Presidential Towers
555 W Madison St,
Chicago, IL 60661
$1,738 - $5,510
Studio - 2 Beds
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, IL
Columbia College Chicago - Chicago, IL Area Guide
A prime South Loop location for one of Chicago’s top universities
Private
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Urban
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Walkable
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Public Transportation
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Parks
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Outdoors
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Dining
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Nightlife
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Entertainment
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Historic
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Columbia College Chicago is a first-rate institution that puts you right at the center of the action in one of America’s most vibrant and exciting cities. The institution is most famous for its world-class programs related to media and the arts, and serves as a major player in the city’s cultural landscape. The Museum of Contemporary Photography is one of the college’s most popular public-facing achievements, and its rotating exhibits are well worth checking out any time you have a free moment. With its campus located right across the street from Grant Park and within sight of Buckingham Fountain, living around Columbia College will put you in one of the most desirable areas of town. Many of Chicago’s best restaurants, bars, museums, and other attractions are within a few blocks, and of course the city’s public transportation system makes it easy to explore the broader community without a personal vehicle. Those same transit options also open up a wealth of options when it comes to finding a place to live—the South Loop area can be quite pricey, but you can often find some great deals on apartments, houses, and condos slightly farther south in neighborhoods like Chinatown and Bridgeport.
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Chicago, IL is $1,640 for a studio, $2,035 for one bedroom, $2,560 for two bedrooms, and $3,069 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Chicago has increased by 2.9% in the past year.
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Studio
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440 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
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$1,640/month
Average Rent
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1 BR
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658 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
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$2,035/month
Average Rent
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2 BR
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917 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
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$2,560/month
Average Rent
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3 BR
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1,189 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
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$3,069/month
Average Rent
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Columbia College Chicago - Chicago, IL (University) is for everyday living.
Exceptionally Walkable
Walkability
90
/ 100
Exceptional Public Transit
Transit
100
/ 100
Fairly Drivable
Drivability
50
/ 100
Exceptionally Bikeable
Bikeability
90
/ 100
Daily Essentials
In Columbia College Chicago - Chicago, IL (University), daily errands are quick and hassle-free.
Supermarket Within a 5 Minute Walk
Groceries
100
/ 100
Exceptional Restaurant Variety Nearby
Restaurants
90
/ 100
Exceptional Café Variety Nearby
Cafes
90
/ 100
Exceptional Variety of Shops Nearby
Shopping
100
/ 100
Recreation
Columbia College Chicago - Chicago, IL (University) provides ample green space and fitness centers within easy reach.
Exceptional Amount of Park Space Nearby
Parks
100
/ 100
Exceptional Wellness Amenity Variety Nearby
Wellness
90
/ 100
Local Vibe
Get a sense of what it’s like to live in Columbia College Chicago - Chicago, IL (University) from everyday activity to noise and nightlife.
Exceptionally Vibrant Atmosphere
Vibrancy
90
/ 100
Exceptional Nightlife Variety Nearby
Nightlife
90
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Mount Greenwood Elementary School
Public
Grades K-8
1,172 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
976 Students
Public
Grades K-8
886 Students
Hawthorne Elementary Scholastic Academy
Public
Grades K-8
604 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
601 Students
Mount Greenwood Elementary School
Public
Grades K-8
1,172 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
976 Students
Public
Grades K-8
886 Students
Hawthorne Elementary Scholastic Academy
Public
Grades K-8
604 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
601 Students
Northside College Preparatory High School
Public
Grades 9-12
1,040 Students
Hancock College Preparatory High School
Public
Grades 9-12
1,013 Students
Devry Advantage Academy High School
Public
Grades 9-12
135 Students
Jones College Prep High School
Public
Grades 9-12
1,941 Students
Von Steuben Metro Science High School
Public
Grades 9-12
1,656 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Field Museum of Natural History
- Burnham Park
- John G. Shedd Aquarium
- Women's Park and Gardens
- Grant Park
Airports
- Chicago Midway International
- Chicago O'Hare International
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.