US
Admitted Undergraduate Students - Additional Information - Columbia College Chicago
Admitted Undergraduate Students - Additional Information - Columbia College Chicago
Ask Us
312-369-7130
Email
Appointment
Request Info
Visit Us
Virtual Events
Campus Visits
Apply Now
Freshman
Transfer
Graduate
Second Bachelor's
Returning Students
Nondegree Seeking
Take Your Next Steps as a Columbia College Chicago Student
Congratulations on your acceptance to Columbia! We’re so excited to welcome you. You can stay up to date with everything you need to know on your way to enrollment through
Columbia Connect
. Eligible students will also receive a financial aid award letter. Haven't received yours? Fill out your
FAFSA
for award consideration.
When you're ready to make your decision, you can let us know on
Columbia Connect
. We'll also post ways to engage with Columbia like our signature Admitted Student Day events where you can explore campus and meet your future faculty and classmates.
Already submitted your deposit? The checklist items below will give you a sense of what lies ahead, but keep in mind that
Columbia Connect
will always be your most up-to-date source of information for enrollment steps.
International students
are advised to review the information at the link for some next steps that are specific to their circumstances.
Admitted Student Events
Register for events on Columbia Connect.
You’ve been admitted—come celebrate with us! Meet faculty, college leadership, admissions staff, and your future classmates. Explore your major, experience campus, and see what life at Columbia is really like. Registration forms for all events can be found in the "Events" section of
Columbia Connect
On-Campus Admitted Student Events
Date and Time
Event
Description
April 11, 18, 25, and May 2, 2026 | 9:30 a.m. CT
Admitted Student Day
Celebrate your admission and experience Columbia’s creative community.
May 16, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. CT
Manifest Arts Festival New Student Mixer
Join us during our campus-wide festival featuring student exhibitions, performances, screenings, and more.
Registration forms for all admitted student events can be found in the "Events" section of
Columbia Connect
Admitted Student Receptions in Cities Near You
Date and Time
City
Address
March 9, 2026 | 4:30 p.m. ET
Indianapolis
Elf N'Moon
March 12, 2026 | 6:00 p.m. CT
Dallas
Immersion Gamebox
March 17, 2026 | 4:30 p.m. CT
Milwaukee
Milwaukee Library Central
March 17, 2026 | 6:00 p.m. CT
St. Louis
Museum of Illusions
March 20, 2026 | 5:00 p.m. CT
Chicago
Columbia College Chicago Student Center
March 21, 2026 | 6:30 p.m. CT
Oak Park
Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex
March 23, 2026 | 4:30 p.m. ET
New York City
Cafe Lounge
March 25, 2026 | 6:00 p.m. CT
Minneapolis
Open Book
March 26, 2026 | 6:30 p.m. ET
D.C. Area
Lucky Strike
March 29, 2026 | 3:00 p.m. CT
New Orleans
Aloft Downtown
March 31, 2026 | 6:30 p.m. ET
Atlanta
Lucky Strike
April 1, 2026 | 4:30 p.m. CT
Houston
Siphon Coffee
April 1, 2026 | 6:00 p.m. CT
Lake Zurich
Clay Monet
April 5, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. CT
Los Angeles
Sunset Las Palmas Studios
Registration forms for all admitted student events can be found in the "Events" section of
Columbia Connect
Virtual Admitted Student Events
Date and Time
Event
Description
April 9 | 6:00 p.m. CT
Why Columbia? + Next Steps
Get a virtual view into one of the most innovative creative colleges in the nation.
April 12 | 3:00 p.m. CT
Student and Family Open Q&A
We'll cover everything families need to know about what needs to happen between now and September.
April 14 | 6:00 p.m. CT
Inside Your Major: Career Paths
Dive in to our majors, the projects you'll be working on, the skills you'll be building, and where they can take you professionally.
April 15 | 6:00 p.m. CT
Internships, Careers, and Industry Connections
Hear from our Career Center about internships, jobs, and how they can scaffold your skills while you're still a student.
April 16 | 6:00 p.m. CT
What It's Really Like at Columbia
Our students will be front and center for this one with their unfiltered point of view on day-to-day life as a Columbia student.
April 17 | 6:00 p.m. CT
Why Columbia? + Next Steps
Get a virtual view into one of the most innovative creative colleges in the nation.
April 19 | 6:00 p.m. CT
Paying for Columbia
Get a clear overview of your Columbia College Chicago financial aid offer and what it means for you and your family.
April 22 | 6:00 p.m. CT
Why Columbia? + Next Steps
Get a virtual view into one of the most innovative creative colleges in the nation.
April 23 | 6:00 p.m. CT
Portfolio, Projects, and Creative Work
What pieces will you create to show off your skills, build a body of work, and be ready to impress employers?
April 26 | 6:00 p.m. CT
Student Life, Housing, and Transition to College
Living on campus
—your home base for exploring all Chicago has to offer.
April 28 | 6:00 p.m. CT
How to Make Your Final Decision
With Decision Day approaching, let's talk through what really matters in your college decision-making process.
April 30 | 6:00 p.m. CT
Ask Us Anything
It's Decision Day Eve! Leave some cookies and milk out for your Admissions Representative and join us for an open discussion to tie up any last-minute questions you may have. It's not procrastination, it's being thoughtful!
Registration forms for all admitted student events can be found in the "Events" section of
Columbia Connect
After You're Admitted
Finalize Your Financial Aid and Scholarships - Complete The FAFSA
If you have
Submited a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
with Columbia’s school code (001665) and
a portfolio or audition
that demonstrates your best creative work, then you are being considered for every possible scholarship Columbia can offer. There is nothing more to do at this time.
If you have not submitted the FAFSA, we encourage you do so as soon as possible. It may be helpful to review these video resources from
Columbia
and from the
Department of Education
as you prepare your FAFSA.
If you earn additional scholarships via your FAFSA or portfolio/audition, we will notify you by email and update the electronic version of your Financial Aid Award Letter.
We encourage you to
schedule
an
appointment
with your
admissions
counselor
to
review
financial
aid
options,
discuss
scholarship
opportunities,
and
make
plan
that works for you and your family or college supporter.
You van visit
Columbia Central
for more info.
Learn how to secure your scholarship and the terms of your scholarship.
Experience Columbia for Yourself
Nothing
helps
with
your
college
decision
quite
like
visiting
campus
and
connecting
with
the
Columbia
community.
Visit
us
in
person
for
campus
tour
or
attend
one
of
our
Admitted
Student
Days,
where
you
and
your
college
supporters
can
meet
faculty,
explore
facilities,
and
take
deeper
dive
into
your
program.
If
you’re
not
able
to
travel
to
Chicago,
you
can
also
learn
more
through
our
virtual
events
and
online
sessions
designed
specifically
for
admitted
students by registering on your
Columbia Connect
portal.
Set Up Your Columbia Account
After you're admitted, you'll receive instructions on how to activate your official Columbia student account. A summary of these instructions is below for reference, but you must be logged into
Columbia Connect
to complete the account activation steps.
It is important to follow these instructions carefully and complete this step in a timely fashion. Your official Columbia account will allow you to access everything you need to prepare for enrollment including your student email account, the on-campus housing application, course registration, financial aid and billing, and much more.
Please note:
Until your first day of classes, continue to check both your personal email and your colum.edu email to make sure you are receiving all necessary communications. If you applied to the college using an email issued to you by another school, be aware that you might lose access to that account before your Columbia classes begin. If you need to change your personal email address, please contact your Admissions Representative via
Columbia Connect
Here is a summary of the account activation steps:
Download the Duo Mobile App to your mobile device
Log into your Columbia Connect portal. The
Activate Your Columbia Student Account
form will walk you through the steps.
You will need
both your mobile device and another device to utilize the Duo QR code for set up.
Set up Duo Multifactor Authentication
Set up your Microsoft Security and backup questions
You'll then be able to connect to other college systems for financial aid and housing!
Tell Us Your Decision and Secure Your Spot
When
you’re
ready
log
in
to
Columbia
Connect
and
submit
the
Tell
Us
Your
Decision
form.
After
submitting
the
form,
you
will
be
prompted
to
pay a
250
tuition
deposit.
This
deposit
holds
your
place
at
Columbia
and
secures
your
scholarships.
It
is
applied
to
your
first
semester
bill
and
is
not
an
additional
fee.
The
priority
deposit
deadline
is
May
for
fall
students. The deposit is not refundable after May 1.
Depositing early and before the priority deadlines
has
advantages,
including
access
to
earlier
course
registration
and
housing
placement.
After You Submit Your Deposit
Consider Your Funding Sources
If you received a
Financial Aid Award Letter
, you may need to submit additional documentation to secure the financial aid you have been offered. To see if you have any missing documents to submit, log in to your MyColumbia portal, select the MyFinancials option, and look under "Missing Documents."
You may also wish to use additional resources to pay for your education. Make a list of the third-party resources you have available, such as your work income, 529 plan, veteran benefits and employer reimbursement.
Compare these funding sources to your costs to determine if you will need to
borrow loans or sign up for a
payment plan
. Columbia offers low-cost payment plans that allow you to spread your educational expenses over the term or the academic year.
For more information about meeting the cost of your Columbia education, visit
colum.edu/wheretostart
Check Your Student Email
After you've submitted your deposit, it is important to get in the habit of periocially checking your official Columbia email account. There will be some items related to your enrollment that are protected and can only be shared through your colum.edu account, so if you are not checking it regularly, you might miss something. Also, once you are enrolled, your colum.edu email address will be the college's official channel of communication with you for everything related to your classes, financial aid, housing, news alerts, and college events.
Please note:
Until your first day of classes, continue to check both your personal email and your colum.edu email to make sure you are receiving all necessary communications. If you applied to the college using an email issued to you by another school, be aware that you might lose access to that account before your Columbia classes begin. If you need to change your personal email address, please contact your Admissions Representative via
Columbia Connect
Contact Services for Students with Disabilities
Will you need accommodations in your classes or housing? You can start working with our SSD office before you're enrolled to make sure everything is in place.
Find out more here
Apply for Housing
Take a look at Columbia College Chicago's housing options.
After you decide to enroll and make a deposit to confirm your attendance, you should complete a housing application. We will notify you by email, text, and a posting to
Columbia Connect
when the housing applicatoin is available. For the 2026-2027 academic year, the housing application is scheduled to be avaiable on Wednesday, April 8. We expect new freshmen and transfers moving to Chicago from outside the metro area to live on campus their first year. See floor plans and photos and apply for housing—which is offered on a first-come, first-served basis—at
colum.edu/residencelife
Register for Classes
New undergraduate students can start the registration process by completing their Registration Questionnaire (RQ). The RQ will be available on Columbia Connect for deposited students starting on Monday, April 13. The information you provide here will help your advisor create the right schedule for your first-semester at Columbia.
The registration process may include course placement activities like ALEKS (mathematics), or other assessments specific to your intended major. Completing these activities is an important part of making sure that you're first semester schedule includes the appropriate courses reflecting your current skill level. Please take the time to complete them when filling out the RQ.
When your schedule is ready, you'll receive an email notification asking you to log onto Columbia Connect and acknowledge receipt of it. Once you have your schedule, you are free to make changes in consultation with your Academic Advisor.
Submit AP and IB Scores
Official
Advanced Placement
and
International Baccalaureate
exam results will be considered for college credit. Please request official score reports for Columbia College Chicago through the testing agency.
Submit Your Final Transcripts
If you are currently enrolled in high school or a college or university, you must submit an official copy of your final transcript to Admissions. If you are submitting a high school transcript, it should include a graduation date. A college or university transcript should include final grades for the last term you were enrolled.
Late transcripts can complicate registration, financial aid, and payment for your first semester.
Transcripts should be sent directly to Admissions:
Columbia College Chicago Admissions
600 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60605
Join Handshake
Do you want to work while you're in school?
Handshake
is your way to find out about job opportunities on and off campus. All listings are open to all students. You'll recieve your credentials to access Handshake job listings via your colum.edu email account after your course schedule is finalized.
Provide Your Immunization Records
Illinois law requires that all students born on or after January 1, 1957, who enroll at least part-time (6 credit hours or more) must prove that they have immunity from certain communicable diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, measles, rubella, mumps, and
meningitis
. Proof of immunity must be on file at the institution the student is currently attending.
If you do not have a complete immunization record on file by the end of the eighth week of your first semester (not including the Summer semester) a registration hold will be placed on your academic record, and you will not be eligible to register for the following semester. Find out
where to send your records
Review Your Technology Needs
Each major has its own requirements (a "toolbox") for technology that will enable you to dive right in to your creative practice
—along with some equipment, computer labs, and software licenses that are provided by the college as part of your tuition.
This page
has a detailed list of the technology requirements for each Columbia major. Please review it before classes start and verify you have what you need.
Participate in Orientation
Columbia's new student orientation program will introduce you to everything you need to know to lay the foundation for success as a Columbia student.
Think of it as your first real day of college
—because it kind of is.
Orientation is scheduled for the following dates:
Week 1:
July 13, 14, 15, 16 (On-campus)
Week 2:
July 20, 21, 22, 23 (On-campus)
Week 3:
July 27, 28, 29, 30 (Virtual)
Students will select their preferred date and register for Orientation through their
Columbia Connect
pages.
Set up a Payment Plan
Once you have a schedule, you'll also have a tuition bill. This bill will also include your housing and meal-plan charges if those apply.
Using
CCCPay
, you can either pay your balance in full or set up a monthly payment plan. You can also designate an authorized party to pay for you. The deadline to pay in full or establish a plan is Monday, August 3, 2026.
Move to Chicago
Move-in dates will be available after your housing contract is finalized. Move-in is scheduled for the week of August 31. We recommend new students try to move in as early as possible to take advantage of activities and events designed especially to help them get to know their new city.
Get packed, get excited, and show up ready to go on your assigned date!
Classes Start
The fall term starts on Tuesday, September 6. We'll see you there!
Important Dates and Deadlines for Fall 2026
Submit your deposit
Before May 1, 2026
Submit Housing Application
Starting April 8, 2026
Submit Registration Questionnaire
Starting April 13, 2026
Room Selection
Starting May 5, 2026
Finalize Fall Schedule
Starting June 15, 2026
Sign Housing Contract
Starting Early June 2026
Complete Financial Aid Documents
Before August 1, 2026
Enroll in a Payment Plan (optional)
Starting Mid May 2026
Deadline: August 1, 2026
Attend Orientation
Choose a Date in July
Final Deposit Deadline for Fall 2026
August 21, 2026
Housing Move-In
The Week of August 31, 2026
Attend New Student Events
Starting Week of August 31, 2026
First Day of Fall 2026 Classes
September 8, 2026
Admission to Columbia College Chicago is offered for a specified term of entry. Students who are offered admission to Columbia but are unable to enroll in the specified term of entry may request to defer admission for up to one year by contacting Admissions at 312-369-7130 or admissions@colum.edu. Deferral requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Requirements & Deadlines:
Freshman
Graduate
Transfer
Second Bachelor's
Returning Students
Nondegree and Certificates
International
International Undergraduate Students
International Graduate Students
Test-Free Admissions
Visit Us:
Campus Visits
Getting to Columbia
Virtual Events
Campus Visits
Additional Information:
BFA/BMus Portfolio and Audition Requirements
Faculty Recognition Award Requirements
Admitted Students
Undergraduate Student
Graduate Student
Financial Aid
Admissions Timeline & Dates
Undergraduate Timeline
Graduate Timeline & Dates
Planning your Transfer
Veterans
First-Generation Students
International Admissions Staff
Transfer Admissions Staff
All Admissions Staff
Undocumented Applicants
Achieve Columbia
Summer at Columbia:
Summer at Columbia
Registration
Courses
FAQs
Educational Partnerships:
Columbia College Chicago and Illinois Tech Course Exchange Program
Columbia College Chicago and Lake Forest College Course Exchange Program
American Academy of Art
RE:ALIZE