Admitted Undergraduate Students

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 keep up to date with everything you need to know on your way to enrollment via Columbia Connect. Eligible students will also receive a financial aid award letter. (Haven't received this yet? 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'll get to see our campus, and meet your future faculty and classmates.

Already submitted your deposit? The checkilist items below will give you a sense of what lies ahead, but always remember that Columbia Connect is your most up-to-date source of information for enrollment steps.

Register for our events:

Want to see our campus?

We’d like to show you why we call Columbia home, so you can start calling it home, too. At Admitted Student Day, you'll get an in-depth, faculty-led experience, visit one of our residence centers, discuss financial planning and scholarships, and learn all about our resources that will help you launch your creative career! Space is limited, so admitted students should sign up right away. View the schedule of the day.

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Can't come to campus? That's Okay!

We've planned several web-based events and presentations designed for you to find out if Columbia is the right place for you. (We hope so!) Learn about our academic departments, financial aid options, and everything else you need to know to make your decision. Log in to Columbia Connect to sign up!

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One-on-one Counselor Appointments

Schedule a one-on-one conversation with your Admissions Counselor. They can answer all of your questions about how to become a Columbia student - and what to expect about life on camups once you get here.

Counselor Appointments

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After you're admitted:

Apply for financial aid and/or scholarships
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 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.

You van visit Columbia Central for more info. Learn how to secure your scholarship and the terms of your scholarship.

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 Columbia email
Office 365 is the official student email of Columbia, and we'll use it to send critical information about registration, your academic progress, financial aid awards, events on campus, and much more.

Please note: Until your first day of classes, continue to check both your personal email and your sudent email to make sure you are receiving all necessary communications.
Apply for housing
Take a look at Columbia College Chicago's housing options.

The hosing application for students starting in fall 2023 will be available in early April.

After you decide to enroll and make a deposit to confirm your attendance, you should complete a housing application. Students must submit a $500 prepayment when they apply. We expect new freshmen and transfers 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.
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
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: COVID-19, diphtheria, tetanus, measles, rubella, and mumps. 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.
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 in mid-April. The information you provide here will help your advisor create the right schedule for your first-semester at Columbia.

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.

Start the registration process

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. Deferrals will be granted on a case-by-case basis.