Winter Registration

Winter enrollment provides students with the opportunity to make progress toward degree requirements outside of the traditional academic year. Courses are offered in condensed formats during winter Term, allowing students to complete coursework in a shorter time frame.

Only online options are available, and tuition rates are assessed separately for winter enrollment. Students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor to determine how winter coursework aligns with their academic plan.

Time Tickets

To register for winter courses, each student is assigned a time ticket, which specifies the earliest date and time they may begin enrolling. Time tickets are released in October and are based on factors such as earned credit hours and student status (e.g., priority groups). Once a student’s time ticket opens, they may register at any point from that time through the start of the winter term. Students should check their assigned time ticket in Student Self-Service and plan their course schedule in advance to ensure timely enrollment.

Registration Restrictions

During the winter term, registration is limited to a maximum of 1 course, and overloads beyond this limit are not permitted. This restriction is in place due to the accelerated nature of summer coursework and the condensed length of the term.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for the winter semester are assessed differently than during the fall and spring terms, as they are based on the number of credit hours for which a student enrolls rather than a standard flat rate. 

To help students plan, the university provides two tools for estimating costs:

• Illinois Cost Calculator – Allows students to generate a personalized estimate of tuition, campus fees, and other expected costs based on course load and program of study.

• Tuition and Fee Rates by Term – Provides detailed tuition and fee tables published by the Office of the Registrar for each academic term, including summer.

Students are encouraged to review these resources prior to registration to understand their financial responsibilities and to contact the Office of Student Financial Aid for guidance on how winter enrollment may affect aid eligibility.

Add/Drop of Winter Courses

Students are limited to adjusting their winter enrollment. Dates and deadlines are published by the Office of the Registrar for the winter term. 

• Before the start of the semester: Students may add, drop, or change winter courses directly through Student Self-Service without additional approvals.
• After the start of the semester: 
  • Late Add: Students are not permitted to late add winter semester courses. 
  • Drop: Due to the restricted enrollment of 1 course, late dropping and withdrawing from the semester are the same. Students may request to drop/withdrawal from the winter semester until the last day of instruction. Depending on timelines of the drop request, students may still be responsible for a portion of their tuition and fees as well as receive a "W" (Withdrawal) on their transcript. 

It is important to NOTE that the college will not backdate drop requests. 

Students considering late adds or drops are strongly encouraged to consult with their academic advisor prior to submitting a petition, as these actions may impact academic progress, financial aid eligibility, visa compliance for international students, and time to degree completion.