Traveling to Campus

Image of campus and train on tracks

Whether you're traveling to campus by public transportation, driving, or riding a Divvy bike, be sure to check out the resources below to plan your trip and learn about possible discounts. 

Public Transportation 

When riding the bus or train, visit the CTA and Metra websites for up-to-date information regarding safety precautions, schedules, as well as various travel tips and tools.

If you're using the CTA to commute to/from campus, check out what the CTA is doing to ensure a safe, clean ride through the CTA When You're Ready, We're Ready website. For more information on using the Metra safely, visit the Metra website to commute with confidence.

Divvy Bike Share

Students & staff can access their Divvy discount (and many others) through PerkSpot using the same credentials used to log onto other Columbia systems.

Parking

Those who drive to campus will need to park in a lot or use meter parking around the South Loop campus. The parking meters in Chicago are owned and operated by a private company. Hourly rates will vary by location and typically, meters are in operation from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., including weekends and holidays. Parking in the area can range from $10 to $25+, and weekend rates may vary. We do not recommend parking on the street.

There are several parking lots and garages around the South Loop, especially along South Wabash Avenue and State Street. Daily parking rates are seasonal and tend to spike during peak holiday and festival times.

Students may shop around for the best bargain and ask about monthly plans and student discounts. Some security desks in campus buildings have a stamp to validate parking for many of the area’s participating lots.

Employees can visit the Intranet for discounted parking information at the Chicago Hilton and Towers.