Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Columbia College (“College”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) is committed to protecting the privacy of all prospective and current students, parents, partners, and website visitors. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you interact with our websites, online forms, and advertising campaigns.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of personal information:

• Contact information: name, email address, phone number, mailing address
• Academic information: desired program of study, preferred start date, current level of education, language proficiency
• Demographic information: country/region of residence, nationality (where applicable)
• Communication details: your questions, requests, or messages submitted through our forms
• Technical information: IP address, browser type, device information, and pages visited on our website (through cookies and similar technologies)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

• To respond to your inquiries about our programs, admissions, and services
• To provide information about application procedures, tuition, scholarships, and visa support
• To contact you by email, phone, or messaging applications regarding your interest in Columbia College
• To improve our website, marketing, and student services
• To comply with legal, regulatory, and accreditation requirements

4. Legal Basis for Processing (if applicable)

Where required by law, we process your personal information based on:

• Your consent (for example, when you submit an online inquiry form)
• The necessity to take steps at your request prior to entering into a contract (for example, an enrollment agreement)
• Our legitimate interests in promoting and operating Columbia College, while respecting your rights and freedoms

5. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information only with:

• Internal departments such as admissions, academic programs, student services, and finance
• Trusted service providers who help us operate our website, manage communications, or process applications, under appropriate data protection agreements
• Government agencies, accreditation bodies, or other institutions when required by law or necessary for admission, immigration, or financial aid purposes

6. International Transfers

Because Columbia College is located in the United States, your information may be transferred to and processed in the United States, where data protection laws may differ from those in your home country. We take reasonable steps to protect your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

7. Data Retention

We keep your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, or as required by applicable laws, regulations, or institutional policies. When information is no longer needed, we will delete, anonymize, or securely store it.

8. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal obligations
• Object to or restrict certain types of processing
• Withdraw your consent at any time, where processing is based on consent

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information in the “Contact Us” section below. We may need to verify your identity before responding to your request.

9. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our websites may use cookies and similar technologies to improve user experience, analyze traffic, and support our marketing efforts. You can adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent. Some website features may not function properly if cookies are disabled.

10. Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or disclosure. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

11. Third-Party Websites

Our websites may contain links to third-party websites. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those external sites, and we are not responsible for their content or privacy practices. You should review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

12. Children’s Privacy

Our services are generally directed to individuals who are at least the age required to apply to our programs under local law. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child in violation of applicable law, we will take steps to delete that information as soon as reasonably possible.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or services. The updated version will be posted on our website with a revised “Effective date”. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your personal information is handled, please contact us at:

Columbia College

8620 Westwood Center Dr.

Email: info@ccdc.edu

Phone: (703) 206–0508

Effective date: January 2, 2026