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•  is approximately an hour from Â鶹´«Ã½'s Evanston campus (depending on your mode of transportation)  

•  is slightly farther and may take longer.  Â鶹´«Ã½ does not offer the airport shuttle service from Midway.

There are several options for getting from the airport to campus, depending on time, budget, and desired mode of transportation. 

By Car

• Airport Express  

  •  provides shared rides from the airport to campus.  Reserve your spot online AT LEAST 24 hours before your flight.  

• Taxi & Rideshare

  • Taxi service is available to the city of Chicago and suburban destinations. Fares vary based on traffic conditions, but an average fare from O'Hare International Airport to the Evanston campus is $50-$75. All taxis should have a working meter to calculate the fare based on time and mileage. Some taxi companies have airport “flat” (fixed) rates. Be sure to ask.   
  • Taxi stands are situated at the lower-level curb front outside of baggage claim at each terminal. 
  • Use the taxi stands to ensure you have a licensed taxi driver. Do not accept rides from drivers outside the taxi stand or on the departure level (second level) of the terminal roadways.  
  • Rideshare through the and applications are widely available from both airports. Uber and Lyft drivers are authorized to pick up riders at O'Hare and Midway airports.  Please open your app and follow the directions to the designated pickup zones.  Both airports offer 30 minutes of free Wi-Fi, so you can use this to order an Uber/Lyft ride!  

• Car Rental  

  • Some new students and their parents choose to rent cars.  Please check individual car company websites for pricing, driver's license requirements and additional information.  
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Public Transit

The following public transportation options are more economical but can be more complicated and will take longer to arrive.  

• By Bus 
  • Â鶹´«Ã½ Shuttle: OISS will provide shuttle transportation from Chicago O'Hare Airport to the Evanston campus on September 7, 2025. There will be four shuttles throughout the day offered on a first come, first served basis for students traveling alone; the shuttles will depart at 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. 
  • Pace Bus is a suburban public bus system. This takes approximately one hour to travel to campus. Cost is $2.25. After arrival, take the  from your terminal to O'Hare's long-term parking lot E. Then get on (Dempster St), which drops off at the in Evanston.  It would be recommended to transfer to the Pulse’s Dempster line to get closer to Â鶹´«Ã½’s campus. 
  • Pulse's Dempster Line operates every 15 minutes from approximately 5:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. on weekdays, then every 20 minutes until approximately 1:00 a.m.  On weekends and holidays, service is every 15 minutes between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. and every 20 minutes in early morning and late evening hours.  Link this:   

• By Train: 
  • CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) Trains can be taken from O'Hare International Airport. Taking the blue line and then making two transfers to the red line and purple line will bring you to Evanston. This takes approximately 90 minutes to two hours, depending on the time of day. Cost is between $5 - $10 depending on the timing of transfers.  
  • The CTA  is situated on the lower level of Terminal 2. You may walk to the station or use the  to get to the station. 
  • Take the blue line train and switch to the red line at the in downtown Chicago. From Jackson, take the red line in the direction of Howard, and then at , switch to the purple line (direction of Linden) and the purple line will bring you to Evanston.  

For best routes and guidance, use your map app and switch to “public transportation” directions.   

Upon , the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will ask for these documents: 

• Â鶹´«Ã½-issued I-20 or DS-2019.  You need to print and sign this document with an ink pen. 
• A valid passport valid six-months into the future (students with passport countries  do not need a passport valid six-months into the future); 
• A valid F-1 or J-1 visa stamp (Canadians do not obtain an F-1 or J-1 visa); 
• Your SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt; 
• You may be asked for your Â鶹´«Ã½ letter of admission 

Keep these documents with you during your trip. Be prepared to present these documents to CBP upon arrival. If you are traveling by airplane, you will present these documents for inspection before you have access to your larger checked luggage.  Keep these documents in your carry-on items during your flight. 

Your I-94 is the official arrival record which documents your entry to the U.S, your immigration (visa) category, and your approved length of stay. The OISS recommends that you retrieve and check your updated I-94 arrival record every time you re-enter the U.S. In most cases, I-94 entry records are only issued electronically. Many U.S. Ports of Entry no longer issue entry stamps as well. 

Visit the CBP I-94 website to retrieve your I-94. 

Check your I-94 for accuracy including these details: 

• Admission date (the date your arrived to the U.S.) 

• Visa status 

• Personal information 

See our resource on the I-94 Record for additional information including how to correct a mistake on your I-94 Record.