American University Academic Calendar 2026-2027
This page outlines the American University Academic Calendar for 2026-2027 academic year. The Academic Calendar on this page lists all relevant holidays, breaks, class start and end dates, as well as Registration and Bursar dates. It provides a comprehensive schedule of activities for an academic year, including final exam week, breaks, and the end of the semester.
Bear this in mind, the academic calendar helps everyone remember important dates and events. Students, teachers, and staff rely on it to know when things are happening at school. It’s not just for people on campus; it also gives information to parents, former students, and new students who are thinking about coming to the school.
This calendar is important because it shows what life is like at the school and helps people decide if they want to be part of it. So, it’s a very useful tool that makes the school experience better for everyone.
General Guidelines for Developing the Academic Calendar
Table of Interests
- Fall Semester begins on the last Monday in August.
- Fall 8 Week I begins on the last Monday in August.
- Fall 8 Week II begins on the 9th Monday of the semester.
- Spring Semester begins on the second Monday in January.
- Spring 8 Week I begins on the second Monday in January.
- Spring 8 Week II begins on the 10th Monday of the semester. (After Spring Break)
- Summer Session begins on the Monday following the second Sunday in May.
- Summer 8 Week begins on the Monday following the second Sunday in May.
- Summer 7 Week I begins on the Monday following the second Sunday in May.
- Summer 7 Week II begins on the 8th Monday of the summer session.
- Summer 6 Week I begins on the 2nd Monday of the summer session.
- Summer 6 Week II begins on the 8th Monday of the summer session.
- Summer 3 Week begins on the 2nd Monday of the summer session.
Registration and Refunds
Priority registration begins in October for Spring classes and in March for Summer and Fall classes. General registration is open from the end of priority registration through the last day to drop a class.
Refunds, adds/drops/withdrawals, and grade changes for nonstandard classes are calculated proportionately, based on the percentage of the course completed. For more information on refunds, adds/drops/withdrawals, and grade changes for classes, please visit Refunds for Course Drops and Withdrawals.
For the most up-to-date list of university holidays and breaks, please visit Holidays | American University, Washington, DC.Holidays
Degree Dates
For information about official degree conferral dates, please refer to the Establishing Degree Conferral Dates Policy.
Additional Important Dates
- Spring Break is the week following midterms (generally after 8 weeks of classes).
- Fall Break (no classes; university offices open) occurs on the Friday of the 7th week of classes.
- On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, Tuesday classes are canceled and Friday classes meet.
- Theses and dissertations are due:
- To deans’ offices four weeks before the last day of classes (spring and fall).
- To the Registrar’s Office on the last day of classes (spring and fall).
- For summer graduates: to deans’ offices three weeks before the end of summer sessions, and to the Registrar’s Office at the end of summer sessions.
- Final grades are due 72 hours after the final exam.
Fall Semester
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 08/01/2025 | Fri | Payment due |
| 08/16/2025 | Sat | Pre-Approved Early Arrival Move-In |
| 08/17/2025 – 08/18/2025 | Sun – Mon | First-Year and New Transfer Move-In |
| 08/19/2025 – 08/22/2025 | Tue – Fri | New Student Orientation |
| 08/23/2025 – 08/30/2025 | Sat – Sat | Welcome Week |
| 08/25/2025 | Mon | Classes begin |
| 09/01/2025 | Mon | Labor Day; no classes; university offices closed |
| 09/08/2025 | Mon | Last day to submit Health Insurance Waiver for 25/26 Annual/Open Enrollment ends |
| 09/08/2025 | Mon | Last day to add a class, internship, Independent Reading or Research, or Community Service-Learning project; last day to drop with 100% refund and without a “W” recorded |
| 09/09/2025 | Tue | Withdrawal period begins (“W” recorded; 50% refund) |
| 09/15/2025 | Mon | Last day to withdraw with 50% refund |
| 09/22/2025 | Mon | Last day to withdraw with 25% refund (no refunds after this date) |
| 09/29/2025 | Mon | Schedule of classes for Spring published |
| 10/03/2025 – 10/05/2025 | Fri – Sun | Family Weekend |
| 10/10/2025 | Fri | Fall break; no classes, university offices open |
| 10/20/2025 | Mon | Last day to apply for graduation |
| 10/20/2025 | Mon | Spring priority registration for graduate students begins; Winter Intersession registration begins |
| 10/23/2025 | Thu | Spring priority registration for undergraduate students begins |
| 10/31/2025 | Fri | Last day to withdraw or change a grade option |
| 11/07/2025 | Fri | Theses and dissertations due in deans’ offices for degree candidates |
| 11/25/2025 | Tue | Health Insurance Waiver opens for incoming Spring 2026 students/Open Enrollment for Spring 2026 begins |
| 11/25/2025 | Tue | Tuesday classes cancelled; Friday classes meet |
| 11/26/2025 – 11/30/2025 | Wed – Sun | Thanksgiving holiday; no classes; university offices closed Thursday and Friday |
| 12/05/2025 | Fri | Classes end; theses and dissertations due in registrar’s office for degree candidates |
| 12/06/2025 – 12/07/2025 | Sat – Sun | Study Days; no classes |
| 12/08/2025 – 12/13/2025 | Mon – Sat | Final examinations |
| 12/14/2025 | Sun | Commencement Ceremony for August and December Graduates |
| 12/16/2025 | Tue | Final grades deadline |
| 12/23/2025 | Tue | Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on December Diplomas) |
| 12/20/2025 – 01/02/2026 | Sat – Fri | Winter break; university offices closed |
Spring 2026
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 12/15/2025 | Mon | Winter intersession classes begin |
| 01/11/2026 | Sun | Winter intersession classes end |
Summer 2026
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 05/01/2026 | Fri | Payment due for summer |
| 05/11/2026 | Mon | Classes begin |
| 05/13/2026 | Wed | Health Insurance Waiver and Open Enrollment Begins |
| 05/22/2026 | Fri | Last day to add a class, internship, Independent Reading or Research, or Community Service-Learning project; last day to drop with 100% refund and without a “W” recorded |
| 05/23/2026 | Sat | Withdrawal period begins (“W” recorded; 50% refund) |
| 05/25/2026 | Mon | Memorial Day; no classes, university offices closed |
| 05/31/2026 | Sun | Last day to withdraw with 50% refund |
| 06/07/2026 | Sun | Last day to withdraw with 25% refund (no refunds after this date) |
| 06/19/2026 | Fri | Juneteenth; no classes, university offices closed |
| 07/03/2026 | Fri | Independence Day (observed); no classes, university offices closed |
| 07/12/2026 | Sun | Last day to withdraw or change a grade option |
| 07/17/2026 | Fri | Theses and dissertations due in deans’ offices for degree candidates |
| 08/01/2026 | Sat | Payment due for fall |
| 08/01/2026 | Sat | Last day to apply for graduation |
| 08/06/2026 | Thu | Theses and dissertations due in registrar’s office for degree candidates |
| 08/15/2026 | Sat | Classes end |
| 08/23/2026 | Sun | Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on August Diplomas) |
MLS Online
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 09/29/2025 | Mon | Start of term; start of classes |
| 10/07/2025 | Tue | Last day to add a course; last day to drop a course for a 100% refund and without a W recorded; deadline to apply to graduate |
| 10/08/2025 | Wed | Term 4 withdrawal period begins (withdraw recorded on record; 50% refund) |
| 10/12/2025 | Sun | Last day to withdraw from a Term 4 course for a 50% refund |
| 10/17/2025 | Fri | Last day to withdraw from a Term 4 course for a 25% refund (no refunds after this date) |
| 11/14/2025 | Fri | Last day to withdraw from a Term 4 course or change a grade option |
| 11/27/2025 | Thu | Thanksgiving; no classes; university closed |
| 11/29/2025 | Sat | Make up classes for those not held on Thanksgiving |
| 12/07/2025 | Sun | End of classes |
| 12/13/2025 | Sat | End of term |
| 12/14/2025 | Sun | Fall Commencement Ceremony for August and December graduates |
| 12/23/2025 | Tue | Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on December diplomas; no event associated with this date) |
