Your Transfer Journey

  • Who is a transfer student?

    If you've been enrolled at a college, community college, or university AFTER completing high school, home school, or your GED, then you're a transfer student and you're in the right place. Welcome!

  • Where can I find everything I need to know in one place?

    The transfer process can vary a great deal from student to student—that's why it's so important to engage with us as early as possible, and that's also why there isn't a "one-size-fits-all" set of instructions. But, if you want something that can serve as a quick reference for what you should be doing and thinking about at every stage, you can review our checklist and timeline for transfer students.

    It's also never too early (or too late) for you to reach out to one of Columbia's transfer specialists for personalized assistance. Each transfer specialist is assigned to specific colleges within Illinois, or (outside of Illinois) to specific states.

  • What types of students transfer to Columbia?

    All sorts of students choose the transfer path to Columbia, and we're ready to meet you wherver you are. We've helped:

    • High school students who already know they'll be enrolling at a community college before applying to Columbia. It's never too early to reach out.
    • Community college students who are ready to take that step toward their bachelor's degree. Some students have earned an associate degree; some haven't—either is fine.
    • Students at four-year colleges or universities who are looking for a change and want to complete their bachelor's in our creative learning environment.
  • What if I'm ready to apply now?

    That's easy! You'll find complete application instructions on this page.

    But you don't have to do it all by yourself. If you have questions, your transfer specialist can help you at any stage in the process.

Transfer Events

We offer virtual and in-person events to help you figure out your best path to Columbia.

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Transfer Nights

Visit us from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on your chosen date, and you can chat with transfer specialists and current students, take a campus tour, and have all of your transfer questions answered.

Fall 2021 dates:
Tuesday, December 14

Spring 2022 dates:
Tuesday, February 8
Tuesday, March 22
Tuesday, April 19

Sign Up Today

  • families
  • students interested in attending
  • transfer students

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Virtual Transfer Info Session

Can't come to our campus? Sign up for a virtual info session to hear from our transfer specialists and get your questions answered.

Spring 2022 dates:
Thursday, February 24
Thursday, March 10
Tuesday, April 5

Virtual Sessions

  • families
  • students interested in attending
  • transfer students

Transfer Resources

Will my credits transfer?

Without a doubt, that's the number one question, and we've got some resources that can not only help you figure out how credits you've already earned will transfer, but also help you make decisions about which courses you might take BEFORE you transfer to Columbia.

Transferology.com

One resource you should absolutely know about is Transferology.com. With a Transferology account, you can compare courses from your current college with courses offered at Columbia and see how your courses might meet Columbia's requirements.

This step-by-step guide will walk you through the process, and when you click "Request Information," Transferology will send your information to us so we can develop personalized guidance for you.

transferology

The Illinois Articulation Initiative and the General Education Core Curriculum

Columbia College Chicago participates in the Illinois Articulation Initiative, which means (among other things) that we accept credits in the General Education Core Curriculum in satisfaction of our own Columbia Core requirements—with a few key exceptions your transfer specialist can go over with you.

If you're looking for classes to take at an Illinois community college, ask your advisor to keep you on track to finish the GECC.

IAI | GECC

Guaranteed Admission and Reverse Transfer

Some partner schools have established Guaranteed Admission and Reverse Transfer Programs that give studentsthe option of transferring Columbia credits back to their prior institution to count toward completion of their associate degree. You can find a list of schools, along with the complete terms of each agreement, at the link above.

GUARANTEED ADMISSION AGREEMENTS

Transfer from a Partner School to Columbia

Crafted with our partner institutions, Transfer Guides are four-year plans that demonstrate a pathway from a specific community college program to a corresponding Columbia program. You can download a Transfer Guide for your school and program from the list below.

NOTE: The information below relates to agreements between Columbia and specific colleges, but we will evaluate credits earned at any regionally accredited college. If your college does not appear on the list below, please contacttransfer@colum.edu for more information.

  • Black Hawk College
  • City Colleges of Chicago
    • Arts Management, BA from Business, AA
    • Dance, BA from Dance, AA
    • Fine Arts, BFA from Fine Arts, AFA
    • Interior Architecture, BFA from Architecture, AAS
    • Marketing, BA from Business, AA
    • Music Business, BA from Business, AA
  • College of DuPage
    • Advertising, BA from Mass Communication, AA
    • Arts Management, BA from Business/Marketing, AA
    • Communication, BA from Mass Communication, AA
    • Computer Animation, BFA from Motion Picture/Television - Animation, AAS
    • Contemporary, Urban, and Popular Music, BMus from Fine Arts, AFA
    • Creative Writing, BA from English, AA
    • English, BA from English, AA
    • Fashion Studies – Merchandising, BA from Fashion Merchandising, AAS
    • Fashion Studies – Product Development, BA from Fashion Design, AAS
    • Fine Arts, BFA from Fine Arts, AFA
    • Graphic Design, BFA from Graphic Design, AAS
    • Interior Architecture, BFA from Interior Design, AAS
    • Marketing, BA from Business/Marketing, AA
    • Music Business, BA from Business/Marketing, AA
    • Photography, BA from Photography, AAS
    • Public Relations, BA from Mass Communication, AA
    • Radio, BA from Mass Communication, AA
    • Social Media and Digital Strategy, BA from Mass Communication, AA
    • Television – Internet and Mobile Media, BA from Motion Picture/Television – TV Production, AAS
    • Television – Post-Production and Effects, BA from Motion Picture/Television – TV Production, AAS
    • Television – Production and Directing, BA from Motion Picture/Television – TV Production, AAS
    • Television – Writing and Producing, BA from Motion Picture/Television – TV Production, AAS
    • Traditional Animation, BFA from Motion Picture/Television - Animation, AAS
  • College of Lake County
    • Acting, BA from Theatre Performance (Acting/Directing), AA
    • Arts Management, BA from Business, AA
    • Fine Arts, BFA from Fine Arts, AFA
    • Graphic Design, BFA from Digital Media & Design - Graphic Design, AAS
    • Marketing, BA from Business, AA
    • Music Business, BA from Business, AA
    • Theatre, BA from Theatre Performance (Acting/Directing), AA
    • Theatre Design and Technology, BA from Theatre Performance (Acting/Directing), AA
  • Elgin Community College
  • Harper College
    • Advertising, BA from Communication/Marketing, AA
    • Arts Management, BA from Communication/Marketing, AA
    • Fashion Studies – Merchandising, BA from Fashion Merchandising, AAS
    • Fashion Studies – Product Development, BA from Fashion Design, AAS
    • Fine Arts, BFA from Fine Arts, AFA
    • Graphic Design, BA from Graphic Arts Technology – Graphic Design, AAS
    • Interaction Design, BA from Graphic Arts Technology – Web Design, AAS
    • Marketing, BA from Communication/Marketing, AA
    • Music Business, BA from Communication/Marketing, AA
    • Public Relations, BA from Communication/Marketing, AA
  • Ivy Tech Community College
  • Joliet Junior College
    • Arts Management, BA from Business-focused, AA
    • Fine Arts, BFA from Fine Arts, AFA
    • Graphic Design, BFA from Graphic Design, AAS
    • Marketing, BA from Business-focused, AA
    • Music Business, BA from Business-focused, AA
  • Kalamazoo Valley Community College
  • McHenry County College
  • Milwaukee Area Technical College
  • Moraine Valley Community College
  • Oakton Community College
  • Waubonsee Community College

What will I take once I get to Columbia?

The answer to this question is highly individualized, but if you want to get a sense of what you might be taking at Columbia, you can review our current transfer plans.

These degree plans outline the courses required to complete your chosen major. Use the button below to find your intended major and scroll down to the transfer-specific plan.

Look at transfer plans