A COLLEGE FOR CREATIVES

At Columbia, creativity is both a gift and a skill—it isn’t just something that is “nice to have,” it is essential to the human experience and valued for its own sake. But, Columbia is not meant to be a safe harbor where creativity is sheltered and protected.

We are practical about creativity—it grounds us in the real world.

We understand that for our students to be successful after graduation, they need to not only understand their craft, but also be able to leverage it in the real world. This means being able to take the creative concept and translate it into the time and money required to execute it—to pitch an idea, read and understand a contract, manage a budget, and collaborate with others in ways that balance the idealistic with the practical.

How do we do this? We do it by bringing together a faculty of working professionals who accept students for who they are and challenge them to discover who they can become. We do it by emphasizing the ways in which business and technology intersect with the creative world. We do it by embracing human and disciplinary diversity because we know that encountering new people and perspectives will always strengthen creative work.

If this sounds like something you’re interested in, just keep turning the pages.

We Are Here

Chicago Could Be Your Campus

Chicago is a world-class city. We like to think of it as an extension of our campus—because it kind of is. As a Columbia student you’ll have theaters, galleries, restaurants, parks, museums, and concert venues to explore whenever you’re not in class—and sometimes when you are. Your time at Columbia will be filled with opportunities to engage with Chicago’s history, culture, and commerce.

And, with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) U-Pass, any full-time student can go from our South Loop campus to other Chicago neighborhoods in minutes. Just hop on a bus or the L train.

Come See It For Yourself

The best way to experience Columbia is to visit our campus. Whether you live in one of the seventy-seven neighborhoods that make up our extraordinary city, or you’re coming from the other side of the world, we think we can show you something new and unexpected.

So, forget about the Chicago you think you know or may have heard about and come spend a day with us. Go to colum.edu/visit to see all of your options. And if you can’t make the trip, colum.edu/ virtual lists some online experiences that will help you get a sense of who we are and what we have to offer.