ADMISSIONS
Whether you’re interested in obtaining an Associates Degree, completing your GED, or just interested in taking some classes for professional or personal growth, we’ve got something for you! We offer day and evening classes.
Please visit the ACADEMICS link on your left to find the program that meets your needs!
For more information call 312.850.7000 or 312.850.7055.
IMPORTANT REGISTRATION DATES:
Adult Education
(312) 850-7300
Registration and testing, now through June 11
Classes start June 9
Continuing Education Classes
(312) 850-7136
Registration Starts April 7 (Excluding holidays)
Classes Start May 27
Credit Classes
312-850-7055
Registration and testing, now through June 3
Classes Start June 4
Admission Eligibility
The City Colleges of Chicago are open admission colleges. Everyone is welcome. All students are required to take the District assessment and placement tests (unless you are a transfer student or choose to use recent ACT scores). Incoming students who have earned a grade of “C” or better in college level English or math courses (from a regionally accredited institution, (www.accreditedschools.org) are exempt from being tested, provided official transcripts are submitted verifying successful completion of courses. (See the Testing Policy Manual for more information regarding testing). Students who are admitted to college credit programs include:
- Graduates of accredited high schools
- Transfer students from other colleges or universities
- Adult students 18 years of age or older who have not earned a high school diploma or a GED (these students must take a college placement exam for course placement)
- Students 16-18 years of age, recommended by their principal or accepted for participation in a special area of study, who score at college-level on the placement exam
City Colleges of Chicago grants H-1B, H-1C, J-1 & J-2 visa holders living in the City of Chicago, In-District tuition.
The criteria for granting approval for H-1B, H-1C, J-1 & J-2 visas holders for the City Colleges of Chicago, In-District tuition should be accompanied by:
* Copies of employment documents and/or visa
* Proof of Chicago residency
* Letter from employer authorizing college attendance, if applicable
Once submitted, the visa holder’s application will be complete and the potential student will be authorized to enroll in the maximum hours outlined in their employment contract.
Admission Eligibility and Procedures – Adult Education
The Adult Education Program offers classes to students who want to improve their basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics, prepare for the GED examination, and/or study English as a second language. Adult Education classes are also taught in Spanish to prepare students who wish to take the GED test in Spanish. All classes are tuition-free to eligible students. Students enrolled in Adult Education classes do not earn college credit in these classes.
Adult Education Program classes are open to adults, 18 years of age or older, who do not have a high school diploma or a GED certificate. Persons who are 16 or 17 years of age may enroll only if they are not attending traditional high school. These students (aged 16 to 17) must provide one of the following forms of documentation to be admitted to the Adult Education Program:
- transcript with withdrawal date from the last high school that the student has attended;
- a letter from the last school of attendance, stating that the student is no longer enrolled; or
- a letter from the high school within the student’s district that states that the student does not attend that school.
Students who have a high school diploma or a GED certificate may only be served in adult education programs if they test below the sixth-grade level in reading.
A student who wishes to enroll is required to participate in orientation, take a placement test; complete a student information card and outcome form; and may be asked to supply additional documentation.
Adult education students may enroll in a maximum of 16 hours in beginning and intermediate classes and a maximum of 19 hours in advanced or GED-level classes per term.
General Admissions Procedures
New Students (degree/certificate seeking)
New full-time and part-time students who are seeking a degree or other certification must complete the following steps:
- 1. Complete an Information Form
2. Take the City Colleges of Chicago placement test as required of all new students (Students submitting proof of successful completion of college level math, English and reading or opting to use ACT scores are exempt from testing) *
3. Students who have not graduated from a regionally accredited high school or have not earned a GED certificate must score at or above a federally-designated level, on a test approved by the U.S. Department of Education, in order to be eligible for financial aid. The test must be administered at the City Colleges of Chicago. All parts of the test must be taken on the same day.
New Adult Education Students
All new students are required to complete a Student Information Card and attend an orientation, as provided by their college, before enrolling in the Adult Education Program for the first time.
Transfer Students
Transfer students must complete the same steps as “New Students”. Additionally, they must submit official transcripts from accredited colleges and universities previously attended and/or take appropriate placement tests based on program requirements.
Former CCC Students
Former students returning in good standing and have not attended another college or university do not have to apply for readmission.
Adult Education students
Students who have not continuously enrolled and regularly attended classes from one term to the
next will need to be reassessed by a designated administrator before reenrolling in classes.
Excluded Students
Any full-time or part-time student excluded or dropped from one of the City Colleges of Chicago, must petition for readmission. Petitioning students must submit the following:
1. Completed College petition form
2. Any additional documentation requested by the Readmission Committee
Admission for Signature Programs
Admission to college doesn't guarantee admission to signature academic program/plans. (i.e. Nursing, Physicians Assistants, Dental Hygiene, etc.) Signature program/plans are conducted on a limited enrollment basis and have admissions requirements in addition to the general admissions criteria. Students who apply for admissions to signature program/plans must follow special procedures. (Consult www.ccc.edu for admission requirements.)
Career Program Applications and Dates
International Students
It is expected that international students will have successfully completed the equivalent of primary and secondary education prior to enrollment. Students must comply with the following requirements:
1. Submit an international student admissions application packet
2. Submit transcripts from all secondary institutions attended, as outlined on our web site at www.ccc.edu/isa/
3. Pay the I-20 student visa processing fee
4. Achieve a minimum score of 450 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) written test or a minimum score of 133 on the computerized test unless they are from a country where English is the official language.
5. Show proof of health insurance. All International students with F-1 non-immigrant student visas admitted to the City Colleges of Chicago are required to purchase and maintain medical/health insurance equal or comparable to the student insurance coverage plan adopted by the Board of Trustees. Such students must present proof of this insurance upon every registration and/ or upon request.
International students already in the United States on F-1 non-immigrant student visas must:
1. Complete the International Student Application Packet
2. Complete the transfer verification form
3. Send an official copy of all transcripts from universities or colleges attended
4. Pay the I-20 student visa processing fee
5. Show proof of health insurance. All International students with F-1 non-immigrant student visas admitted to the City Colleges of Chicago are required to purchase and maintain medical/health insurance equal or comparable to the student insurance coverage plan adopted by the Board of Trustees. Such students must present proof of this insurance upon every registration and/or upon request.
Students with Disabilities
No qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of its services, programs or activities, or be subjected to discrimination. City Colleges of Chicago’s goal is to promote equality of opportunity and full participation in our services, programs and activities. We will endeavor to provide reasonable modifications and/or accommodations to qualified individuals in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and all pertinent federal, state and local anti-discrimination laws. Students who believe they have a need for disability accommodations or modifications are responsible for requesting such accommodation or modification and are responsible for providing all requisite documentation to verify eligibility to the Disability Access Centers. The Disability Access Centers will make every effort to accommodate qualified students with disabilities as required by law.
High School Students
Students 16 years of age or older still enrolled in a high school in the Chicago district may be considered for enrollment in credit courses at the college. Students must have the written consent of their high school principal or counselor and have qualified for college classes through placement testing or previous course completion.
Students under 16 years of age in a gifted or accelerated program may be admitted to college courses with the approval of the Registrar and the high school principal. High school students are required to meet the same standards as any other college student and are awarded the same college credit for courses successfully completed. Course credit will be held in escrow until the student has graduated from high school. All questions regarding enrollment of high school-age students should be referred to the Admissions and/or Advising Offices.
Concurrent Enrollment within the District
Concurrent enrollment within the District (at more than one of the City Colleges) is permitted. If the student is enrolled in equal number of hours at more than one college, the first college in which the student is enrolled is considered the home campus.
Concurrent Enrollment outside the District
If a student receives financial aid, the student must have written approval for concurrent enrollment outside the District from the Financial Aid Office, in order to receive financial aid based on enrollment at both institutions.
Assessment and Placement
Prior to registration and to ensure proper academic placement, all first time credit and Adult Education students will take appropriate District assessment/placement tests. A student intending to enroll in a course which does not have a prerequisite may enroll, but will not be permitted subsequent enrollment in a course requiring a prerequisite without taking appropriate and placement test(s).
Admission to a City College does not ensure entrance into a particular course or program of study. Students will be given assessment and placement tests appropriate to their program. Results from the District assessment and placement tests will determine enrollment level in the program of choice (depending on program requirements).
High school graduates may use ACT scores for placement. Scores must be less than two years old.
Credit students may obtain a placement test waiver if they have received a grade of “C” or better in a college-level English or math course or have already earned an Associates degree or higher. Students requesting a waiver must provide a transcript to document successful completion of college-level course work, particularly English 101 / Freshmen Composition.
Assessment and Placement – Adult Education
Prior to registering in adult education classes, students are required to take necessary placement examinations. All students are also required to complete an outcome plan with an advisor or an adult education instructor during registration each year.
International Students – Requirement for Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Waivers
The City Colleges requires prospective international students whose native language is not English to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or, if TOEFL is not available in the student’s country of origin, a substantially equivalent test. The TOEFL test requirement will be waived if the international students originate from a country where English is the official language. A transcript with a test score of at least 450 (133 on computerized tests), will be a part of the completed application process before the Dean of Student Services or designee may issue an I-20 form. The testing requirements of this rule may be waived by the College President upon the recommendation of the College English Department Chair, providing the International student has demonstrated proficiency in English as a foreign language.
Transfer Credit
Students transferring credit to the City Colleges of Chicago are required to submit official college transcripts reflecting all credits earned at other regionally accredited institutions (www.accreditedschools.org) previously attended. Successful completion of courses with a grade of “C” or better will be evaluated. If accepted as satisfying degree requirements, these transfer hours will be counted towards graduation. Transfer credit is not calculated into Grade Point Average (GPA). Approved transfer hours will be posted to degree seeking students’ academic records by the Registrar’s Office to facilitate accuracy in advising and course selection.
Evidence of successful completion of college courses at another educational institution does not, in and of itself, qualify a student for financial aid.
Internal Inter-Career Transfer
Courses taken at City Colleges of Chicago in a career(s) other than the student’s current career will not be factored into the calculation for graduation hours, cumulative hours, cumulative GPA, graduation GPA, academic standing, or satisfactory progress. Courses taken in another career(s) will not be included in the graduation calculation until the student formally enters that career and the internal inter-career transfer process occurs.
Credit for Prior Learning / Credit by Assessment
College credit may be granted for specialized courses, general education courses, or elective courses through the evaluation and/or assessment of appropriate prior learning experiences. Grades will not be awarded and credit earned will not factor into Grade Point Average (GPA). The City Colleges of Chicago may grant credit for college-level knowledge and skills acquired outside the classroom in two ways:
Credit by Examination
A student may earn college credit by successfully completing one or more of the following examinations: General Education Examinations or College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Criminal Justice/Police Proficiency Examinations, DANTES Examination, and/or the Medical Terminology Examination. Grades will not be awarded and credit earned will not factor into Grade Point Average (GPA)
Credit by Evaluation
A student may request evaluation for City Colleges’ credit of on-the-job training and development courses, or of courses taken at a non-collegiate institution. Grades will not be awarded and credit earned will not factored into Grade Point Average (GPA). A student may earn City College credit through one or more of the following evaluation processes: Portfolio Evaluation, Military Evaluation, Evaluation of Foreign Credentials, Evaluation of Certified Child Development Associate Credential, Evaluation of Emergency Medical Services (Paramedic Training), and/or Evaluation for Licensed/Practical Nursing Bridge Programs
Standard fees may apply to process Credit By Assessment /Prior Learning applications. Grades will not be awarded and credit earned will not factored into Grade Point Average (GPA). Credit earned through the Credit for Prior Learning Program is considered transfer credit and will not be calculated into grade point average. Credit for Prior Learning may be awarded to CCC students after they have earned fifteen (15) hours within the City Colleges of Chicago. The Chancellor or designee will establish procedures for the awarding of such credit consistent with the policies of accrediting institutions. For more information about Credit for Prior Learning Programs, please contact the Office of Student Affairs at (312) 553-3363 or go to the web site (www.ccc.edu/co/prior.html) and click on course offerings.
Sunset Policy
Students will have to change their program/plan if they are enrolled in an academic program/plan that has been identified for discontinuation by the City Colleges of Chicago and/or the Illinois Community College Board. Their change to a different program/plan must be completed prior to the “sunset date” (i.e., the official inactive date). They shall be required to consult with a College Advisor to facilitate the change in an active program/plan. These provisions stem from the City Colleges of Chicago Sunset Policy and Procedures.
Advanced Placement Program
High School students completing advanced placement courses and receiving scores of 3 (Qualified), 4 (Well Qualified) or 5 (Extremely Well Qualified) on the College Board Advanced Placement Examinations will be awarded transfer credit for the equivalent college credit course. For more information on the Advanced Placement Program, please contact the Office of Student Affairs at (312) 553-3363.
Military Credit
Credit toward graduation may be granted to a veteran for certain armed forces/military service experiences and armed forces schooling. All applications must be documented. For more information about Military Credit, please contact the Office of Student Affairs at (312) 553-3363.
Tuition, fees and charges are determined by the Board of Trustees of Community College District 508, which operates the City Colleges of Chicago. All tuitions, fees and charges are subject to change at any time by the Board of Trustees.
