2025–26 TRANSFER INFO
FAST FACTS
Columbia College Chicago will accept a maximum of 75 transfer credit hours from regionally accredited institutions. This includes AP/IB/CLEP and other postsecondary credit. There is no minimum number of credit hours required to transfer.
416 transfer students enrolled in Fall 2024. These students represented 27 states and 18 foreign countries.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES
Required items:
• Completed Columbia application—available at colum.edu/apply
• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions where the student has enrolled
• Final High School or GED transcripts for students who:
• Earned a GED or were homeschooled -or-
• Attended a non-US high school -or-
• Have earned fewer than 24 college credits at the time of application
• Some BFA and BMus programs require portfolio review/ audition and have earlier deadlines. See colum.edu/bfa for complete details.
November 17, 2025: Application deadline for Spring term
68% were from the Chicago metro area 64% transferred from a community college 34% lived in one of Columbia’s four residence halls identified as students of color identified as first-generation college students identified as members of the LGBTQIA+ community
December 1, 2025: Application deadline for Acting for Stage and Screen, BFA; Fashion Design, BFA; Musical Theatre, BFA; and Performance and Songwriting, BMus programs–Fall term start only
January 15, 2026: Application Deadline for remaining BFA programs—Fall term start only
January 15, 2026: Submission Deadline for Faculty Recognition Award—Fall term start only; requires completed application to the college
April 1, 2026: Priority Application Deadline for Fall term—BA and BS programs
April 1, 2026: Application Deadline for Chicagoland Transfer Award—requires completed application to the college
Questions? Contact Admissions: 312-369-7130 | transfer@colum.edu colum.edu/transfer
2025–26 TRANSFER INFO
NEW ERA, NEW LEADERSHIP
Columbia College Chicago recently welcomed Dr. Shantay N. Bolton as our eleventh president and chief executive officer.
Most recently, Bolton served as the executive vice president of administration and finance and chief business officer at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Bolton is the first woman in nearly 90 years and the first woman of color to lead the institution.
“Columbia has been an educational and cultural anchor in Chicago for 135 years, and it is an honor to join Columbia’s expert community of faculty, staff and the talented young creatives who call Columbia home,” said Bolton. “I plan to build on Columbia’s unique creative culture and strengthen connections to industry and the civic community at a time when creativity is widely viewed by employers as one of the most sought-after skills.”
MAJORS AND PROGRAMS
Columbia’s 80+ majors and minors span disciplines in the fine, performing, visual, and media arts. Our curriculum is designed around the skills most in demand across the creative industries and is enriched by the expertise of our faculty, preparing students for professional success after graduation.
You can find a full list of our majors at colum.edu/majors.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Columbia is proud to offer generous scholarship support to incoming transfer students. Here’s what your students need to know:
• All applicants are automatically considered for merit-based aid.
• All members of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society are eligible for up to $3,500. See colum.edu/ ptk for complete terms.
• The Chicagoland Transfer Award recognizes transfer students from eligible Chicago-area community colleges. Awards include one fulltuition scholarship and ten $15,000 scholarships. Find more details at colum.edu/cta.
• All applicants who complete the FAFSA are automatically considered for need-based aid.
• Students who are not eligible to complete the FAFSA can contact transfer@colum.edu to learn about alternate options.
• The Faculty Recognition Award is Columbia’s talent-based scholarship. Portfolio/audition requirements and submission deadlines can vary based on intended major. See colum.edu/fra and colum.edu/bfa for more.
• The Columbia Visit Scholarship is available to students who attend specific on-campus events or tours. See colum.edu/visitscholarship for more.
COMBINED DEGREE PROGRAM
Why stop at only one Columbia degree? The Combined Degree Program will let your students earn graduate credits during the last year of their bachelor’sdegree. Many students need only one extra year to finish their Master’s.
• Transfer students should work closely with their transfer specialist to plan for combined degree completion. Learn more about the program requirements at colum.edu/combined
TRANSFER EVENTS
There’s no substitute for seeing our campus for yourself. Your students can find a complete schedule of events specifically for transfer students at colum.edu/transferevents. We’re here to walk them through the path to finishing their degree at Columbia.
TRANSFER PLANNING
Go to colum.edu/transferchecklist for a complete run-down of the steps to enrollment. You'll also find specific school and program agreements at colum.edu/transfer
Scan this code to sign up for Columbia’s counselor mailings, receive an informational package, and learn about future happenings and events on our campus.
Questions? Contact Admissions: 312-369-7130 | transfer@colum.edu colum.edu/transfer
