Founded in 1890 as the Columbia School of Oratory, its name was changed in 1904 to Columbia College of Expression, a not for profit corporation, replete with a Board of Directors for the first time in its history.

Its name changed again in 1944, to Columbia College and then again in 1997 to Columbia College Chicago.

Through the name changes, one constant remains: the oratorical roots still inform the curricula today.