Current Students

Contract Renewal is a process in which current residents and students can secure on-campus housing for the following Academic Year (2025-2026)!

Students will easily be able to secure a housing contract through our online MCR Housing Dashboard during the appropriate time.

Qualifications

• Current on-campus resident
• Current Columbia student
• Must register as a full-time student (12 credit hours or more) for the 2025-2026 Academic Year
• Will be a rising Sophomore, Junior or Senior for the 2025 - 2026 academic year

Keep in mind that all returning students must end the Spring 2025 semester with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher to be eligible to live on campus.

Student account hold(s) must be resolved before you can participate. If you currently have a hold on your account prevently you from registering for the Fall semester 2025, please contact Columbia Central to resolve your hold.

Graduating Students - Those students who will be graduating after the completion of the Fall 2025 semester can still participate in Contract Renewal.  Although you'll be securing housing for the entire Academic Year, the college will release graduating students from the Spring portion of their contract, given that they are not registered for any Spring 2026 classes and are moved out by the end of the Fall semester. We only ask that you notify our office toward the end of the Fall semester, so we can plan and assist for your future departure.

Spring 2026 Semester in L.A. & Spring 2026 Study Abroad Students - The college will release you from this portion of your contract, given that you have been officially accepted into the program, are not registered for any Spring 2026 classes in Chicago (other than the program itself) and are moved out of your Fall 2025 assignment by the end of Fall deadline. Please notify our office toward the end of the Fall semester with documentation of your acceptance, so we can plan and assist for your future departure.

Students Currently Studying Abroad - If you are Columbia College student currently studying abroad, and will be back in the Fall to continue your degree, you are eligible to participate in the Contract Renewal process. Please consult the Contracting Timeline to find your window of eligibility.

Medical Insurance Policy
All residents are required to have medical insurance coverage during the contract period. You will need to enter your medical insurance policy info online when completing a housing application.  

February 18, 2025: Application Opens for Currently Enrolled Students: All currently enrolled students may begin submitting their 2025-2026 housing application starting February 18, 2025, at 11am CST. You DO NOT need to submit your application the day it opens. You are encouraged to complete your application by March 4 at 12pm to guarantee you have access to select a room when your Room Selection date arrives. You can still submit an application after this date though.

• Living Learning Community Room Selection (March 5, 2025): Current students who are seeking to live in a Living Learning Community (Gender Inclusive Housing, 21+ Housing, Honors) will be able to select a space starting March 5, 6, & 7th at 10am CST. Everyone in your living community will have access at 10am CST, on their respective day; therefore, if you are trying to create an apartment group, you all can go in at once and select from available spaces. Please understand floors are already designated for specific LLCs and General, so students are not attempting t

• General Room Selection (March 12, 2025): Current students who are seeking to live in General Housing will be able to select a space starting March 12 at 10am CST. Everyone in your living community will have access at 10am CST, on their respective day; therefore, if you are trying to create an apartment groups, you all can go in at once and select from available spaces. Floors are already designated for specific LLCs and General, so students are not attempting to select overlapping spaces at different room selection times.

Please be aware these dates and times are subject to change.

The Dwight - 642 South Clark
This building was originally built in 1911 as the headquarters of the Dwight Brothers Paper Company. The Dwight has been fully renovated, but still stays true to its heritage as a place of aesthetics and creativity. (see more)

The University Center - 525 South State
Since the Fall of 2004, the University Center (UC) has created a home away from home for approximately 1,700 college students from Columbia College Chicago and nearby DePaul & Roosevelt Universities. (see more)

The Arc - 37 West Van Buren
Originally built in 1893, The Old Colony Building is an architectural masterpiece located right in the beating heart of Chicago’s downtown loop.  But make no mistake: “Historic” doesn’t have to mean “Old”. The Arc has been fully remodeled and modernized, providing Columbia College Chicago students with contemporary design, stylish amenities, and engaging public spaces. (see more)

30 E. - 30 East Balbo
30 East is the newest addition to Columbia College Chicago's residence hall portfolio. It's just steps away from the new Student Center and a block away from Grant Park. It houses the Residence Life office and approximately 340 Columbia College Chicago students. (see more).

We encourage you to ONLY submit this application if you seeking on-campus housing for the 2025-2026 Academic Year. 

If, after you submit this application and select your room, your plans change and you are no longer interested in on-campus housing, cancellation fees and penalties are subject to the following dates:

• Application on or before June 1, 2025: If you complete a 25-26 Housing Application, sign your housing contract (as a part of the application), select a space, and decide to cancel prior to June 1, 2025, there will be no fees or penalties associated with cancellation.
• June 2, 2025- August 24, 2025: If you complete a 25-26 Housing Application, sign your housing contract (as a part of the application), select a space, and decided after June 1, 2025, but before August 25, 2025, you may be subject to a $250 cancellation fee.
• August 25, 2025 and After: If you complete a 25-26 Housing Application, sign your housing contract (as a part of the application), select a space, and decided August 25, 2025 or after, but will remain as a Columbia student, you will then be subject to cancellation fees and penalties. You will be responsible for your time of stay in the space, 75% of your remaining housing contract, and a $250 housing cancellation charge.

Do not submit a contract if you intend to use on-campus housing as a backup plan, or if you're unsure about living on campus.

It is strongly recommended that you plan ahead and contact Columbia Central to ensure that you are able to make this financial commitment PRIOR to signing your future housing contract. Do not complete a housing contract if your aren't sure what your financial situation will be in Fall.

Returning students must keep an up to date annual registration for their service or emotional support animal with Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD).  Students will be required to reach out to SSD where they will be asked to provide appropriate documents to re-register their service or emotional support animal.

If you require special room accommodations due to an ADA recognized disability, please contact Services for Students with Disabilities at ssd@colum.edu. 

These disabilities may include (but are not limited to):

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder
• Learning Disabilities
• Communication Disorders
• Psychological Disabilities
• Deafness/Hard-of-Hearing
• Blindness/Visual Impairment
• Other Health or Physical Impairment

For additional accommodations, please visit The Services for Student’s with Disabilities Office (SSD) website.

Columbia College Chicago's on-campus housing options are primarily comprised of apartments. These apartments allow for 2-6 students to reside in them. Within these apartments there may be any combination of shared bedrooms and/or individual bedrooms.

Definitions:

• Roommate: Students who live in the same bedroom within their apartment. Roommates would reside in a Double, Small Double, Semi-Suite, or Deluxe Double Suite together.
• Apartment-mate: Students who live together within the same apartment.

Roommate Eligibility: 

• Any students seeking to live together, either as roommates or apartment-mates, MUST select the same living community.  For example, you cannot select to reside in GIH and your desired roommate has selected to live in Honors. The system will not show you the same inventory or available beds.

Roommate Options: 

• For the current year, our office is offering a limited, pilot option for students to select and match with roommates. However, please note that this option is restricted to roommates (those sharing a bedroom), not apartment-mates (those living in the same apartment but potentially in separate bedrooms). Students can create a roommate group with one other person. If you choose this option, you will be agreeing to live in a Double, Small Double, Semi-Suite, or Deluxe Double Suite together.

For Apartment-Mates

• If you have specific apartment-mates in mind, we recommend coordinating with all involved parties at your designated room selection time. All involved parties need to access the Housing Portal at the same time, and attempt to secure the same apartment and your desired room type. This allows students to select their preferred bedrooms within the same apartment.
• We cannot guarantee students will be able to select their desired apartment with their desired number of apartment-mates. Room selection is based on availability.

How to Roommate Match: Step-by-Step Instructions

Complete the Housing Applications

• Finish both the primary and secondary housing applications to become eligible for roommate matching. You will be placed into a  “Match Group” that is based on your desired living community.

Find a Specific Roommate (If you have someone in mind)

• On the left-hand side of your portal page, select Roommates and Rooms.
• From the dropdown menu, select Matches
• Type in the name of the person you wish to live with.
• Click the Add as Friend button below their name.
• After adding them as a friend, the button below their name will change and you can, click Add as Roommate.
• The other person must accept your roommate invite for the match to be confirmed.
• Once this is done, whoever is selecting a room first, the other student will automatically be reserved into the selected shared bedroom.

Find A Compatible Roommate

If you do not have a specific roommate in mind, but are interested in finding a compatible roommate, follow these instructions.  

• On your homepage, locate and click on the Roommate Matching Questionnaire (on the right side).
• Ensure Fall 2025 is the term selected from the top right dropdown menu.
• Answer the questionnaire honestly to receive the most accurate roommate recommendations.
• After completion, the system will generate a matching percentage with potential roommates.

Review Your Matches

• The system will display a list of recommended roommates along with matching percentages.
• If you find someone you’re interested in, click Add as Friend under their name.
• You must add someone as a friend before you can invite them to be a roommate.

Connect with Potential Roommates

• Use the chat feature to communicate with potential roommates to ensure compatibility. There is a small chat bubble next to “Add Roommate” to initiate a chat. You can also access the chat feature is on the left side menu. Type in the name of the student with whom you would like to connect.
• If you want to invite someone as a roommate, click Add as Roommate under their name. The other person must accept the invite to officially match as roommates.

Roommate Invitation Acceptance

• If someone adds you as a roommate, you are not obligated to accept the request.
• Dismiss: Dismissed list users will be permanently hidden from your matches. They will still be able to see you, contact you, add you, and message you.
• Block: Blocked list users will be completely prevented from contacting, adding, seeing, or messaging you.
• You have the option to decline.

By following these steps, you can successfully find and match with a roommate for the upcoming year!