Columbia College Chicago and Lake Forest College Course Exchange Program

Diversify your experience.

Columbia College Chicago and Lake Forest College have partnered to provide students with unmatched access to courses that are innovative, entrepreneurial, and relevant.

Undergraduate students at Lake Forest College may enroll in for-credit courses at Columbia College Chicago to pursue comprehensive educational opportunities in the fields of arts, communication, and public information.

Apply Now
  • Eligibility

    This Course Exchange Program is competitive and merit-based which means that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program. Eligibility requirements include:

    • Being in good academic standing and not on academic probation
    • Having no financial and/or disciplinary holds
    • Meeting any and all published Illinois Tech requirements
  • Application Steps

    Applying to the Course Exchange Program is simple, and it is recommended that Lake Forest College students apply to Columbia by the dates below as courses fill very quickly.

    • Fall semester: April 30
    • Spring semester: November 30

    Lake Forest College Students

    • Complete the Columbia College Chicago non-degree application here
      • Indicate that you are participating in a special concurrent enrollment program and select Lake Forest College as your current institution from the options,
      • List all courses you are interested in taking at Columbia, and
      • Include a PDF of your unofficial transcript (steps are here).
  • Admitted Students

    Admitted students will receive an email with next steps, including registration information.

    • Follow the registration instructions in your Lake Forest College admissions notification.
    • Submit your full immunization record, including required COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters to MedProctor.
    • Complete the Third-Party Benefit Release Form (in the Processing Agreements section).
  • Courses

    Courses at Columbia College Chicago will build on your creative, entrepreneurial, and technological skillsets. These courses are subject to availability. Please refer to the Course Catalog for the most current offerings.

  • Tuition and Fees

    As part of the agreement between Lake Forest College and Columbia College Chicago, the tuition and fees to attend courses at Columbia College Chicago will be the same as the published tuition and fees of Lake Forest College at the time of enrollment. Tuition and fee payments are made on behalf of participating students to Columbia College Chicago by Lake Forest College. Students do not pay Columbia College Chicago directly. Lake Forest College will process federal financial aid based on the student’s enrollment at Columbia College Chicago.

  • Blended Calendar and Important Dates

    Columbia and Lake Forest College have different academic schedules. Please take note of the schedules below.

    FALL 2023

    Lake Forest College

     

    Fall 2023 Important Dates and Deadlines

     

    Columbia College Chicago

    August 24

     

    Fall Courses Begin

     

    September 5

    TBD

     

    Student Health Insurance Waiver Deadline

     

    N/A

    August 31

     

    Add Deadline for Full Semester Courses

     

    September 11

    August 31

     

    Drop Deadline for Full Semester Courses

     

    September 18

    September 4

     

    Labor Day—No Classes

     

    September 4

    October 16-17

     

    Mid-Semester Break—No Classes

     

    N/A

    November 22 – 26

     

    Thanksgiving Break—No Classes

     

    November 22 – 26

    December 6

     

    Last Day to Withdraw for Full Semester Courses

     

    November 3

    December 6

     

    Last Day of Fall Courses

     

    December 16

    December 7 - 14

     

    Final Exam Week/Final Grading Begins

     

    N/A

    TBD

     

    Final Grades Due at Noon (CST)

     

    December 22

  • About Us

    Located in the heart of downtown Chicago’s Cultural Mile, Columbia College Chicago is a private, nonprofit college offering a distinctive curriculum that blends creative and media arts, liberal arts, and business for nearly 6,700 students in more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Dedicated to academic excellence and long-term career success, Columbia College Chicago creates a dynamic, challenging, and collaborative space for students who see the world through a creative lens.

    Complex problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity will be the three most sought-after skills in the workplace by 2020, according to the World Economic Forum. Columbia is built around these essential competencies. From day one, students jump into their chosen work and learn from faculty members who are leaders in those same fields. Our students graduate prepared for careers they never imagined entering as well as professions that may not have even existed when they were in school. We train them for what employers expect, but also prepare them to adapt to the unexpected. We pride ourselves on supporting and embracing every way of being and creating.

    You can learn more about Columbia here.

  • Contact Us

    Office of Academic Partnerships, partnerships@colum.edu

×
×