2026-2027 Undergraduate Cost of Attendance

Figures on this page apply to students whose first term of enrollment was fall 2025 or later. They also apply to students returning to Columbia after an interruption of more than one academic year.

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 2026-27 academic year.

Undergraduate cost of attendance, full time, per semester (fall/spring)*
Tuition  $17,749
Fees (including estimated U-Pass) $946
Books and Supplies  $1,725
Miscellaneous - An estimated amount of expenses for personal costs $2,150
Transportation  $550
Loan Fees  $40
Subtotal $23,160
Room and board for students living off-campus with parents  $2,610
Total for students living off-campus with parents $25,770
Room and board for students living off-campus without their parents  $8,370
Total for students living off-campus without their parents $31,530
Room and board for students living in Columbia's campus housing $9,985
Total for students living in Columbia's campus housing $33,145

*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  $13,497
    Estimated Fees (including estimated U-Pass)* $629
    Books and Supplies $1,481
    Miscellaneous - An estimated amount of expenses for personal costs $1,613
    Transportation $413
    Loan Fees $40
    Subtotal

    $17,673

    *Final U-Pass cost pending Chicago Transit Authority approval

    Room and board for students living off-campus with their parents $2,273
    Total for students living off-campus with their parents $19,946
    Room and board for students living off-campus without their parents $6,908
    Total for students living off-campus without their parents $24,581

    Columbia's campus housing requires full-time enrollment of at least twelve credits.

  • Half-time (6-8 credits)
    Undergraduate students registered for 6-8 credit hours (fall/spring)*
    Tuition  $9,816
    Estimated Fees (including estimated U-Pass)* $629
    Books and Supplies $1,238
    Miscellaneous - An estimated amount of expenses for personal costs $1,075
    Transportation $275
    Loan Fees $40
    Subtotal $13,073

    *Final U-Pass cost pending Chicago Transit Authority approval

    Room and board for students living off-campus with their parents $1,935
    Total for students living off-campus with their parents $15,008
    Room and board for students living off-campus without their parents $5,445
    Total for students living off-campus without their parents $18,518

    Columbia's campus housing requires full-time enrollment of at least twelve credits.

  • Less-than half-time (5 credits or less)
    Undergraduate students registered in fewer than 5 credit hours (fall/spring)*
    Tuition  $6,135

    Estimated Fees

    		 $476
    Books and Supplies $994
    Transportation $138
    Total $7,743

    Columbia is not able to provide room and board estimates for students enrolled in fewer than five credits.

For students attending Columbia full-time during the 2027 summer semester, please review the estimated budget.

Undergraduate cost of attendance, summer session**
Tuition  $10,776
Estimated Fees (includes estimated U-Pass)* $908
Books and Supplies $785
Miscellaneous

An estimated amount of expenses for personal costs

 $885
Transportation $370
Loan Fees $26
Subtotal $13,750

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

Room and board for students living off-campus with parents $1,908
Total for students living off-campus with parents $15,658
Room and board for students living off campus without their parents $5,916
Total for students living off-campus without their parents $19,666

Columbia does not provide on-campus housing during the summer term.

**Tuition costs are per credit hour. The costs above reflect exactly 12 credit hours. Each additional credit hour is $898.

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 $9,878
    Estimated Fees (includes estimated U-Pass)* $591
    Books and Supplies $589
    Miscellaneous

    An estimated amount of expenses for personal costs

    		 $664
    Transportation $278
    Loan Fees $26
    Subtotal $12,026

    Columbia does not provide on-campus housing during the summer term.

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

    Room and board for students living off-campus with parents $1,683
    Total for students living off-campus with parents $13,709
    Room and board for students living off-campus without their parents $4,941
    Total for students living off-campus without their parents $16,967
  • Half-time (6-8 credits)
    Undergraduate students registered for 6-8 credit hours (summer)
    Tuition  $7,184
    Estimated Fees (includes estimated U-Pass) $591
    Books and Supplies $393
    Miscellaneous

    An estimated amount of expenses for personal costs

    		 $443
    Transportation $185
    Loan Fees $26
    Subtotal $8,822

    Columbia does not provide on-campus housing during the summer term.

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

    Room and board for students living off-campus with parents $1,458
    Total for students living off-campus with parents $10,280
    Room and board for students without their parents $3,966
    Total for students living without parents $12,788
  • Less-than half-time (5 credits or fewer)
    Undergraduate students registered for 5 or fewer credit hours (summer)
    Tuition  $4,490
    Estimated Fees $476
    Books and Supplies $196
    Transportation $93
    Total $5,255

    Columbia is not able to provide room and board estimates for students enrolled in fewer than five credits.

Academic Dates and Deadlines