Transportation to Campus

As you prepare for your arrival, please see below for information about how to reach our campus.

It's easy to get to Illinois Tech's Mies Campus by taxi or public transit. View our directions to campus to plan your route.

Public Transportation: If you're flying into Chicago’s O'Hare International Airport (ORD), you can reach campus by Chicago Transit Authority (CTA).
Taxi: If you prefer to take a taxi from the airport, please find the taxi stand. Information on taxis at O’Hare can be found here.

Please note that if you plan to use any rideshare like Lyft or Uber to travel to campus, prepare the following in advance:

Download the Lyft or Uber app to your smartphone
Add your credit card information before traveling
Ensure that you have data service enabled on your smartphone
Connect with the Office of Residence Life to ensure your room is ready for your arrival
Update your Application Tracker to include your flight information

Arriving on Campus and Check-In

All incoming international students, including transfer-in international students are required to check-in with OGS, within 24 hours of arriving in the United States. Check-in will take place in virtually, through the ISSS Portal starting from July 18th, 2024. Students must log into the portal using their Illinois Tech (Okta Access) credentials, and submit a "New Student Check-In" request.

Required documents/information for check-in:

Visa stamp
I-94 arrival record; Please download here: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home
Local U.S. address
Local telephone number
Emergency contact information

Watch how to submit a "New Student Check-In" request using the ISSS Portal: https://tinyurl.com/InternationalStudentCheckIn

The Office of Global Services will process your request within 2 business days and remove the International Check-In Hold on your student account. Students only need to check in ONCE with the Office of Global Services.

Winter Break Closure: Illinois Tech (all offices including OGS) will officially be closed starting from December 23, 2023 through January 1, 2024. The university will reopen on Tuesday, January 2, 2024. Therefore, if you submit a "New Student Check-In" request during this closure, please be patient as we will process requests and answer emails upon our return to office.

The Office of Global Services is open Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m for assistance. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email OGS at global@iit.edu.

Helpful Tips

Visit www.flychicago.com to learn about services offered at each airport.
The currency in the United States is the dollar. We recommend having some on you prior to landing in the United States in case you have to pay for anything immediately.
You should have your destination address ready. We recommend providing the following address for Illinois Institute of Technology: 3201 S. State St. Chicago, IL 60616

Transportation Information

Taxis

At both airports, follow the signs for ground transportation. Once you arrive, look for the taxi line. Stand in the taxi line and when it is your turn to get into the taxi, give them the address of where you are going to.

If you are going to the Mies Campus, we recommend providing the address for McCormick Tribune Campus Center (3201 South State Street). If you are going to the Conviser Law Center, the address is 565 West Adams Street.

Below are approximate costs for taxis:

O’Hare International Airport to Mies Campus: $55-$70 + tip
O’Hare International Airport to Conviser Law Center: $48 - $60 + tip
Midway International Airport to Mies Campus: $30 - $45 + tip
Midway International Airport to Conviser Law Center: $34 - $50 + tip

Train: Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)

Chicago also has a public train and bus system that can help you get to either Mies Campus. You will need to purchase a transit card to take the CTA. The kiosk accepts cash and credit but does not provide change. The transit card costs $5 and you will need to add $6 per person to get you to your destination.

O’Hare International Airport to Mies Campus:

From the international terminal, you will need to follow the signs that say, “Airport Transit System” and take the tram to Terminal 2.
When you get off the tram, follow the signs that say, “Train to City.”
When you get to the CTA, purchase your transit card and board the next departing train. You are now on the Blue line.
Take the Blue line to the Jackson stop.
From the Jackson stop, you will need to transfer to the Red line. Look for the signs that say, “Red Line.” You will have to walk down the stairs and through a tunnel.
Take the Red Line in the direction of 95^th/Dan Ryan. You will get off at the stop Sox-35^th.
When you get off the train, walk east towards State street to get to campus.

Midway International Airport to Mies Campus:

Look for the signs that say, “Train to City.”
When you get to the CTA, purchase your transit card and board the next departing train. You are now on the Orange line.
Take the Orange line to the Roosevelt stop.
At the Roosevelt stop, you will need to transfer to the Green line.
Take the Green line train going towards Ashland/63^rd.
Get off at the 35^th-Bronzeville-IIT stop.
Walk down the stairs and you will be on Mies campus.