Financial Aid Award Letter.
International Student
At Columbia College Chicago, we welcome international students from more than 40 countries. You’ll study, work, live and explore in the heart of beautiful Chicago — the third-biggest city in the United States and a thrilling place to be a student. Click here for Columbia College Chicago President Kim's statement on Executive Order barring immigrants and refugees.Undergraduate students
- Am I eligible for scholarships?
- What are costs I am responsible for?
Depending on your program type you may be responsible for tuition, fees, and housing charges. If you are attending Columbia on an exchange program, verify what charges your home institution will cover to determine what charges you are responsible for. All students are responsible for the Ventra U-Pass cost and health insurance costs.
To view a breakdown of the costs please refer to your Student Account Summary in the MyColumbia portal, located under the MyFinancials tab. You can also view all transactions by clicking My Balances by Semester.
- What are my payment options?
If you are using an international account to make payment(s), you may wire transfer funds through Flywire. Please select “International wire” as payment method in the MyColumbia portal.
If you are using a U.S. bank account, credit card, or debit card, you may make a payment through the Make a Payment option in CCCPay. Additional fees may apply if you use a credit card or debit card.
Please follow these steps to make payment(s):
1. Log in to the MyColumbia portal.
2. Select the MyFinancials tab on the menu bar at the top of the page.
3. Select Enter CCCPay.
4. Select the Make a Payment option. Enter the payment amount.
5. Select International Wire in the Payment Method box. Click on the Continue button. You will be redirected to the Flywire website to set up a user account on the site. After setting up your user account, follow the instructions to complete the wire transfer payment.
6. You will be directed to the Flywire website to set up a user account on the site. After you have set up your user account, follow the instructions to complete the wire transfer payment.
You can also download detailed instructions for paying with Flywire.Important Note: Students who have submitted a prior payment on Flywire should initiate all successive payment transactions on CCCPay using the same international wire payment method. Please do not initiate payments directly on Flywire using your saved profile, because the funds will not be automatically transferred to your Columbia tuition account.
You may only pay one full semester at a time if paying in one lump sum.
- How do I set up a payment plan?If you are using an international account, please contact Columbia Central at columbiacentral@colum.edu, as you will need to set up a manual payment plan. A Consultant will follow up with you.
If using a U.S. account, you can set up an automated payment plan through CCCPay, located on the MyColumbia portal. View our Payment Plans webpage for more information. - Can my parent sign up for a payment plan?Yes, you may add a parent or an authorized party through the MyColumbia portal. On the MyFinancials tab, select Enter CCCPay, and then Authorized Party. The parent or other authorized user will have access to your monthly electronic bills, will receive email alerts, and can make payments or set up a payment plan.
Note: Any authorized parties—parents, spouses, guardians, or other third-party payers—who have been authorized by a student can access CCCPay through the Authorized Party Login page. You will need to disable pop-up blockers to access the page. - How do I set up a third party to pay for my costs?
You can add the third party as an authorized party. They can then log in and make payments on your behalf using Flywire.
If a third party is paying for a specific portion of your cost, please submit documents verifying what costs will be covered by them. Find out more about submitting documents electronically here.
In some cases you may need to complete a Third Party Benefit Release Form online if the third party requires a bill from Columbia College Chicago. You can find this form in the Resource Center.
- How do I monitor my account?You will receive a monthly electronic bill notification through Office 365, Columbia's student email system. Please make sure to review the bill monthly to ensure you have no outstanding balance. We primarily communicate with students through Office 365, so make sure to monitor it regularly. You may also view your current account balance anytime by selecting the Transaction Details link on the CCCPay home page.
- What is the college's payment policy?
You must either pay your out-of-pocket charges in full or establish a payment plan by August 1 for the Fall semester, December 28 for the Spring semester, and May 13 for the Summer semester. Failure to pay by the due dates can result in a non-compliance fee of $150 billed to your account as well as a financial hold on your account. Please check your student email regularly to avoid missing deadlines and other important information.
Graduate students
- Am I eligible for scholarships?Yes. Incoming international graduate students are automatically considered for the Graduate Assistantship program if they submit a complete admissions application by the application deadline in their graduate program. Award amounts are up to full tuition based on the duration of the program and the strength of the admissions application.
- What are costs I am responsible for?
Depending on your program type you may be responsible for tuition, fees, and housing charges. If you are attending Columbia on an exchange program, verify what charges your home institution will cover to determine what charges you are responsible for. All students are responsible for the Ventra U-Pass cost and health insurance costs.
To view a breakdown of the costs please refer to your Student Account Summary in the MyColumbia portal, located under the MyFinancials tab. You can also view all transactions by clicking My Balances by Semester.
- What are my payment options?
If you are using an international account to make payment(s), you may wire transfer funds through Flywire. Please select “International wire” as payment method in the MyColumbia portal.
If you are using a U.S. bank account, credit card, or debit card, you may make a payment through the Make a Payment option in CCCPay. Additional fees may apply if you use a credit card or debit card.
Please follow these steps to make payment(s):
1. Log in to the MyColumbia portal.
2. Select the MyFinancials tab on the menu bar at the top of the page.
3. Select Enter CCCPay.
4. Select the Make a Payment option. Enter the payment amount.
5. Select International Wire in the Payment Method box. Click on the Continue button. You will be redirected to the Flywire website to set up a user account on the site. After setting up your user account, follow the instructions to complete the wire transfer payment.
6. You will be directed to the Flywire website to set up a user account on the site. After you have set up your user account, follow the instructions to complete the wire transfer payment.
You can also download detailed instructions for paying with Flywire.Important Note: Students who have submitted a prior payment on Flywire should initiate all successive payment transactions on CCCPay using the same international wire payment method. Please do not initiate payments directly on Flywire using your saved profile, because the funds will not be automatically transferred to your Columbia tuition account.
You may only pay one full semester at a time if paying in one lump sum.
- How do I set up a payment plan?If you are using an international account, please contact Columbia Central at columbiacentral@colum.edu, as you will need to set up a manual payment plan. A Consultant will follow up with you.
If using a U.S. account, you can set up an automated payment plan through CCCPay, located on the MyColumbia portal. View our Payment Plans webpage for more information. - Can my parent sign up for a payment plan?Yes, you may add a parent or an authorized party through the MyColumbia portal. On the MyFinancials tab, select Enter CCCPay, and then Authorized Party. The parent or other authorized user will have access to your monthly electronic bills, will receive email alerts, and can make payments or set up a payment plan.
Note: Any authorized parties—parents, spouses, guardians, or other third-party payers—who have been authorized by a student can access CCCPay through the Authorized Party Login page. You will need to disable pop-up blockers to access the page. - How do I set up a third party to pay for my costs?
You can add the third party as an authorized payer. They can then log in and make payments on your behalf using Flywire.
If a third party is paying for a specific portion of your cost, please submit documents verifying what costs will be covered by them. Find out more about submitting documents electronically here.
In some cases you may need to complete a Third Party Benefit Release Form online if the third party requires a bill from Columbia College Chicago. You can find this form in the Resource Center.
- How do I monitor my account?You will receive a monthly electronic bill notification through Office 365, Columbia's student email system. Please make sure to review the bill monthly to ensure you have no outstanding balance. We primarily communicate with students through Office 365, so make sure to monitor it regularly. You may also view your current account balance anytime by selecting the Transaction Details link on the CCCPay home page.
- What is the college's payment policy?
You must either pay your out-of-pocket charges in full or establish a payment plan by August 1 for the Fall semester, December 28 for the Spring semester, and May 13 for the Summer semester. Failure to pay by the due dates can result in a non-compliance fee of $150 billed to your account as well as a financial hold on your account. Please check your student email regularly to avoid missing deadlines and other important information.
