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Apply as a freshman student if you have completed or expect to complete high school, home school, or a GED (called HiSET in some states) and have not earned college credit at a college or university before your first day at Columbia. This excludes dual enrollments, courses taken at Columbia College Chicago, and/or any post-secondary enrollment during the summer immediately following secondary school graduation or GED (or HiSET) completion.
If you have earned college credit at a college or university not covered by the exceptions listed above, please review the Transfer Application Requirements.
If you are you an international student who will require a visa to study in the United States, please follow the steps listed here, and review this page for additional information.
Need help along the way? We're here for you.
Find your assigned Columbia College Chicago Admissions Representitive using the map at the link below.
Application Deadlines
Spring 2025 Applicants: Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Fall 2025 Applicants to the Acting (BFA); Musical Theatre Performance (BFA); Contemporary, Jazz, and Popular Music (BMus); and Music Composition (BMus) Programs: Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Fall 2025 Applicants, all other degree programs: Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Common Applicants: Please factor in a 24-hour period for Common App to transfer your data to Columbia College Chicago
BA, BFA, BMus, and BS: What’s the difference?
Our Bachelor of Arts (BA) programs allow for greater flexibility and exploration within the curriculum. This includes the ability to tailor elective coursework beyond your major or add a minor. Around 90% of Columbia students are pursuing a BA degree.
Our Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Bachelor of Music (BMus), and Bachelor of Science (BS) programs feature more intensive required coursework in the major with limited flexibility for electives.
Note that the Interior Architecture, BFA requires Freshman applicants to have a minimum high school GPA of 2.75 for admission.
A Note on Standardized Test Scores
Columbia College Chicago's admissions process is entirely test-free. Standardized test scores will play no role in the college's determination of a student's admissibility, or in awarding merit-based scholarships.
After admission, students who have them are encouraged to submit results from Advanced Placement or International Baccaulaurate tests. Just list Columbia on your College Board account or talk to your school's IB diploma program coordinator about how to send your scores. Columbia grants credit for scores of 3 or higher on AP exams and 4 or higher on IB exams.
Learn More
Ready to apply? Follow these steps.
1. Submit your application.
Use the link above to Columbia’s application, or add Columbia as a school when you complete the Common Application. You can submit either application; please do not submit both.