Requirements for Admission

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Admissions

Columbia College Chicago offers exceptional educational programs in the visual and performing arts, media, and communications disciplines. Students with creative ability in these areas, as well as students who have a strong, yet undeveloped interest in these areas, are invited to apply for admission. Columbia seeks to admit a culturally, economically, and educationally diverse student body. Prospective students are expected to demonstrate preparedness, through educational experiences and motivation, sufficient to meet the high academic standards and expectations of the College.

An Admissions Review Committee evaluates all completed applications for admission to the College. Students whose application materials suggest they are likely to be under prepared to meet the College’s standards will be required to participate in the College’s Summer Bridge Program. Students who are required to participate in the Bridge Program must successfully complete the program before they can be admitted to the College. Students whose application materials suggest that they would be inordinately challenged by the College’s curriculum and/or students who, in the College’s sole determination, do not demonstrate the maturity and commitment necessary to be successful in our rigorous programs, will be denied admission.

For more information about Columbia College Chicago Admissions, please see the Admissions Page.

Requirements for Admission

To apply for admission to the undergraduate program, students are asked to submit the following materials:

Admission as a Freshman

• Application for undergraduate admission, including the essay;
• Official transcripts of high school academic record [or official copy of earned General Education Diploma (GED) that includes test scores], or official transcripts from a state recognized home school;
• One letter of recommendation;
• A non-refundable application fee.

In some cases, a personal interview may be required of freshman applicants. Although the ACT or SAT is not required for admission to Columbia College Chicago, these tests are valuable tools for advising new students. In many cases, official ACT scores submitted at the time of application for admission may be used in lieu of Columbia’s required assessment test (see “Assessment of New Students”). All students are strongly encouraged to complete one of these tests while in high school for inclusion in their college applications.

Admission as a Transfer Student

• Application for undergraduate admission, including the essay;
• Official transcripts of high school academic record [or official copy of earned General Education Diploma (GED) that includes test scores], or official transcripts from a state recognized home school;
• Official transcripts from current and all previously attended colleges;
• One letter of recommendation;
• A non-refundable application fee.

In some cases, a personal interview may be required of transfer applicants. Transfer students are strongly advised to submit all transcripts of previous college work at the time of application in order to facilitate evaluation of transfer credit to Columbia College Chicago. For further information regarding Columbia’s transfer policies, please see Academic Policies, Procedures, and Regulations .

Application and Scholarship Deadlines

Columbia College Chicago has a rolling admissions policy; that is, complete applications are reviewed and acted upon as the College receives them. Interested students must submit the necessary documents in sufficient time for a thorough evaluation by the College prior to the beginning of the intended semester of enrollment. Priority application dates are published each year on the College’s admission website and the application for undergraduate admission available through the Undergraduate Admissions office. To be considered for one of the College’s merit scholarship programs, a student must have a complete admission application on file at the time of the scholarship deadline (typically February 1^st). Scholarship deadlines are published each year on the College’s admission website and on the application for undergraduate admissions. Scholarships are limited and competitive; some require separate applications.

Acceptance

Typically decision letters are mailed to students approximately two to four weeks after all admission materials have been received. Admission decisions may also be communicated by telephone or by e-mail in advance of the decision letter.

Summer Bridge Program

The Summer Bridge Program provides selected students with the opportunity to develop further their basic skills, to improve their study habits, and to gain a better understanding of the rigors and challenges of college life. Students whose application materials suggest that they may be underprepared to meet the College’s standards are required to participate in the Bridge Program. Students who complete the Bridge Program satisfactorily will be admitted to Columbia College Chicago. Students who do not successfully complete the program cannot be admitted to the College. The Bridge Program is offered only in the summer. Specific dates for the Bridge Program are available through the Undergraduate Admissions Office. Students who apply for spring admission and are required to complete the Summer Bridge program will not be considered for admission until the following fall semester.

Deferred Admission

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 their admission for one year by contacting the Undergraduate Admissions Office in writing. Application materials for students who are granted deferred admission are retained for one year.

Summer School

A full complement of courses is offered in major and Liberal Arts and Sciences departments. Flexible summer class schedules include five-, eight-, ten-, and twelve-week sessions. Students-at-large may register for any summer course if prerequisites are met. Registration begins typically in March for current degree-seeking students, and registration is available at a later date for both students-at-large and new students wishing to attend. For information contact Undergraduate Admissions.

January Session (J-Session)

The J-Session is designed to offer concentrated learning experiences not usually available in the regular semester. Such courses are designed for both the matriculating and non-matriculating undergraduate student and may include but are not limited to immersion, intensive research, travel, certification, internships, master classes, community service, and workshops. A student may earn a maximum of four credits per J-Session. For information contact the College Advising Center.

High School Summer Institute

Columbia’s High School Summer Institute introduces motivated high school juniors and seniors to the college experience. Courses are reflective of the College’s curriculum, but tailored to the unique needs of high school students. Some courses offer college credit upon successful completion. Credit earned in the High School Summer Institute may be applied as elective credit at Columbia, but is not applied toward core or concentration requirements in the student’s major. For more information contact Undergraduate Admissions.

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate of Major

If a student has already earned a bachelor’s degree from Columbia or another accredited institution, he or she may earn a post-baccalaureate certificate of major at Columbia by completing required courses specified by one of the major-granting departments or programs of the College. All other academic requirements will be considered fulfilled within the curriculum of the previously granted bachelor’s degree. Credits applied to the original degree and transfer credits cannot count toward this certificate; however, specific courses may be waived based on work experiences or courses from the original degree. Not all departments offer post-baccalaureate certificates of major. Please call Undergraduate Admissions for updated offerings.

Retention of Application Materials

Only the application form and transcript(s) are retained in a student’s permanent educational record at Columbia College Chicago. Letters of recommendation and/or any additional supporting materials are not retained, nor are they available for student perusal prior to or after admission to the College. Columbia College Chicago does not retain application materials for students who do not enroll unless deferred admission—for one year only—is requested and granted.

Returning Students

Columbia College Chicago students who interrupt their studies at Columbia for one full academic year or longer must complete a re-enrollment form in the office of Undergraduate Admissions to return to the College. Upon re-enrollment the student must meet the academic program and degree completion requirements that are in place at the time of re-enrollment and must meet with a college advisor in the College Advising Center prior to registration to have his or her transcripts and requirements assessed.

International Students

Columbia College Chicago considers international students to be those applicants who are neither citizens nor permanent residents of the United States.

Proof of English Language Proficiency

Proof of English language proficiency is required for admission into the College’s undergraduate degree program if English is not your primary language. This can be demonstrated by submitting at least one of the following:

• An official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of at least 200 CBT (computer-based test) or 72 composite IBT (internet-based test);
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of at least 5.5;
• TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) score of at least 725;
• ACT (American College Testing) score of at least 20 in the English section;
• SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) score of at least 500 average in the Critical Reading and Writing section;
• Transcript from a U.S. high school or a high school in which English is the language of instruction along with an ACT or SAT score;
• Evidence of completion of at least one semester of university-level coursework in English Composition at an accredited college/university in the United States with a grade of “C” or better;
• Successful completion of the College’s eight-week Summer Intensive English Language Institute (SIELI) and recommendation from the Director of ESL at Columbia College Chicago.

Note: The TOEFL cannot be waived for any applicant educated in a country where the native language is not officially recognized as English. Waivers will not be granted to international applicants/non-native speakers on the basis of U.S. employment or U.S. residency alone, nor solely on completion of an English as a Second Language (ESL) program.

Applicants who do not meet the English language proficiency requirement for admission to Columbia College Chicago’s undergraduate academic program may be granted admission to the College’s Summer Intensive English Language Institute (SIELI). This is a full-time, non-credit, eight-week intensive English language and culture program designed for students with high-intermediate to advanced levels of proficiency in English. The program provides students with an opportunity to improve their English communication skills while exploring connections to the arts communities in Chicago. Students who complete the program satisfactorily may be offered admission to Columbia College Chicago, provided all other requirements for admission have been fulfilled.

In addition, to apply for admission to the undergraduate program, international applicants are asked to submit the following materials:

• The international undergraduate application form, including the essay;
• An international student application fee (waived for online applicants);
• One letter of recommendation from an instructor or other individual who is qualified to comment on the applicant’s potential to complete college-level work in an arts and communications curriculum;
• Official transcripts or certified true copies of educational records (secondary and/or university); foreign educational documents must also include professional credential evaluations from World Education Services (WES). WES will convert educational documents into their U.S. equivalents;
• Foreign educational documents must also include professional credential evaluations. Credential evaluation agencies, such as World Education Services and Education Credential Evaluators, convert educational documents into their U.S. equivalents;
• For F-1 and J01 Visa issuing purposes, applicants are asked to submit the following documents:
• A photocopy of the passport page(s) showing the applicant’s full name and passport expiration date. Applicants currently in the United States must also submit a photocopy of the I-94 card (front and back). Additionally, applicants currently holding F-1 student visa status must submit: photocopy of the current I-20; photocopy of the F-1 student visa stamp in the passport (if applicable); and Immigration Pre-Transfer Verification Form, completed by the Designated School Official or International Student Advisor at the applicant’s current U.S. institution.

A SEVIS Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility will be issued only after admission requirements have been fulfilled and the student has been granted written acceptance to Columbia College Chicago. If a student is transferring from another school in the U.S. (high school, community college, university, language institute, etc.) and currently holds valid F-1 status, a SEVIS I-20 will be issued once the current school has released the student’s SEVIS record to Columbia College Chicago. To remain in compliance with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service regulations, students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits (full-time) during each semester of an academic year, abide by the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) requirements, and be in compliance with the College’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy each term.

Columbia College Chicago is a SEVIS-approved institution and complies with any and all data collection and reporting requirements as mandated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a branch of the Department of Homeland Security. The College is obligated to report the following items on each international student who is admitted to and enrolled at Columbia College Chicago: enrollment status (full-time/part-time); change of address; change of major, program of study, and educational level; employment; finances; school transfers; withdrawal from classes; and completion of studies. International students must promptly report any changes in these items to the Office of International Student Affairs. Failure to do so will result in a violation of immigration status.

The College has implemented a mandatory health insurance plan for international students that meets immigration criteria. See Columbia’s Tuition and Fees brochure for international student health insurance fees.

For further information regarding international undergraduate admissions and immigration-related issues, contact Undergraduate Student Admissions.

New Student Assessment, Orientation, and Registration

Assessment of New Students

First-time students entering Columbia College Chicago with no transfer credit, and those who graduated from high school within one year prior to their date of enrollment at Columbia, are required to take the new student assessment prior to enrolling in classes at the College. In many cases, official ACT scores submitted at the time of application for admission may be used in lieu of Columbia’s assessment. Transfer students with no credit in college-level English composition or in college-level mathematics are required to take the new student assessment in writing only and/or in math only prior to enrolling in classes. Results of these assessment instruments are used to identify students’ skill levels, to aid in advisement for course selection, and to assist in developing a successful academic program for each student. Students should contact the Office of New Student Programs for the dates and times that the assessments are scheduled during the weeks prior to the start of each semester.

Orientation and Registration for New Students

New freshmen and new transfer students register for classes as part of their orientation to the College. Orientation activities are scheduled on campus during the months of July and August, in anticipation of the start of the fall semester, typically during January, in anticipation of the start of the spring semester, and during May, for students starting in the summer semester. Participation in orientation activities is mandatory for all new students. The schedule for orientation is published online each year and is available through the Office of New Student Programs, Undergraduate Admissions, and the College Advising Center, after students have registered for orientation.

Students-at-Large

Students, age 18 and older, who are not seeking a college degree and wish to enroll in courses at Columbia College Chicago should complete the student-at-large application. Students-at-large may register for courses at Columbia during open registration each semester after all degree-seeking candidates of the College have registered. Students-at-large must meet all prerequisite requirements for the courses in which they enroll. Credit earned as a student-at-large may be counted toward a Columbia College Chicago degree if the student later applies for admission to the College and is admitted to the undergraduate program of study. Students-at-large may apply for admission to the undergraduate degree program of the College at any time, but they may not change their enrollment status mid-semester; that is, a student-at-large must complete his or her current semester of enrollment as a non-degree-seeking student and enroll as a degree candidate in the semester following admission to the College. Students-at-large are not eligible for financial aid through federal, state, or institutional programs or for veterans’ benefits.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition charges are based upon the number of credit hours for which a student enrolls each semester. A full-time student is one who enrolls for a minimum of 12 credit hours. Full-time students who enroll for 12 to 16 credit hours are charged the semester tuition rate. For any additional credit hours of enrollment beyond 16 credit hours, the student is charged a per-credit-hour rate. A part-time student is one who enrolls for fewer than 12 credit hours in a semester. For part-time students who enroll in 1 to 11 credit hours, tuition is based upon a per-credit-hour rate. Tuition rates, student fees, and refund schedule are established each year. Please consult the Student Financial Services Web site at www.colum.edu for up-to-date information, or consult the Tuition and Fees brochure for the current academic year.

In addition, the College charges students additional fees to provide various student services such as orientation, registration, student activities, health services, and student health insurance. For current listings of tuition and fees, students should visit the Student Financial Services Web site at www.colum.edu or consult the Tuition and Fees brochure for the current academic year.

Instructional Resources Fees

Instructional resources fees support a variety of educational expenses, assist in the maintenance of specialized facilities, and provide the instructional support required by Columbia’s curriculum.

Courses carrying one credit do not have a fee. Courses with 2-4 credits are assessed at the rates given below. Courses with 5-6 credits are double those rates.

*Excludes private lessons

Financial Obligations

To register for classes, both new and continuing students must have a complete admissions file, must have been admitted to the undergraduate program of study, and must have made—or be prepared to make—provision for their financial account. A student’s account may be addressed in any one of the following ways:

• payment in full may be made at the time of registration (cash, personal checks, money orders, and major credit cards are accepted);
• the student may participate in the College’s payment plan;
• the student may provide evidence of a Columbia College Chicago financial aid award package that covers all costs;
• the student may provide evidence of a Columbia College Chicago financial aid award package that covers part of the total cost and participate in the College’s payment plan to cover the balance of the total costs not met by financial aid.

Unpaid Charges

Students returning to the college with an unpaid balance from a previous semester will not be permitted to register or to attend classes until all accounts have been paid in full or until satisfactory arrangements for payment-in-full are recorded by Student Financial Services.

Refund Schedule

Fall and Spring Semesters

Summer Semester

A Title IV refund will be calculated for all students who are recipients of Title IV assistance and who officially or unofficially withdraw from the College for a given semester.

Failing to attend class does not constitute an official withdrawal from the College. All accounts are considered active until the effective date of the official withdrawal. For more information about withdrawal from the College, please see Academic Policies, Procedures, and Regulations .

Financial Aid

Columbia College Chicago makes significant efforts to help students seek out and obtain financial assistance in order to ensure that no student is deprived of educational opportunity for lack of funds. While Columbia makes significant efforts to help students meet educational expenses, financial responsibility ultimately rests with the student. The assistance of the Student Financial Services Office is available to all students.

All students wishing to be considered for any federal or state financial aid programs must first complete a Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA). Students may complete this form online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Students receiving financial aid must comply with all applicable regulations and be in compliance with the College’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy. The Student Guide to Financial Aid from the U.S. Department of Education is available to students from Student Financial Services.

Primary sources of financial assistance available to Columbia College Chicago students include federal programs, state programs, and other programs funded by the College and by other institutions, agencies, and organizations.

The most comprehensive gift/aid program available to Illinois residents is the Monetary Award Program (MAP) of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Assistance is based upon a comprehensive review of the student’s financial situation and the specific costs of attending the student’s college of choice. Out-of-state students are encouraged to inquire about similar programs available through their home states.

Columbia College Chicago administers the following financial aid programs:

Federal Programs

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal College Work-Study Program (FWS)
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• Federal Direct Stafford Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan Program
• Federal Direct Parent Loan Program
• Veterans’ Benefits (GI Bill)
• Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
• Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan Program
• SMART Grant Program

Illinois State Programs

• Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP)
• Illinois Incentive Grant (IIA)
• Illinois MAP Plus Program

Columbia College Chicago Scholarships

Columbia College Chicago offers a variety of scholarship opportunities, such as the Presidential Scholarship, the Transfer Scholarship, the Open Doors Scholarship for new students, and the David R. Rubin Trustees’ Scholarship for continuing students. Criteria for scholarship awards vary and may be based on one or more of the following: financial need, academic or artistic merit, field (area) of study, and accomplishment. Current information, including deadlines, can be found on the College’s Web site at www.colum.edu/scholarships.

Students should consult the Undergraduate Admissions and Student Financial Services offices for specific requirements for these and other awards.

Columbia students are strongly encouraged to apply for private scholarships sponsored by various fraternal orders, unions, professional associations, religious organizations, ethnic associations, neighborhood organizations, and the businesses that employ students or their parents, among others. Information is available from the Columbia College Chicago Library and the Chicago Public Library.