Cornell Academic Calendar 2025-2026: Key Academic Dates

The Cornell Academic Calendar 2025-2026 displays key academic dates, including the start of classes, the last day of classes, the Study Period, Scheduled Exams Begin/End, and Registration/Add/Drop Begins/Ends, to guide course planning.

Students can track Enrollment Certification Available and Degree Posting Deadline dates, so they meet Cornell course enrollment deadlines and diploma name/address update deadlines.

The academic term schedule also notes Commencement Weekend and Graduation date at Cornell, helping graduating seniors prepare for ceremonies.

Cornell University operates on a semester system, with two main terms (Fall and Spring) complemented by a winter session and multiple summer sessions.

The academic year typically begins in late August and concludes in early May, with final exams occurring about a week after the end of the Spring term.

A typical semester at Cornell University comprises approximately 14–15 weeks of instruction, followed by a short study/exam period.

Beyond the two main semesters, Cornell offers a three-week Winter Session in January and multiple summer sessions (e.g., 3-week, 6-week, 8-week options) for accelerated coursework.

However, the Fall and Spring semesters themselves adhere to this 15-week instructional model aligned with the Registrar’s published academic calendars.

In addition to the two main semesters, Cornell offers a three-week winter session in January and a variety of summer sessions (e.g., 3-week, 6-week, and 8-week options) for accelerated or supplemental coursework.

These sessions allow flexibility for students to undertake additional classes outside the regular semester framework.

All program-specific Cornell University calendars (such as Johnson MBA, Law, or Veterinary) generally follow this semester-based model, with adjustments as needed for professional requirements.

Cornell Academic Calendar Fall 2025

Here are the Cornell key academic dates and deadlines on the Cornell academic calendar for the fall semester of 2025.

1. Pre-enrollment for New First-Years and Transfer Students occurs from Monday, July 21, 2025, at noon to Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 4:00 pm.
2. Pre-Enrollment for Cornell Tech, Hospitality Management MMH, Real Estate MPS, AEM MPS, Johnson Exchange, Johnson 1+1, M.Eng. First Years and Design Technology Studio occurs from Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at 9:00 am to Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 4:00 pm.
3. Add/Drop for Graduate/Professional/CU Tech Students begins on Monday, August 18, 2025, at 9:00 am.
4. Add/Drop for Seniors begins on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at 9:00 am.
5. Add/Drop for Juniors begins on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at 9:00 am, according to the Cornell academic calendar for fall 2025.
6. Add/Drop for Sophomores begins on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at 9:00 am.
7. Add/Drop for First-Years begins on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 9:00 am.
8. Cornell Fall 2025 Term and classes (including 7-week Session 1 classes) start on Monday, August 25, 2025. It is the first day of classes for Fall 2025.
9. August 25 degree conferral date is Sunday, August 31, 2025, at midnight.
10. Labor Day (no classes) is Monday, September 1, 2025, according to the Cornell Holiday Calendar.
11. 7-week Session 1 add/change credit period ends on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 11:59 pm, according to the Cornell academic calendar 2025-2026.
12. Enrollment Certifications become available on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at midnight.
13. The last day to add classes/change credits is Monday, September 8, 2025, at 11:59 pm.
14. 7-week Session 1 drop period ends on Monday, September 22, 2025, at 11:59 pm.
15. 7-week Session 1 classes end on Friday, October 10, 2025, at 11:59 pm.
16. Winter Session enrollment begins on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at midnight.
17. 7-week Session 2 classes begin on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at midnight.
18. 7-week Session 1 exams occur from Thursday, October 16, 2025, at midnight to Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 11:59 pm.
19. The last day to drop classes/change grading basis is Monday, October 20, 2025, at 12:00 am.
20. 7-week Session 2 add/change credit period ends on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at 11:59 pm.
21. 7-week Session 2 drop period ends on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 11:59 pm.
22. The deadline to apply for internal transfer is Monday, December 1, 2025, at 11:59 pm.
23. The last day of instruction is Monday, December 8, 2025, at 11:59 pm.
24. Study days occur from Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at midnight to Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 11:59 pm.
25. Cornell Fall 2025 Final Examinations occur from Friday, December 12, 2025, at midnight to Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 11:59 pm.
26. The fall 2025 term ends, and the last day of academic activity is Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 11:59 pm.
27. December Recognition Ceremony occurs on Sunday, December 21, 2025, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, according to the Cornell academic calendar 2025-2026.
28. December 25 degree conferral date is Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at 11:59 pm.
29. Final grades for Fall 25 are posted on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 11:59 pm.

Cornell Academic Calendar Spring 2026

Here are the Cornell key academic dates and deadlines on the Cornell academic calendar for the spring semester of 2026.

1. Cornell Spring 2026 classes start on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
2. February break begins on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
3. Instruction resumes on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
4. Spring break begins on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
5. Instruction resumes on Monday, April 6, 2026.
6. The last day of instruction is Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
7. Study days begin on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
8. Study days end on Friday, May 8, 2026.
9. Scheduled exams begin on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
10. Scheduled exams end on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
11. Cornell University Commencement Weekend occurs from Friday, May 22, to Sunday, May 24, 2026.

For more on the Cornell academic calendar, visit the Cornell University registrar website.