Qualifying students are guaranteed to transfer to the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois. Transferring as a junior with all the courses you’ve completed at City Colleges can result in significant savings for tuition and fees. Our partnership with UIUC will also give you a clear and guided pathway to a high-quality, equitable education in engineering or computer science.
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN – THE GRAINGER COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
The City Colleges of Chicago School of Engineering has established the Engineering Access Alliance in partnership with the Grainger College of Engineering. This newly-expanded partnership allows for dual admission and guaranteed transfer to your major:
Aerospace Engineering, Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Bioengineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Science + Bioengineering, Computer Science + Physics, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, Environmental Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering, Physics, and Systems Engineering and Design. Chemical Engineering is also offered through a separate pathway.
The deadline to apply is April 5, 2026.
Engineering Access Alliance Benefits
- Guaranteed admission to your major, including Computer Science
- Dual admission—students can take designated classes at UIUC while at City Colleges, and pay the City Colleges tuition rate
- Early exploration of the major
- Academic and professional advising at both UIUC and City Colleges
- Summer engagement at UIUC and City Colleges, including:
- Paid summer internship
- Research opportunities
- Bridge program to build math and chemistry skills
- Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering program
- Consideration for scholarships upon successful transfer
- Cohort model creates a positive student learning experience
- Plus all the benefits of the City Colleges of Chicago School of Engineering
Students who completed high school or earned a high school equivalency in Illinois can enter the Engineering Access Alliance with City Colleges and UIUC through one of four pathways, depending on academic preparation and timing.
Direct Admission
You must meet the following criteria for admission straight from high school:
- Mostly As and Bs in high school (GPA 3.5 or higher)
- Strong essay describing your interest in the engineering pathway
- Calculus I-ready by time of Fall enrollment in City Colleges engineering pathway
- Proctored ALEKS score of 76 or higher
- Extracurricular activity and/or work experience
- First-time college student
- SAT/ACT scores recommended
- No U.S. residency required
Must submit the Grainger Engineering Pathways application directly to UIUC by the April 5 deadline.
Admission via the Bridge Program
Students who do not qualify for the direct admission from high school option will have an opportunity to apply for a guarantee through this pathway in August, after the satisfactory completion of the Bridge program.
Intent to Pursue
Students who miss the application deadline, or who do not qualify for the direct admission or Bridge options, may apply for the Intent to Pursue pathway before the end of January of their first year at City Colleges. Intent to Pursue students can earn a guaranteed transfer after completing one year of Engineering Access Alliance cohort classes. Contact the City Colleges of Chicago School of Engineering for more information.
Pre-engineering Admission
Qualifying students who are not yet eligible for Math 207 can strengthen their STEM preparation as pre-engineering student and apply for the guarantee through the direct admission option for the following year, ahead of the April 5 deadline.
Traditional Transfer
For students who are not eligible for the UIUC guaranteed transfer pathway, the School of Engineering provides intentional advising, course planning, and academic preparation to position students as competitive candidates for traditional transfer to UIUC engineering programs.