51ÉçÇø

Take Your Next Steps as a 51ÉçÇø Student

Congratulations on your acceptance to 51ÉçÇø! 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 51ÉçÇø 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.

International students are advised to review the information at the link for some next steps that are specific to their circumstances.

Admitted Student Events

Register for events on 51ÉçÇø 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 51ÉçÇø 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 51ÉçÇø’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	51ÉçÇø 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
  April 5, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. CT	Los Angeles	Sunset Las Palmas Studios

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

• Virtual Admitted Student Events

  Date and Time	Event	Description
  April 9 | 6:00 p.m. CT	Why 51ÉçÇø? + Next Steps	Get a virtual view into one of the most innovative creative colleges in the nation.
  April 12 | 3:00 p.m. CT	Student and Family Open Q&A	We'll cover everything families need to know about what needs to happen between now and September.
  April 14 | 6:00 p.m. CT	Inside Your Major: Career Paths	Dive in to our majors, the projects you'll be working on, the skills you'll be building, and where they can take you professionally.
  April 15 | 6:00 p.m. CT	Internships, Careers, and Industry Connections	Hear from our Career Center about internships, jobs, and how they can scaffold your skills while you're still a student.
  April 16 | 6:00 p.m. CT	What It's Really Like at 51ÉçÇø	Our students will be front and center for this one with their unfiltered point of view on day-to-day life as a 51ÉçÇø student.
  April 17 | 6:00 p.m. CT	Why 51ÉçÇø? + Next Steps	Get a virtual view into one of the most innovative creative colleges in the nation.
  April 19 | 6:00 p.m. CT	Paying for 51ÉçÇø	Get a clear overview of your 51ÉçÇø financial aid offer and what it means for you and your family.
  April 22 | 6:00 p.m. CT	Why 51ÉçÇø? + Next Steps	Get a virtual view into one of the most innovative creative colleges in the nation.
  April 23 | 6:00 p.m. CT	Portfolio, Projects, and Creative Work	What pieces will you create to show off your skills, build a body of work, and be ready to impress employers?
  April 26 | 6:00 p.m. CT	Student Life, Housing, and Transition to College	Living on campus—your home base for exploring all Chicago has to offer.
  April 28 | 6:00 p.m. CT	How to Make Your Final Decision	With Decision Day approaching, let's talk through what really matters in your college decision-making process.
  April 30 | 6:00 p.m. CT	Ask Us Anything	It's Decision Day Eve! Leave some cookies and milk out for your Admissions Representative and join us for an open discussion to tie up any last-minute questions you may have. It's not procrastination, it's being thoughtful!

  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 51ÉçÇø’s school code (001665) and a portfolio or audition that demonstrates your best creative work, then you are being considered for every possible scholarship 51ÉçÇø can offer. There is nothing more to do at this time.

  If you have not submitted the FAFSA, we encourage you do so as soon as possible. It may be helpful to review these video resources from and from the  as you prepare your FAFSA.

  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 51ÉçÇø Central for more info. Learn how to secure your scholarship and the terms of your scholarship.

• Experience 51ÉçÇø for Yourself
  Nothing helps with your college decision quite like visiting campus and connecting with the 51ÉçÇø 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. 
• Set Up Your 51ÉçÇø Account

  After you're admitted, you'll receive instructions on how to activate your official 51ÉçÇø student account. A summary of these instructions is below for reference, but you must be logged into  to complete the account activation steps.

  It is important to follow these instructions carefully and complete this step in a timely fashion. Your official 51ÉçÇø account will allow you to access everything you need to prepare for enrollment including your student email account, the on-campus housing application, course registration, financial aid and billing, and much more. 

  Please note: Until your first day of classes, continue to check both your personal email and your colum.edu email to make sure you are receiving all necessary communications. If you applied to the college using an email issued to you by another school, be aware that you might lose access to that account before your 51ÉçÇø classes begin. If you need to change your personal email address, please contact your Admissions Representative via .

  Here is a summary of the account activation steps:

  1. Download the Duo Mobile App to your mobile device
  2. Log into your 51ÉçÇø Connect portal. The Activate Your 51ÉçÇø Student Account form will walk you through the steps.
  3. You will need both your mobile device and another device to utilize the Duo QR code for set up. 
  4. Set up Duo Multifactor Authentication
  5. Set up your Microsoft Security and backup questions
  6. You'll then be able to connect to other college systems for financial aid and housing!
• 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 51ÉçÇø 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 My51ÉçÇø 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. 51ÉçÇø 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 51ÉçÇø education, visit colum.edu/wheretostart.

• Check Your Student Email

  After you've submitted your deposit, it is important to get in the habit of periocially checking your official 51ÉçÇø email account. There will be some items related to your enrollment that are protected and can only be shared through your colum.edu account, so if you are not checking it regularly, you might miss something. Also, once you are enrolled, your colum.edu email address will be the college's official channel of communication with you for everything related to your classes, financial aid, housing, news alerts, and college events.

  Please note: Until your first day of classes, continue to check both your personal email and your colum.edu email to make sure you are receiving all necessary communications. If you applied to the college using an email issued to you by another school, be aware that you might lose access to that account before your 51ÉçÇø classes begin. If you need to change your personal email address, please contact your Admissions Representative via .

• Contact Services for Students with Disabilities
  Will you need accommodations in your classes or housing? You can start working with our SSD office before you're enrolled to make sure everything is in place. .
• Apply for Housing

  Take a look at 51ÉçÇø'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.

• Register for Classes

  New undergraduate students can start the registration process by completing their Registration Questionnaire (RQ). The RQ will be available on 51ÉçÇø 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 51ÉçÇø.

  The registration process may include course placement activities like ALEKS (mathematics), or other assessments specific to your intended major. Completing these activities is an important part of making sure that you're first semester schedule includes the appropriate courses reflecting your current skill level. Please take the time to complete them when filling out the RQ.

  When your schedule is ready, you'll receive an email notification asking you to log onto 51ÉçÇø Connect and acknowledge receipt of it. Once you have your schedule, you are free to make changes in consultation with your Academic Advisor.

• Submit AP and IB Scores
  Official and exam results will be considered for college credit. Please request official score reports for 51ÉçÇø 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:
  
  51ÉçÇø Admissions
  600 S. Michigan Ave.
  Chicago, IL 60605
• Join Handshake
  Do you want to work while you're in school? is your way to find out about job opportunities on and off campus. All listings are open to all students. You'll recieve your credentials to access Handshake job listings via your colum.edu email account after your course schedule is finalized.
• 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.

• Review Your Technology Needs
  Each major has its own requirements (a "toolbox") for technology that will enable you to dive right in to your creative practice—along with some equipment, computer labs, and software licenses that are provided by the college as part of your tuition. has a detailed list of the technology requirements for each 51ÉçÇø major. Please review it before classes start and verify you have what you need.
• Participate in Orientation

  51ÉçÇø's new student orientation program will introduc you to everything you need to know for laying the groundwork for your creative success as a 51ÉçÇø student. Think of it as your first real day of college—because it kind of is.

  Orientation will be held in July and available dates will be published on . There will be both virtual and on-campus options.

• Set up a Payment Plan

  Once you have a schedule, you'll also have a tuition bill. This bill will also include your housing and meal-plan charges if those apply.

  Using CCCPay, you can either pay your balance in full or set up a monthly payment plan. You can also designate an authorized party to pay for you. The deadline to pay in full or establish a plan is Monday, August 3, 2026.

• Move to Chicago

  Move-in dates will be available after your housing contract is finalized. Move-in is scheduled for the week of August 31. We recommend new students try to move in as early as possible to take advantage of activities and events designed especially to help them get to know their new city.

  Get packed, get excited, and show up ready to go on your assigned date!

• Classes Start
  The fall term starts on Tuesday, September 6. We'll see you there!

Important Dates and Deadlines for Fall 2026

Admission to 51ÉçÇø is offered for a specified term of entry. Students who are offered admission to 51ÉçÇø 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.