Tuition & Fees

Your college education is a major investment in you—your work, your passions, and your vision for the future. Whether you use scholarships, loans, grants, on-campus employment, or some combination of all of the above, there are many options and opportunities that can make Columbus College of Art & Design possible for you financially. The whole financial aid process can feel a little overwhelming if you don’t live and breathe it every day like we do. There seems to be a ton of paperwork, legal speak, tax returns, acronyms, deadlines, IDs, gah! We want to make it all easier to understand so that nothing holds you back from attending CCAD.

 

What to expect and understanding costs

There’s no one-sticker-price-fits-all when it comes to any college’s costs.

No exception for CCAD. What you’ll pay to attend CCAD will depend on a lot of things. First and foremost, there’s the issue of how much of it will be covered by financial aid that doesn’t need to be repaid (like scholarships or grants). There are also costs beyond tuition you’ll want to consider; things like lab fees, books, and supplies. Costs will also vary based on where you decide to live, what (and where) you want to eat, and more day-to-day decision making. That brings us to an important topic: Cost of attendance vs. net price.


The difference between cost of attendance and net price is important.

The cost of attendance (or COA) is the total estimated cost for one academic year of college before financial aid is applied. The COA is determined by each individual school based on the unique expenses associated with that school, and it includes more than the direct billed charges that you might see on a billing statement from the school. Tuition and fees, housing, food, transportation, books and supplies, and other additional educational-related expenses are included in a COA and may vary based on your choices.


You want to focus on net price.

Meanwhile, the net price is an estimate of the actual cost that a student and their family need to pay in a given year to cover education expenses for the student to attend a particular school. Net price is determined by taking the institution’s cost of attendance and subtracting any grants and scholarships for which the student may be eligible. Remember, the majority of CCAD students receive some form of aid, so chances are likely that your net cost will be different from the cost of attendance at CCAD.


Estimate your net price with the Net Price Calculator*.

This tool will analyze your expected family contribution (EFC) and provide an estimate of your cost to attend CCAD, as well as the federal, state, and institutional financial aid for which you may qualify. It only takes a few minutes to complete, and you’ll get a wealth of info that can help you see the big picture. And seeing the big picture is best as you decide which college is the ideal fit for you. Go to ccad.studentaidcalculator.com for your cost estimate.

 

Not sure where to start?

We can help before you even apply to CCAD. Contact a financial aid counselor at [email protected] or 614.222.3295 to ask any questions you have about what comes next...or for further clarification on what FAFSA, EFC, DRT, etc. mean in real life.

2023-2024 Tuition & Fees 

TuitionYearly By semester


Tuition (12-18 credit hours)
 

$39,150$19,575


Additional credit (per hour)
 

$1,305 


Tuition deposit (one-time; nonrefundable)
 

$300 
Housing & Meals  


Housing for FIRST-YEAR students
 

  


Schottenstein Residence Hall (shared double room; includes Gold Meal Plan)
 

$11,450$5,725


Housing for RETURNING students
 

  


Design Square Apartments (two-bedroom)
 

$9,600$4,800


Design Square Apartments (four-bedroom)
 

$9,000$4,500


Meal plans for FIRST-YEAR students
 

  


Gold Plan (250 meals and $100 flex; required)
 

$5,100$2,550


Meal plans for RETURNING students
 

  


Gold Plan (250 meals and $100 flex)
 

$5,100$2,550


Silver Plan (175 meals and $125 flex)
 

$3,800$1,900


Bronze Plan (125 meals and $150 flex)
 

$2,950$1,475


Commuter Plan A (45 meals and $50 flex)
 

$1,150$575


Commuter Plan B (75 meals and $100 flex)
 

$1,850$925
Fees  


BFA Application fee (nonrefundable)
 

$50 


Art supply fee (one-time; for first-year and transfer students)
 

$795 


Technology & Resource fee (per year)
 

$500 
Other estimated costs (for reference only)  


Books & supplies
 

$2,200 


Transportation & parking (on-campus)
 

$1,268 


Miscellaneous (clothing, entertainment, personal items, cell phones, etc.)
 

$2,500 

 

Tuition (Scholarship opportunities available)YearlyBy semester


Tuition (12-18 credit hours)
 

$41,250$20,625


Additional credit (per hour)
 

$1,392 


Tuition deposit (one-time; nonrefundable)
 

$300 
Fees  


Application fee (nonrefundable)
 

$65 


Technology & Resource fee (per year)
 

$500$250
   


Meal plans for graduate students (optional)
 

  


Gold Plan (250 meals and $100 flex)
 

$5,100$2,550


Silver Plan (175 meals and $125 flex)
 

$3,800$1,900


Bronze Plan (125 meals and $150 flex)
 

$2,950$1,475


Commuter Plan A (45 meals and $50 flex)
 

$1,150$575


Commuter Plan B (75 meals and $100 flex)
 

$1,850$925

 

TuitionYearlyBy semester


Tuition (30 credit hours)
 

$25,500 


Cost per credit hour (30 credit hours total)

$850 


Tuition deposit (one-time; nonrefundable)
 

$300 
Fees  


Application fee (nonrefundable)
 

$65 


Technology & Resource fee (per year)
 

$500$250
   

Please use the Net Price Calculator for a description of costs and to determine your eligibility for federal financial aid.​

Scholarship opportunities available