School

Columbia College Chicago

Columbia College Chicago is an international leader and recognized pioneer in arts and media education. With over 120 years of deep experience teaching creative students to develop authentic voices and meaningful skills, Columbia graduates are fully prepared to launch sustainable careers in the visual, performing, media and communication arts.

Our educational philosophy is rooted in the essential wedding of theory with practice. Our students are immersed in a creative learning environment designed to give them ample opportunity to test and perfect their art, craft or practice, while grounding them in a rigorous academic curriculum that provides broad context and the intellectual, analytical and creative capacity to succeed in their chosen fields.

Head of School

Michael Olszewski is a professor on the Fashion Studies pathway, he received his B.F.A. in Graphic Design from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland and his Masters in Fine Arts in Fiber from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He has received fellowships from the Ballinglen Arts Foundation in Ireland, The Polish Consulate in Warsaw, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and the Pew Charitable Trust. His fiber constructions and paintings have been exhibited internationally and can be found in major collections including the Art Institute of Chicago, Philadelphia Museum of Art, the National Museum of American Art and The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon, MI, The Museum of Art & Design, New York and the Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia.

Courses Overview: Undergraduate and Postgraduate

Bachelor of Fashion Business
Bachelor of Fashion Design
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design
Fashion Business Minor

Life in Chicago

Welcome to Chicago, one of the most exciting and breathtaking cities in the world. As the third-largest U.S. city, Chicago abounds with cultural, artistic and professional opportunities. With a rich and storied history in entertainment, media and the arts, the city features world-class museums, newspapers, magazines, television and radio stations, theaters, corporations, publishers, sports organizations, agencies, studios, festivals, galleries, restaurants, parks, and cultural institutions. Chicago is also an emerging leader in the technology industry, with an array of new businesses and start-ups that are redefining the future of many creative fields.

Columbia's campus sits at the heart of it all, in Chicago's arts and education corridor known as the South Loop. Our “front yard” is Grant Park, which rests on the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan and is home to many of the city's music and art festivals. Just steps away is Chicago's Museum Campus, featuring the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum and the Adler Planetarium. To the west is the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower), and to the north is Millenium Park, the Magnificent Mile and Navy Pier.

Tuition and Scholarship Information

Columbia offers a variety of renewable scholarships to our undergraduate students. Although many of our scholarships are need-aware, it is not essential to demonstrate need in order to receive a scholarship. For further information on tuition fees and financial aid click here.

Manifest 2017 

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