Housing and Residential Experience

Please check your student account to see if you have an active account hold.

These holds would include the following:

Students with an active account hold at the end of Fall Semester are at risk of receiving a ‘Notice to Vacate’ letter from HRE.

Account holds must be resolved before December 6, 2024 in order to avoid receiving a 'Notice to Vacate' notification. Failure to resolve an Account Hold will result in a Notice to Vacate notification and must vacate the assigned space no later than December 14, 2024 by 12:00pm (noon) CST.

Please reach out to Columbia Central for more information on HOW TO resolve your account hold today!

Housing applications for Spring 2025 ONLY launched November 6, 2024 at 9:30am CST. Applications can be found on our MCR Housing page. 

• https://colum.mcrhousing.app/

Columbia College Chicago is committed to providing a safe, accepting, and inclusive experience for all students.  The College has a nondiscrimination policy that includes gender identity and/or expression.  This policy extends to student housing.  As such, Housing and Residential Experience is proud to offer Gender-Inclusive Housing (GIH) options. These living options provide an on-campus residence experience that welcomes students across all gender identities and/or expressions, including transgender, questioning or gender non-conforming students. All residential students, regardless of sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation have the option of requesting a gender-inclusive room on the housing application. 

The GIH options are available on the 3rd & 4th floor of 30 East Balbo, 15th & 16th floor of the Dwight, 11th & 12th floor of the University Center and the 2nd & 3rd floor of the Arc. Housing and Residential Experience does not use gender as a criteria in the assignment process. All students assigned to the GIH community will live with others who have requested this living accommodation.

Students may request a roommate through the application process, however, it is a request and cannot be guaranteed. Residence Life encourages students who may require additional GIH accommodations to contact us at 312-369-7803 or via email at housing@colum.edu.

GIH requests are accommodated based on availability. All students will know the assigned living community at the time a housing assignment is issued within the Housing Portal. The assigned living community will list as Gender Inclusive Community, Honors Community or Standard Community in the first sentence of your housing contract. Students can request by phone or email to be placed on the GIH waitlist in the event they are not initially assigned to a GIH option. Waitlist requests are only accepted by the Residence Life Office after the student has confirmed their original housing contract assignment. This waitlist will be active during the entire academic year, including the summer months leading to fall move-in. Students on the waitlist will be notified via their MyColumbia email if a space becomes available with an invitation to accept and modify their current assignment and assigned a deadline to respond. Roommate requests may not be accommodated and/or guaranteed if placed on the waitlist. 

*Gender-inclusive housing is not intended for romantic couples. As a general rule, we would strongly advise against doing so.  We respect and honor the privacy of our students, so current procedures do not require students to disclose their reason for roommate requests. However, please note that the Residence Life Office strongly encourages students to reconsider living with a person with whom they are romantically involved, regardless of whether it is a same-sex or different-sex relationship. Some relationships are ready for this step while others are not, and there can be serious challenges for both students should the relationship end.*

Students who live in Residence Life are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0. Students that do not maintain a 2.0 or higher will not be allowed to live in Residence Life, and their academic housing contract may be terminated.

Having a guest in the residence halls is a privilege and it is important that your guests do not infringe upon the rights of your roommates or any other community member(s). Therefore, communication is of the utmost importance to ensure that you, your roommates and your guest(s) have an in-depth understanding of the Guest and Visitation Policy. Permission must be granted by all roommates for a guest to be present. 
For the purpose of this policy, a guest is anyone whose name is not on the housing contract as being assigned to the room that they are visiting. Residents and their guests are expected to fully cooperate with directives from college officials (i.e., RA, GA, Coordinators, etc.) and to adhere to the policies outlined in the Resident Handbook. 

Residents should: 

• Leave their government issued/picture ID, along with their guest’s government or Columbia issued/picture ID, with the security guard when signing in a guest. ID’s will be returned upon leaving the building.
• Only sign in individuals' guest they know.
• Always accompany their guest. Do not leave your guest unattended.
• Check-in no more than two guests at any time.
• Ensure that their guests are at least 18 years of age or older
• Obtain permission from all roommates before having overnight guests.
• Know that the overnight guests are limited to a maximum of three nights within a two-week period, regardless of who signs in the guest.

Any resident whose guest does not meet the criteria outlined in this policy must submit a guest exception form via our website 24 hours in advance of guests' arrival.

• Residents must submit this form at least 24 hours prior to their guests' arrival. Any requests not submitted 24 hours in advance must be made in-person at the HRE office in 30 E Balbo, Suite 200 during business hours Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm.
• Any guest exception requests that are entered within the timeframe listed above, are pre-approved; however, any guest exception form submitted after business hours or on the weekend are not considered pre-approved and guests will not be allowed access to the building. (For example, if you submit this form at 9am on Saturday for a guest to arrive at 9am on Sunday, this guest WILL NOT be approved to enter the building, as the HRE office is not open)
• HRE will not reach out to you to confirm your guest(s) unless there is an issue or concern. 
• Housing and Residential Experience retains the right to refuse approval for any guest exception requests
• Failure to complete this form in advance may result in your guest being denied access to the building.

Residents must submit a Guest Exception Form for any guests under the age of 18 and for guests who do not have a valid Government ID. Residents must fill out this form to preregister their guest(s).

• Residents must submit this form at least 24 hours prior to their guests' arrival. Any requests not submitted 24 hours in advance, must be made in-person at the HRE office in 30 E Balbo, Suite 200 during business hours Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm. 
• Any guests exception requests that are entered within the timeframe listed above, are pre-approved; however, any guest exception form submitted after business hours or on the weekend are not considered pre-approved and guests will not be allowed access to the building. (For example, if you submit this form at 9am on Saturday for a guest to arrive at 9am on Sunday, this guest WILL NOT be approved to enter the building, as the HRE office is not open)
• Housing and Residential Experience retains the right to refuse approval for any guests exception requests
• Failure to complete this form in advance may result in your guest being denied access to the building. 

All students living in Residence Life are required to provide proof of health insurance. When applying for housing, the student will be asked to provide insurance coverage information in the Housing Portal.

The Honors Community presents an opportunity for students, who are curious & dedicated to learning, and want to further share their passion and interests with those who are academically like-minded, to live with one another. Honors faculty & staff work with residential students in their living environment and provide additional programming opportunities for students in this community.

The Honors Living Community is available in a combination of shared-bedroom and private-bedroom, shared apartment settings on the 12^th & 14^th floor of 30 East Balbo and the 8th floor of University Center.

Honors housing requests are accommodated based on availability. All students will know their assigned living community at the time a housing assignment is issued within the Housing Portal. The assigned living community will list as Honors Community, Gender Inclusive Community, or Standard Community in the first sentence of your housing contract. Students can request by phone or email to be placed on the Honors Housing waitlist in the event they are not initially assigned to a GIH option.

Waitlist requests are only accepted by the Residence Life Office after the student has confirmed their original housing contract assignment. This waitlist will be active during the entire academic year, including the summer months leading to fall move-in. Students on the waitlist will be notified via their MyColumbia email if a space becomes available with an invitation to accept and modify their current assignment and assigned a deadline to respond. Roommate requests may not be accommodated and/or guaranteed if placed on the waitlist.

Please feel free to contact the Office of the Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences with any questions about the Honors Program, or visit the Honors Program. 

Have questions about visitation policies? Or what to do if you lose your room key? You can find these answers and much more in the Housing & Residential Experience Handbook.

Residents and their guests are expected to follow the policies & procedures and accepted community standards described in this handbook. You are joining a community in which respect for others is expected. We hope that you will be an active participant in a cooperative effort by residents and staff to accomplish this goal.

For those living at the University Center, along with the Housing and Residential Experience Handbook, please follow the University Center Housing and Residential Experience Handbook.

Housing & Residential Experience Office
30 E Balbo, Suite 200
Chicago, IL 60605-1996

Academic Year Office Hours:
9:00am - 5:00pm, Monday through Friday

Summer Office Hours:
9:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Thursday (In-Person)
9:00am - 4:30pm, Friday (Virtually)

On Fridays, our office will not be available for in-person drop-ins or appointments; however, we will be available via phone and email from 9:00am - 4:30pm

Please note, you will need to call in advance to setup an appointment to visit our office. All of our buildings are controlled access facilities, accessible only to those students who live in the buidling. We are more than happy to make an appointment to meet with you!

Phone: (312) 369-7803
Fax: (312) 369-8074
Email: housing@colum.edu

When a student receives a housing contract, they also receive a specific deadline to sign and submit the housing contract received. However, some Fall applicants usually do not fully commit to colleges until May and some may have not secured funding at the time their online housing contract is sent to them.

If you are unable to meet your specific housing contract submission deadline, your assigned contract and housing application may be terminated. However, you can submit a new application and request to have the same $250 space deposit (prepayment) applied to it. Submitting a new application will place you at the end of our applicant pool, and you will have to wait for your priority time slot email to select your space.

Please understand Housing and Residentail Experience cannot guarantee room and building availability, nor that you will secure on-campus housing for the academic year. Each following round of housing contract assignments will have fewer options available.

FOR FALL APPLICANTS: If a student submits a Housing Application and their deposit and chooses to not live on campus, they should not sign their housing contract after receiving a housing assignment. The space deposit (prepayment) will be refunded. Once a student receives their housing assignment, they will need to sign their contract to secure their space. Once a contract is signed, it becomes binding for the full academic year. Only students who no longer plan to attend the college may be released from further financial obligations. The space deposit (prepayment) is not refundable. Cancellation requests must be sent to housing@colum.edu.

Returning students that secured housing during Contract Renewal are not given this cancellation option.

We advise students to not sign the housing contract agreement if they are unsure about on campus housing or using on campus housing as a backup. Students that sign the housing contract agreement are responsible to the housing contract terms, conditions and costs for the entire academic year (Fall and Spring semesters.)

All signed housing contracts are binding.

If you plan to vacate your space at the end of the Fall 2024 semester, please fill out the Fall 2024 Housing Cancellation Intent Form in your MCR portal to confirm your end of semester plans. This can be found under ‘Housing Forms’, a dropdown option will appear labeled ‘Forms’.

XVII. TERMINATION OF CONTRACT BY STUDENT

1. Any Columbia student with a signed housing contract is bound by the full terms of the contact and is responsible for the full contractual charges for room and, if applicable, meal plan, unless a release is approved by the Dean of Students or their designee. Such approvals include, but are not limited to: transferring institutions, graduating, approved study abroad or participation in Semester in Los Angeles.

2. Any student with a signed housing contract who cancels their housing contract prior to the start of the contract period will forfeit their prepayment deposit submitted at the time of application but will incur no further charges.

3. Any student with a signed housing contact who cancels their housing contract after the start of their contract period will be subject to the following penalties:

   1. Forfeiture of housing prepayment deposit submitted at the time of application.

   2. Forfeiture of their optional meal plan cost (if applicable) if cancellation occurs after the 10th academic day of the semester.

   3. A $250 cancellation fee.

   4. 75% of the remaining contracted room cost.

For students entering in the Fall, Residence Life offers Academic Year contracts, which allows students to stay on campus from the beginning of the Fall semester to the end of the Spring semester.

For students entering in the Spring, we have Spring Only contracts.

The college does not offer summer housing.

Located in the Columbia Arts District in the heart of Chicago's South Loop, Columbia College is just steps away from Chicago's museum campus, and a short bus or train ride from hundreds of theater and music venues, independent film festivals, and galleries. View our campus map!

Because there is constant occupancy in all of the Residence Life buildings, getting a tour of the living spaces can be tricky. The Admissions Office offers daily student-led virtual campus tours that include an overview of residence life facilities. These tours are also included in the virtual Open House weekend in November. Visit the Admissions virtual events page for more information on all of their events.

If you have a maintenance request for your room/apartment, please notify the management in your building with the information provided below:

• UNIVERSITY CENTER - University Center Resident Portal
• DWIGHT - Dwight Resident Portal
  • 312-588-1234
• 30 EAST - 30 East Resident Portal
  • 331-256-5131
  • Management office located on the 1st floor near the mailboxes.
• THE ARC - Arc Resident Portal
  • 312-283-3331
  • Management Office located on the 2nd floor across from the elevators

If you are experiencing a maintenance emergency, please go to your building's front desk to report the issue if it is after 5pm.

You can also call the RA on Duty between 7pm and 7am for assistance:

• The Dwight: (312) 401-1913
• The Arc: (312) 428-8909
• 30 East: (312) 428-8324

Meal plans can either be mandatory or optional, depending on the type of space a student has been assigned to. Each plan includes a certain amount of meals and Flex dollars. Meals are on a fixed price, all you care to eat basis. Flex money can be used in the retail store within the dining center, where you will find snacks, smoothies, bottled pop and juices, coffee, packaged salads, frozen food, toiletries, and more to-go items.

Residents assigned to Traditional-Style Semi-Suites in the University Center are provided with MANDATORY meal plans, as these units do not include kitchens. This is about $2,417 per semester, included cost of the room. The meal plan offers 15 meals per week during the Fall and Spring semesters. It also includes $750 in Flex dollars ($375 per semester) to spend at the student’s discretion within the dining facility during the regular academic year.

Residents assigned to apartments may select an optional meal plan.

• For Fall students in apartments, we have the 150 Meal Plan for $2,258. The plan includes 150 meals for the academic year (Fall and Spring semesters), plus $400 in Flex dollars to spend at the student's discretion within the dining facility retail store.

• Students have until September 13, 2024 to request cancellation of the 150 Meal Plan.

• Spring students in apartments, we have the 75 Meal Plan for $1,129. This includes 75 meals for the Spring semester, plus $200 in Flex dollars to spend at the student's discretion within the dining facility retail store.

Please understand these optional plans are strictly supplementary and allow students to have about 3 - 4 meals per week. Students in apartment units cook for themselves and use the this meal plan on occasion; perhaps only for lunch or dinner during the weekdays, in between classes. If you have been assigned to an apartment, you will have the opportunity to select the meal plan when completing your online housing contract. Flex dollars roll over to the next semester.

If you are a current resident and would like to sign up for a Meal Plan, please stop by the HRE Office (30 E. Balbo, Ste 200). 

DINING CENTER HOURS OF OPERATION

For University Center Residents

For Non-University Center Residents

However, apartment units do have full kitchens that include a refrigerator and oven. We expect residents without meal plans to cook for themselves, and roommates often share cooking duties. Two major grocery stores are within walking distance of our residence halls, or students may order groceries on-line through a commercial provider (such as Amazon Prime Pantry). Meal preparation is an important part of the independent living experience available to our students.

We will be conducting Fall 2024 Move-In the week of August 26, 2024.

We will offer move-in appointments at the Dwight, Arc, and University Center on the following days:

• Monday, August 26
• Tuesday, August 27
• Wednesday, August 28
• Thursday, August 29

We will offer move-ins at 30 East Balbo on the following days:

• Monday, August 26
• Tuesday, August 27

Move-in appointments will be available between 9am and 5pm on the above dates.

No Move-Ins will occur on Friday, August 30 due to Convocation. All new students should plan to attend Convocation on that day, which is why there are no move-ins offered on this date.

Students must sign up for a specific move-in date and time. Students will be able to begin selecting a Fall 2024 Move-In time on the Housing Portal in July 2024. Our office is implementing a new housing portal, which may impact the move-in sign update. Our office will email students with more details as we get closer to sign-ups launching.

All students must indicate their move out plans via the the 'Fall 2024 Housing Cancellation Intent Form' in MCR.

for more details, an End of Semester packet will be sent out to residents in mid-November.

Students Who Plan On:

• Graduating at the end of the Fall semester
• Withdrawing at the end of the Fall semester
• Participating in a Study Aboard program
• A Fall semester only exchange student

 If you plan to vacate your space at the end of the Fall 2024 semester, please fill out the Fall 2024 Housing Cancellation Intent Form in your MCR portal to confirm your end of semester plans. This can be found under ‘Housing Forms’, a dropdown option will appear labeled ‘Forms’.

Resident Check-Out Procedures: 30 East, Arc, & Dwight Residents Only 

Residents not returning for Spring 2025 are required to schedule a Move Out Reservation in the MCR Housing Portal as soon as possible. Residents moving out Dec 6-15, 2024, must schedule their appointment by December 2, 2024, at 12:00 pm (noon). Residents moving out earlier, November 14-December 5, 2024, must schedule their appointment at least 72 hours in advance of their desired move-out date for the HRE team to process the reservation. Failure to move out according to HRE procedures, failure to schedule a move-out reservation, and/or failure to schedule a move-out reservation by the deadlines will result in a $150 improper check-out fee along with any fees for damages and/or missing keys. 

• Residents will simply be giving their keys to an RA at their scheduled reservation. A room check will not be conducted. 
• Students do not need to schedule a time to move out their belongings.  You are only scheduling a time to return your keys; thus your room should be fully emptied at the time of your reservation. 
• The Guest Policy remains in effect.  Students may check-in up to (2) guests to assist with their move. 

Scheduling a Move-Out Reservation 

• Access MCR portal: https://colum.mcrhousing.app   
• To schedule the reservation in MCR, students must have completed a Fall 2024 application previously either “Fall 2024 Housing Contract ONLY” or “Portal Access”. 
• If you neglected to do this at the beginning of the fall semester, the move-out scheduler will not be visible. You MUST complete the app available to you before the system gives you access to more MCR features. 
• These features will immediately become visible upon completion. 
• On the left-hand side, you should select “Move-In/Out Reservation” 
• Once you get to that page, click “Move-Out Reservation.”  
• From there you will see all the available move-out reservation timeslots.  
• The Move-Out Reservation scheduler will allow them to select a move-out reservation window, that reflects the hours listed below: 

• Move-Out reservations will occur in time blocks Monday-Friday between 7pm and 10pm.  
• Move-Out reservations will occur in time blocks Saturday or Sunday between 9am and 9pm. 
• Students should call the RA Duty phone at your chosen reservation time.  
• You should be fully packed and moved out at the time of your reservation and ready to turn over your keys. 
• An RA will meet you in the lobby to collect your keys. 
  •  RA Duty Phone Numbers per building:  
  • The Arc: (312) 428-8909  
  • 30 East: (312) 428-8324  
  • The Dwight: (312) 401-1913 

• Move-Out Reservations will be in 15-minute increments and occur daily Dec 6 - Dec 13 between 9AM to 5PM 
• Residents should meet in the lobby of your building at your reservation time to give an RA your keys.  
• You should be fully packed and moved out at the time of your reservation and ready to turn over your keys. 

• Move-Out Reservations will occur on Saturday from 8AM until 12PM. 
• Students will have that entire morning time block in which to drop off keys with RAs stationed in the lobby of their building. 
• You should be fully packed and moved out at the time of your reservation and ready to turn over your keys. 

Check Out Steps for Any Resident Moving Out 

1. Before you check out, here is a list of things that need to be done in order to avoid unnecessary fees.   
   • Sign-up for a check-out time via the Housing Portal (if applicable, as noted above). Failure to sign up for a checkout time will result in a $150 improper checkout fee  
   • Make sure to update your address (both Columbia and USPS) to receive mail. Mail is not forwarded to students over the summer nor kept on campus.  
   • Pack up all of your belongings. Do not leave any personal items or furniture that was not initially provided. 
   • Empty all drawers, wardrobes, and closets. 
   • Remove all adhesives from walls, ceilings, & doors 
   • Wipe down & sanitize all surfaces. 
   • Vacuum and mop every floor. 
   • Clean the microwave, refrigerator, and stove. 
   • Clean all faucets, sinks, toilets, and bathtubs. 
   • Throw away all trash bags and empty boxes in the designated area for your building. 
   • Close & lock every window. 
   • Empty your mailbox. 
   • Make sure you have every key, key card, and/or key fob given to you when you moved in. 

Failure to accurately complete the check-out process will result in a $150 improper check-out fee. Please be advised that building management also enters every space after everyone has vacated and will bill for any additional damage(s) and/or lack of cleanliness. 

Columbia College Chicago does not offer students assistance with finding off-campus housing or roommates, but there are a wide range of online resources to help students with their search.

If you're a first time renter, here are some helpful tips:
https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/steps-to-take-before-renting-first-apartment/

And if you aren't familiar with Chicago neighborhoods, this is a good place to start:
https://www.domu.com/chicago/neighborhoods

Here are some sites we've found to be helpful in apartment searching:

• DOMU specifically targets Chicagoland renters. You can search by neighborhood, apartment criteria, or near Columbia College. These custom-built maps show available apartments nearby and in the surrounding Chicago area. 
• ApartmentPeople not only posts listing, but you can schedule an appointment with them to help find an apartment in the city.
• Zumper allows you to sort listings by price, number of bedrooms, cat friendly, dog friendly, pet friendly, and time posted. You can also search for results near Columbia College. Available on iOS & Android!
• RentHop is also a good apartment-finding tool, which ranks apartment listings by quality, so only the best rise to the top.
• Urban Abodes is an apartment service that offer the largest selection of quality apartment rentals in all of Chicago.

Once you have found a place of interest, you can enter the address into WalkScore.com to see what's nearby; public transportation, restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, etc.

NOTE: We do not recommend these housing options or online-tools over ones that are not listed. We also neither endorse nor have any special arrangement or relationship with the businesses listed. All dealings with these businesses occur strictly between the apartment/business/service and the individual.

Columbia College Chicago does not offer any storage for residents' belongings. However, there are many storage facilities in the surrounding area. Here are a few:

• Extra Space Storage 615 S. Wabash - 877-825-8186
• Public Storage 947 W. Van Buren - 312-429-6964
• East Bank Storage 730 W. Lake - 312-876-2000
• Extra Space Storage 1255 S. Wabash - 312-986-8400

Columbia College Housing & Residential Experience consists of 4 buildings:

• The University Center
• The Dwight
• The Arc
• 30 East Balbo

Students are assigned to these residence halls based on the preferences listed in their application and what is available at that time. Applicants cannot choose a building, so please familiarize yourself with all our accommodations.

Housing costs are billed by semester and will be included on your student bill in CCCPay. You will not receive a separate bill for housing.

To learn more about payment plan options and financial aid, please visit Columbia Central - https://www.colum.edu/columbia-central/index

If you have charges that are not covered by secured financial aid, you must make arrangements to pay your remaining balance in full or establish a payment plan by the payment deadline for the semester. Columbia’s payment deadlines are August 1 for the Fall semester, December 28 for the Spring semester, and May 13 for the Summer term.

GradGuard

Columbia College Chicago has partnered with GradGuard, which offers an exclusive Renters Insurance plan that is specifically designed for college students. Columbia College Chicago students are eligible to participate in this program containing features you cannot access with other companies.

University Center Amenities & Upgrades

**Please note that these are available for UNIVERSITY CENTER RESIDENTS ONLY!**

Resident Assistants (RAs) are Undergraduate and Graduate students who have been selected and trained to provide a variety of services to residents. RAs answer questions about Residence Life and refer students to appropriate campus offices when they need help or services. RAs provide advice to students on personal and academic problems and mediate roommate conflicts. RAs are responsible for building community in Residence Life, enforcing the rules in the Housing & Residential Experience Handbook and other College rules.

Although you will probably interact most often with the RA on your floor, please be aware that any staff member may assist you if you need help. Also, be aware that RAs have responsibility and authority anywhere in the residential areas regardless of their assigned floors. We expect you to cooperate with any staff member who is carrying out his or her dauties, which includes presenting proper identification upon request.

Columbia College Resident Assistants live in each of the Housing & Residential Experience buildings, except for The University Center. The University Center is under different management than the rest of Columbia College Chicago Housing & Residential Experience, and as a result, they have separate Resident Assistants.

RAs Serve On-Call From 7pm to 7am daily. To contact an RA for assistance/ an emergency, please call the buidling duty phone number below:

• The Dwight: (312) 401-1913
• The Arc: (312) 428-8909
• 30 East: (312) 428-8324

Housing and Residential Experience hires Resident Assistants every year to serve as mentors, leaders, programmers, and support staff in each of our residence halls! 

Applications to be an RA for the 2025-2026 year will open on Novembe 1, 2024. The application can be found here:https://forms.office.com/r/SAaWLernaJ

RA Job Desription

Fall applicants: we will begin releasing housing assignments on June 1, 2024 for students who have completed their housing application.

Spring applicants: can expect a housing contract assignment as early as January.

Housing is assigned to confirmed students on a first-come, first-served basis according to when the housing application is submitted. Although the college will try to accommodate your housing requests, we cannot guarantee housing preferences or roommate requests.

Current returning students of Columbia College have the opportunity to secure their room assignments prior to new and incoming residents. For this reason, it is a strong possibility that new freshman and transfer students will not be assigned their first housing preference in their first year.

Rooms and buildings are based on availability. Although we try to accommodate room and roommate requests, they are not guaranteed. After selecting a room, you will receive your Housing Contract Agreement. Rooms will not be reserved or finalized until the housing contract agreement is signed. Students will be given a deadline to sign their housing contract.  

Each University Center semi-suite comes with:

• 1 desk & desk chair, per student
• 1 closet organizer, per student
• 1 bed with twin extra-long mattress (80" x 36"), per student
  *Please note: students living in a Private Room Semi-Suite have a double bed
• Book Shelf
• Suite Style bathroom, shared with suite mates

Each apartment comes with:

• 1 desk & desk chair, per student
  *Please note: 30 East Balbo provides 1 desk & desk chair per bedroom
• 1 bed with twin extra-long mattress (80" x 36"), per student
  *Please Note: certain designated private bedrooms in The Dwight have full-size beds. If you do have a full bed, the room-type in your assigned contract will state "Single Rm Full".
• 1 closet w/ shelf and clothing rack, per student
• 1 dresser, per student
• Sofa and coffee table
• Dining room table w/ chairs or kitchen island w/ stools (Dwight and 30 East only)
• Kitchen w/ stove, oven, refrigerator, and dishwasher (no dishwasher in The Dwight)
• Bathroom(s)
• Central air and heat
• Microwaves are included in all apartments.
• Flat Screen TVs are available in the living rooms of The Dwight, 30 East Balbo, and The Arc

Approximately two thirds of our housing spaces are apartment-style, and the remaining one third of spaces are traditional semi-suite units with mandatory meal plans. 

Your room type preferences and roommate requests are taken into consideration at the time a housing contract is issued. 

Housing contracts are issued by room-type preferences, and NOT specific buildings.

Room Types

Below are EIGHT different living options within Columbia College Chicago residence halls. 

These spaces are located in 30 East, The Dwight, and The Arc:

Small double occupancy bedroom in a shared apartment ($11,852 annual / $5,926 semester)

* This consists of a two-person bedroom in a 1 to 3 bedroom apartment. The apartment, depending on the number of bedrooms, may house 2 to 6 students and will include one or more bathrooms, a living/dining area, and full kitchen.

* Meal plan is not required. If interested in a meal plan, please refer to the Optional 150 section below.

Regular double occupancy bedroom in a shared apartment ($12,486 annual / $6,243 semester)

* This consists of a two-person bedroom in a 1 to 3 bedroom apartment. The apartment, depending on the number of bedrooms, may house 2 to 6 students and will include one or more bathrooms, a living/dining area, and full kitchen.

* Meal plan is not required. If interested in a meal plan, please refer to the Optional 150 section below.

Single occupancy bedroom in a shared apartment ($16,254 annual / $8,127 semester)

* This consists of a one-person bedroom in a 4 to 5 bedroom apartment. The apartment, depending on the number of bedrooms, will house 4 to 5 students.

* Meal plan is not required. If interested in a meal plan, please refer to the Optional 150 section below.

Single occupancy bedroom, full sized bed, shared apartment ($16,558 annual / $8,279 semester)

* This consists of a one-person bedroom in a 4 to 5 bedroom apartment with a full sized bed. The Dwight & The Arc. The apartment, depending on the number of bedrooms, will house 4 to 5 students.

* Meal plan is not required. If interested in a meal plan, please refer to the Optional 150 section below.

Single occupancy studio apartment (not shared) ($18,606 annual / $9,032 semester)

* This consists of a one-person studio. The apartment, depending on the number of bedrooms, will house 1 student.

* Meal plan is not required. If interested in a meal plan, please refer to the Optional 150 section below.

Double occupancy Quad in a semi-suite ($15,852 annual / $7,926 semester)

* This consists of a traditional two-person room at the University Center residence hall. Students share a bathroom with 1 to 3 other students. A 15-meal per week plan is mandatory and included in the cost of the room. In addition to the meal plan, students have access to a kitchenette and community lounge on each floor.

* Mandatory Meal plan is required ($4,834 annual / $2,417 semester)

Deluxe double occupancy bedroom in a semi-suite ($17,346 annual / $8,673 semester)

* This consists of a traditional two-person room at the University Center residence hall. Students share a bathroom with 1 to 3 other students. A 15-meal per week plan is mandatory and included in the cost of the room. In addition to the meal plan, students have access to a kitchenette and community lounge on each floor.

* Mandatory Meal plan is required ($4,834 annual / $2,417 semester)

Private room single bedroom in a semi-suite ($20,934 annual / $10,467 semester)

* This consists of a traditional two-person room at the University Center residence hall. Students share a bathroom with 1 to 3 other students. A 15-meal per week plan is mandatory and included in the cost of the room. In addition to the meal plan, students have access to a kitchenette and community lounge on each floor.

* Mandatory Meal plan is required ($4,834 annual / $2,417 semester)

Optional 150 Meal Plan
* We offer residents who are living in apartment style housing the optional 150 meal plan. The optional 150 Meal Plan (150 meals for the entirety of the academic year) ($2,258 annual) – NON-REFUNDABLE

Traditional Shared Semi-Suite w/ Meal Plan — consists of a traditional two-person room at the University Center residence hall. Students share a bathroom with 1 to 3 other students. A 15-meal per week plan is mandatory and included in the cost of the room. In addition to the meal plan, students have access to a kitchenette and community lounge on each floor.
Average semester costs: $11,500.

Shared Bedroom in a Shared Apartment — consists of a two-person bedroom in a 1 to 3 bedroom apartment. Residence Halls that include this room type are: 30 East Balbo, The Dwight & The Arc. The apartment, depending on the number of bedrooms, may house 2 to 6 students and will include one or more bathrooms, a living/dining area, and full kitchen.
Average semester costs: $6,100.

Private Bedroom in a Shared Apartment — consists of a one-person bedroom in a 4 to 5 bedroom apartment. Residence Halls that include this room type are: 30 East Balbo, University Center, The Dwight & The Arc. The apartment, depending on the number of bedrooms, will house 4 to 5 students.
Average semester costs: $8,250.

For specific prices per room, please refer to the Housing Rates.
You will see prices for private studio apartments and private semi-suites, but they are not an option on the application. There are less than 1% of these spaces on campus, and they are usually all secured by returning residents/students during our annual Contract Campaign.

For financial planning purposes, it is strongly recommended to contact Columbia Central.

Our professional staff will make roommate assignments following the submissiong of your Housing Application. As part of the Housing Application, students will include their preferences for living environments and answer questions about lifestyle, sleeping, and study habits. This information will guide our staff in making assignments.

Can I request a roommate? While most of our students do not have an identified student they wish to room with, there are some cases where students know they would like to live with each other. We will accept mutual requests (each student must request the other) up until May 22, 2024. To make a request, each student will need to submit an email to housing@colum.edu naming the other individual. We will make all attempts to honor mutual requests; however, reoommate requests will be contingent upon available housing inventory. 

For Fall students, room and roommate assignments will be available starting in June. 

Community Living is different than living at home. While we make all efforts to match students on compatible factors, this process is never perfect. You do not need to be best friends with your roommate; you just need to learn how to live with another person. Our Resident Assistant staff will assist students in completing a roommate agreement within the first few weeks of the semester. This will be a great document to re-visit throughout the year if/when conflict or challenges arise. Communication (or lack of it) is often the number one reason challenges between roommates arise.

The first step to resolving conflict is to encourage your student to have a conversation their roommate. If your student can also seek assistance from their RA (Resident Assistant). Please note that the RA will first mediate this conflict to ensure that all parties’ voices are heard, and a resolution is made to move the relationship forward. In the event that additional assistance is required, GAs (Graduate Assistants) and professional staff are available to assist in mediation and resolution.

In rare circumstances it may be in the best interest of those affected that an individual is moved to a new space on campus. Given space availability, this is not a first step toward resolution.

RAs Serve On-Call From 7pm to 7am daily. To contact an RA for assistance/ an emergency, please call the buidling duty phone number below:

• Dwight: 312-401-1913
• 30 East/Flats: 312-428-8324
• Arc:  312-428-8909

Within the housing application, you are able to specify if you require a reasonable accommodation for housing needs due to an ADA recognized disability. If you require special room accommodations, please contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office. 

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

• Learning Disabilities
• Communication Disorders
• Psychological Disabilities
• Hearing Impairments
• Visual Impairments
• Other Health or Physical Impairments
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder

To receive full consideration of your request, you should submit your request and all required documentation to the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Office by May 1st for the Fall Semester and before November 1st for the Spring semester. Please be aware that the process requires an application, documentation, as well as a meeting with SSD staff.

We recognize that your on-campus home is integral to your Columbia College Chicago experience. To the best of our ability, we are committed to ensuring your residential experience is fulfilling and positive. It is possible that you realize your original housing assignment is not the experience you were hoping for, or perhaps you have found an interest in moving elsewhere for various reasons.

This waitlist is only available to Fall 2024 on-campus residents who have already reserved a housing assignment for the upcoming Academic Year (2024-2025).

Please note the space change waitlist form will used by HRE staff to collect data on students who are interested in an alternative placement for the Fall semester. On this form, you will be asked to indicate your top two room type preferences for your space change. You will not be asked to indicate a specific building preference.

If you are satisfied with your current housing placement, you do not need to fill out this waitlist form. This form should only be filled out if you are seeking an alternative placement for the upcoming Fall semester.

By filling out the waitlist form, you ARE NOT guaranteed to be offered an alternative assignment. If you do not receive an alternative housing offer by August 16, 2024, by 5pm CST, you will need to move into your original housing assignment that you reserved.

Our office will re-evaluate availability after Fall Move-Ins have been completed and will send a second round of space change offers, if available, in October.

The following link opened on August 1, 2024, at 11am CST. Students must use their Columbia credentials to be granted access to the form. Only one submission is recorded per student.

 https://forms.office.com/r/U5kWChL4Gr 

In the event that you are experiencing roommate conflicts or have other assignment concerns not based on personal preference, we encourage you to reach out to your RA for further assistance.

Incoming students are required to submit a $500 online space deposit (prepayment) as part of their housing application. This $500 will be applied toward your first semesters' housing costs. This prepayment is an out-of-pocket expense, and cannot be covered by financial aid from federal, state, institutional or private sources, including loans, as those funds are not typically disbursed to students until the school year begins. We regret that we are not able to waive or defer the prepayment for any student.

Refunds on the $500 housing prepayment are only available until June 1, 2024. Requests must be written and emailed to housing@colum.edu

• If you have a student account balance, your $500 prepayment will be applied towards your overall balance.

• If you do not have a student account balance, Columbia Central will issue a refund. Please note that credit card payments are credited back to the credit card.

*Refund requests may take a minimum of 7 - 10 business days to be issued. 

After signing your Housing Contract and you no longer plan to attend the college, you may be released from any further financial obligations of your housing contract; however, you will not receive a refund on your $500.00 prepayment.

If you are a returning student and secured your housing during Contract Renewal, please refer to your housing contract terms.

Columbia College Chicago is not able to offer summer housing. While some students may be enrolled for summer session, the College's lease agreements with residential properties only includes the fall and spring semesters.

Individual properties do facilitate short-term leasing options during the summer months, unaffiliated with Columbia College Chicago. For more information, please contact:

University Center
525 S. State St.
(312) 924-8000 
https://universitycenter.com/

30 East Apartments
30 East Balbo Dr.
(331) 301-2229
https://www.30eastapts.com/

Dwight Lofts
642 S. Clark St.
(312) 588-1234
https://www.sterlinghousing.com/chicago-il/dwight-lofts

The Arc
37 W. Van Buren St.
(312) 283-3331
https://www.arcatoldcolony.com/

Temporary housing allows Residence Life to maximize its use of housing spaces to place as many students into housing at the beginning of the year. Since the demand for housing usually exceeds the amount of spaces available, Columbia College Chicago has identified different spaces on campus to accommodate more students in need of housing. Students who are assigned temporary housing are those with the latest application date.

Residence Halls Remain Open During Winter Break 

Residents who are in good financial and academic standing with the college are eligible to remain in their housing assignment over Winter break. All residential buildings will remain open, and residents will have full access to their spaces for the entire duration of Winter break.

The Housing & Residential Office will be closed between December 22nd - January 1st. Emails and phone calls will not be monitored during this time. Our office will resume normal business hours on January 2, 2025.

Residents should prioritize keeping their keys and identification with them at all times during the break period to avoid getting locked out of the building and/or their room.

Residents are encouraged to call the RA duty phone associated with their building during these days if they are in need of immediate assistance from our staff from 7pm-7am. Outside of these hours, residents may contact Building Security for assistance.

Please note wait times for assistance may vary due to reduced staffing in buildings during break periods.

• The Dwight: (312) 401-1913
• The Arc: (312) 428-8909
• 30 East: (312) 428-8324

Residents who have an Academic Year (Fall and Spring) Housing Contract DO NOT need to complete a Spring Only 2025 Housing Application!

Going Home for Winter Break (December – January) 

Residents that are eligible to remain on-campus during winter break and return for the spring semester should complete the following before leaving for break:

• Clean your space, including any shared spaces in the apartment. 
• Properly dispose of any trash. 
• Keep heat on and thermostat set at a minimum of 68 degrees. 
• Clean the refrigerator and dispose of any perishable items. Do not defrost or unplug the refrigerator. 
• Turn off the stove and oven. 
• Turn off all faucets. 
• Unplug all electronics. 
• Close and lock all windows. Close the blinds. 
• Turn off every light. 
• Turn off any alarm clocks. 
• Close and lock the door. 
• Check your mailbox, parcel pending, and management office for any mail or packages. 
• Make sure you have any documents, identification, and/or medications that you will need over the break period.