ÌÀ²»ÈÈÊÓƵ

Take Your Next Steps as a ÌÀ²»ÈÈÊÓƵ Student

Congratulations on your acceptance to Columbia! We’re so excited to welcome you. You can stay up to date with everything you need to know on your way to enrollment through . Eligible students will also receive a financial aid award letter. Haven't received yours? Fill out your for award consideration.

When you're ready to make your decision, you can let us know on . We'll also post ways to engage with Columbia like our signature Admitted Student Day events where you can explore campus and meet your future faculty and classmates.

Already submitted your deposit? The checklist items below will give you a sense of what lies ahead, but keep in mind that  will always be your most up-to-date source of information for enrollment steps.

Admitted Student Events

Register for events on Columbia Connect. 

You’ve been admitted—come celebrate with us! Meet faculty, college leadership, admissions staff, and your future classmates. Explore your major, experience campus, and see what life at Columbia is really like. Registration forms for all events can be found in the "Events" section of .

• On-Campus Admitted Student Events

  Date and Time	Event	Description
  April 11, 18, 25, and May 2, 2026 | 9:30 a.m. CT	Admitted Student Day	Celebrate your admission and experience Columbia’s creative community.
  May 16, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. CT	Manifest Arts Festival New Student Mixer	Join us during our campus-wide festival featuring student exhibitions, performances, screenings, and more.

  Registration forms for all admitted student events can be found in the "Events" section of .

• Admitted Student Receptions in Cities Near You

  Date and Time	City	Address
  March 9, 2026 | 4:30 p.m. ET	Indianapolis	Elf N'Moon
  March 12, 2026 | 6:00 p.m. CT	Dallas	Immersion Gamebox
  March 17, 2026 | 4:30 p.m. CT	Milwaukee	Milwaukee Library Central
  March 17, 2026 | 6:00 p.m. CT	St. Louis	Museum of Illusions
  March 20, 2026 | 5:00 p.m. CT	Chicago	ÌÀ²»ÈÈÊÓƵ Student Center
  March 21, 2026 | 6:30 p.m. CT	Oak Park	Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex
  March 23, 2026 | 4:30 p.m. ET	New York City	Cafe Lounge
  March 25, 2026 | 6:00 p.m. CT	Minneapolis	Open Book
  March 26, 2026 | 6:30 p.m. ET	D.C. Area	Lucky Strike
  March 29, 2026 | 3:00 p.m. CT	New Orleans	Aloft Downtown
  March 31, 2026 | 6:30 p.m. ET	Atlanta	Lucky Strike
  April 1, 2026 | 4:30 p.m. CT	Houston	Siphon Coffee
  April 1, 2026 | 6:00 p.m. CT	Lake Zurich	Clay Monet

  Registration forms for all admitted student events can be found in the "Events" section of .

• Virtual Admitted Student Events

  Date and Time	Event	Description
  March 13, 17, 24, 31 | 6:00 p.m. CT	How to File Your FAFSA	Our team will walk you through the steps, share helpful tips, and answer your questions so you can file with confidence.
  March 18, 25, and April 1 | 6:00 p.m. CT	Columbia Overview & Admitted Student Next Steps	We’ll cover important next steps, timelines, and resources to help you prepare for your first semester.
  March 19, 26 | 6:00 p.m. CT	Understanding Your Financial Aid	Get a clear overview of your ÌÀ²»ÈÈÊÓƵ financial aid offer and what it means for you and your family.

  Registration forms for all admitted student events can be found in the "Events" section of .

After You're Admitted

• Finalize Your Financial Aid and Scholarships - Complete The FAFSA

  If you have  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.

  We encourage you to schedule an appointment with your admissions counselor to review financial aid options, discuss scholarship opportunities, and make a plan that works for you and your family or college supporter. 

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

• Experience Columbia for Yourself
  Nothing helps with your college decision quite like visiting campus and connecting with the Columbia community. Visit us in person for a campus tour or attend one of our Admitted Student Days, where you and your college supporters can meet faculty, explore facilities, and take a deeper dive into your program. If you’re not able to travel to Chicago, you can also learn more through our virtual events and online sessions designed specifically for admitted students by registering on your portal. 
• Tell Us Your Decision and Secure Your Spot
  When you’re ready, log in to and submit the Tell Us Your Decision form. After submitting the form, you will be prompted to pay a $250 tuition deposit. This deposit holds your place at Columbia and secures your scholarships. It is applied to your first semester bill and is not an additional fee. The priority deposit deadline is May 1 for fall students. The deposit is not refundable after May 1. Depositing early and before the priority deadlines has advantages, including access to earlier course registration and housing placement.

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.

• Set Up Your Columbia Account and Check Your Student 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. After you deposit, you'll receive instructions for how to set up and access your ÌÀ²»ÈÈÊÓƵ student account, along with DUO dual-factor authentication.

  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 ÌÀ²»ÈÈÊÓƵ's housing options.

  After you decide to enroll and make a deposit to confirm your attendance, you should complete a housing application. We will notify you by email, text, and a posting to when the housing applicatoin is available. For the 2026-2027 academic year, the housing application is scheduled to be avaiable on Wednesday, April 8. We expect new freshmen and transfers moving to Chicago from outside the metro area 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 and exam results will be considered for college credit. Please request official score reports for ÌÀ²»ÈÈÊÓƵ 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:
  
  ÌÀ²»ÈÈÊÓƵ 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: diphtheria, tetanus, measles, rubella, mumps, and meningitis. 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 on Monday, April 13. 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.

Important Dates and Deadlines for Fall 2026

Admission to ÌÀ²»ÈÈÊÓƵ 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. Deferral requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.