First Year Students

Dream Big.

Welcome to Chicago's public research university

We promise to help you cultivate your potential and reach your goals. But before we get to that, let's set you up for success. The following checklist and deadlines items are for new first-year students admitted for the fall semester.

Checklist and timeline

The checklist and timeline will help you make sure you're on track to enroll at the university.

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Secure your spot

ID and portal access

required

Immediately

Start by setting up your NetID to access the my.uic.edu portal and other enrollment functions.

ACTIVATE ACCOUNT

You'll need your UIN and token. They are included on admitted student emails.

Accept your offer

required

Any time after you are admitted, but no later than May 1.

Accept Offer

Fall admits have until May 1 to accept your offer of admission
Spring admits have until Dec. 1 to accept your offer of admission

Please note, if a deadline falls on a weekend, you will have until the following Monday to complete the task.

Orientation and Class Registration

These processes will start in February for fall admits

All new first-year students are required to attend orientation and must complete several steps before gaining eligibility to register for a session. Fall admits should complete the necessary steps before June 30 to ensure maximum availability for our new student advising and orientation sessions.

Placement Assessments

required

Starting in February and before June 30 (or as soon as possible)

Starting in February for fall admits, you will be prompted to take placement assessments in the my.uic.edu portal. Completing these assessments will help guide your course selection for your first semester. To access them, go to the my.uic.edu portal and navigate to the UIC Connect tab.

PLACEMENT EXAMS

New Student Advising and Registration

required

Registration begins in April

Registration for New Student Advising and Registration begins in mid-April for new fall students that have completed placement assessments. You’ll select a date over the spring or summer to meet with an advisor and register for classes.

New Student Orientation

required

Main sessions available in June and July

Registration for Orientation begins in mid-April for new fall students that have completed the above steps. You’ll select a date over the summer to attend orientation where you will learn more about the UIC community.

MORE INFORMATION

Paying for college

Take advantage of financial resources

For many, it's important to start planning how you'll fund your education. There are resources available — take advantage of everything we have to offer.

Apply for financial aid

optional

Priority date: March 15

U.S. citizens and permanent residents may apply for need-based federal and state grants, scholarships, loans and work-study. Students who submit FAFSA* will also be considered for any institutional aid for which they may be eligible.

FAFSA FORM

FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION

MY.UIC.EDU

UIC’s federal school code is 001776.

Note — Undocumented Illinois residents who are not eligible to receive federal aid may submit the Illinois Rise Act Alternative Application to be considered for state aid. Aid notifications for those that submit a FAFSA or Illinois Rise Act Alternative Application will be processed beginning in March. Once your notification is ready, it will be available in the my.uic.edu portal.

Students who may be eligible for the UIC Aspire program must submit aid applications by March 15.

Tuition and payment options

optional

January 1

Tuition is assessed in August, but students can review payment options and set up optional payment plans beginning in January.

PAYMENT PLANS

TUITION & FEES INFORMATION

Review financial aid notification

optional

Starting in March

Applicants who apply for federal or state aid and send the information to UIC should receive aid notifications through the My.UIC portal starting in March. To access your aid notification in the portal, you'll also need to set up your Duo 2-Factor Authentication.

Living arrangements

Explore your living options

There's no on-campus living requirement for UIC students. You can live on campus in a residence hall, or commute to campus. Whichever works best for you. Check out the available resources whether you plan to live on or off campus.

Apply for housing

optional

Before March 14, or as soon as possible

Placement for student housing is first come, first served. If you are considering living on campus, you should apply early to maximize your chances for your preferred residence.

CAMPUS HOUSING

Learn more about commuting

optional

Anytime

UIC considers anyone who is not living in university housing a commuter. Students who are considered commuters can live just five minutes away in an apartment or at home with their parents. The Commuter Student Resource Center can help connect you with other commuting students and provide you with information to improve your experience.

COMMUTER INFORMATION

Wrapping things up

Send us official transcripts and AP scores

required

Before August 1

Send any official AP exam scores and your final transcripts once you have graduated from high school.

Consider Summer College

optional

Registration begins in May

Get ahead by joining us for Summer College. Our programs are tuition free and fun, but they also prep you for the fall.

Review health insurance coverage

optional

ASAP: see Campus Care Deadlines

Health insurance is required for UIC students, but the automatically assessed fee can be waived if you already have equivalent coverage.

Campus Care Waiver

Frequently Asked Questions

Does UIC have an enrollment deposit?

UIC does not currently have an enrollment deposit. You can secure your space in the incoming class by responding "yes" to the Intent to Enroll section in the my.uic.edu student portal.

When do you let me know about scholarships?

Scholarships are one of several forms of assistance that may be offered to applicants as part of their financial award. Scholarships may be included in the award package, or may come independently from different sources (the Honors College, a particular college or department, an outside organization, etc.). There is not a single schedule that determines when these awards are announced. Generally, most scholarship notifications will be sent by the end of April. See the Office of Financial Aid for more information.

When do I pick my classes? And how?

Recommended courses will depend on the results of your placement tests, your major and your availability. Classes are selected in the my.uic.edu portal. Prepare for registration by reviewing the undergraduate catalog.

Will I get credit for AP or IB classes?

Advanced placement credit is awarded as a result of the scores received on the appropriate exams, not by taking the class alone. Please review our Credit by Examination page for detailed information.

I didn’t receive my admission packet in the mail. Can you help?

No need to worry! All the necessary information to begin at UIC is available on this website. Additionally:

A copy of your admission letter is available in the my.uic.edu portal.

Why is the cost of attendance different than tuition and fees?

Cost of attendance is a term used by federal government to capture all costs associated with attending a university. The amount is a total of both billable fees (costs that are charged by the university, like tuition and fees), and costs that a student is expected to incur like transportation, living expenses, books and others. It is used primarily for the calculation of your financial aid.

When is tuition due?

Student tuition is assessed beginning in mid-August but is not officially billed to your account until after the end of the add/drop period (the second week of classes). Tuition and fees are due at the end of September for the fall semester.

I forgot to apply to the Honors College on my application, can I still apply?

Yes, you can still apply to the Honors College even after you've been admitted! If you applied to UIC without indicating your interest in the Honors College, please visit the Honors College website for requirements and a link to a secondary Honors College application. View the Deadlines page for the latest Honors College priority and final deadlines.

Can I defer admission to a future term?

Admitted students may request a deferral to a future term by submitting a request through the application appeals and petitions form, accessible at the bottom of the application status portal. Deferral of admission decisions are typically approved only in cases of military and medical reasons. All other requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and if we are unable to defer the admission, we will create a new application for you, waive the application fee, and you will undergo the review process for the future term. If you attend another institution before enrolling at UIC in the deferred term, transcripts will be required and you will be changed to a transfer student.