Academic Calendar

RPI Academic Calendar 2026-2027: Important Dates & Deadlines

By eriq elikplim
RPI Academic Calendar

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The RPI Academic Calendar 2026-2027 schedule includes application deadlines (including Early Decision and Early Action), tuition payment due dates, financial aid deadlines (including FAFSA and CSS Profile), course add/drop periods, RPI holidays, and Commencement ceremony dates.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute operates on a robust semester system, primarily featuring two main terms: Fall (late August to late December) and Spring (early January to early May).

Each semester provides approximately 14 weeks of instruction, complemented by designated reading days and final exam periods.

Beyond these, RPI offers comprehensive Summer Sessions (including Session I, II, and III with various lengths) and a unique Winter Term, providing flexible study options.

RPI Academic Calendar Fall 2026

  1. RPI move-in day 2026 is from Wednesday, August 19, 2026, to Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Move-in for New First-Year Students Participating in an Overnight Trip is scheduled for Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Move-in for New First-Year Students not participating in an overnight trip for the Fall 2026 semester is scheduled for Saturday, August 22, 2026. New Transfer Students Move-in for the Fall 2026 semester is scheduled for Monday, August 24, 2026. Returning Students Move-in for the Fall 2026 semester is scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, 2026, between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
  2. RPI Fall 2026 classes begin on Thursday, August 27, 2026. It is the first day of classes.
  3. Labor Day is Monday, September 7, 2026, and there are no classes. Staff holiday.
  4. A Monday class schedule will be followed on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
  5. The last day for undergraduate and graduate students to drop a course in Fall 2026 without receiving a W grade is Friday, September 11, 2026.
  6. Nomination of Master’s Thesis Committee forms for December 2026 degree applicants are due to the Office of Graduate Education on Friday, September 11, 2026.
  7. The last day for undergraduate and graduate students to add courses, change sections, or place courses on audit for Fall 2026 is Friday, September 11, 2026.
  8. The final deadline to complete I-grade requirements for Spring 2026 courses is Friday, September 11, 2026.
  9. The last day to file an online Degree Application through SIS for December 2026 graduation is Friday, October 9, 2026.
  10. Late Degree Applications (paper) for December 2026 graduation begin being accepted on Saturday, October 10, 2026.
  11. Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day is Monday, October 12, 2026, and there are no classes.
  12. A Monday class schedule will be followed on Friday, October 16, 2026.
  13. Consultation weeks for advisement and Spring 2027 registration run from Monday, October 19, 2026, through Friday, October 30, 2026.
  14. The last day to file a late Degree Application (paper) for December 2026 graduation is Friday, October 23, 2026.
  15. Doctoral dissertations for December 2026 degree applicants are due to advisors on Friday, October 23, 2026.
  16. The deadline for Master’s theses and Engineering projects for December 2026 degree applicants to be submitted to advisors is Friday, October 30, 2026.
  17. Pre-registration for the Spring 2027 term opens for currently enrolled students from Monday, November 2, 2026, through Friday, November 20, 2026.
  18. Master’s theses for December 2026 degree applicants are due to the Office of Graduate Education on Monday, November 9, 2026.
  19. The last day for Doctoral candidates who applied for December 2026 graduation to defend their dissertations is Monday, November 9, 2026.
  20. The last day for undergraduate students to add or remove Pass/No Credit designations for Fall 2026 is Friday, November 13, 2026.
  21. Thanksgiving Break runs from Monday, November 23, 2026, through Friday, November 27, 2026, and there are no classes.
  22. Doctoral dissertations for December 2026 degree applicants must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Education by Monday, November 23, 2026.
  23. The last day of Fall 2026 classes is Friday, December 11, 2026.
  24. Reading and Study Days run from Saturday, December 12, 2026, through Tuesday, December 15, 2026. No exams or required student work may be scheduled during this period.
  25. Final Exams run from Wednesday, December 16, 2026, through Tuesday, December 22, 2026.
  26. Winter Break runs from Wednesday, December 23, 2026, through Friday, January 8, 2027, and there are no classes.
  27. The December 2026 Degree Conferral Date is Thursday, December 31, 2026. Final degree clearance will occur during the first two weeks of January 2027, and diplomas/e-diplomas will be distributed in late January 2027.

RPI Academic Calendar Spring 2027

  1. Academic consultation and advising weeks for Spring 2027 registration run from Monday, October 19, 2026, through Friday, October 30, 2026, for students to meet with HUB or faculty advisors.
  2. Pre-registration for the Spring 2027 term opens for currently enrolled students from Monday, November 2, 2026, through Friday, November 20, 2026.
  3. The degree application for May 2027 candidates opens in SIS on Friday, January 1, 2027.
  4. Spring 2027 classes begin on Monday, January 11, 2027.
  5. The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday takes place on Monday, January 18, 2027. There are no classes.
  6. Master’s thesis committee nomination forms are due to the Office of Graduate Education for May 2027 degree applicants on Monday, January 25, 2027.
  7. The last day for undergraduate and graduate students to add courses, change sections, or register for audit status for Spring 2027 is Tuesday, January 26, 2027.
  8. The last day for undergraduate and graduate students to drop a Spring 2027 course without receiving a grade of W is Tuesday, January 26, 2027.
  9. The final deadline to complete Incomplete (I) grade requirements from Summer 2026 courses is Tuesday, January 26, 2027.
  10. Presidents’ Day takes place on Monday, February 15, 2027. There are no classes. Classes resume on Tuesday, February 16, 2027, following a Monday class schedule.
  11. Doctoral dissertations for May 2027 degree applicants are due to advisors on Monday, February 22, 2027.
  12. Master’s theses and Engineering projects for May 2027 degree applicants must be submitted to advisors by Monday, February 22, 2027.
  13. The deadline to submit an online degree application via SIS for May 2027 graduation is Sunday, February 28, 2027.
  14. Late paper degree applications for May 2027 graduation begin being accepted on Monday, March 1, 2027, for students who did not apply via SIS.
  15. RPI Spring Break 2027 takes place from Monday, March 1, 2027, through Friday, March 5, 2027. There are no classes. Classes resume following Spring Break on Monday, March 8, 2027.
  16. The final deadline to submit a late paper degree application for May 2027 graduation is Monday, March 15, 2027.
  17. The last day for undergraduate and graduate students to drop a Spring 2027 course with a grade of W is Friday, March 19, 2027.
  18. Master’s theses are due to the Office of Graduate Education for May 2027 degree applicants on Friday, March 19, 2027.
  19. The final deadline for May 2027 doctoral candidates to defend their dissertations is Friday, March 19, 2027.
  20. Grand Marshal Week student government elections run from Monday, March 22, 2027, through Friday, March 26, 2027, with no classes held on Wednesday, March 24, 2027.
  21. The last day for undergraduate students to add or remove Pass/No Credit designations for Spring 2027 courses is Friday, March 26, 2027.
  22. The deadline to submit doctoral dissertations to the Office of Graduate Education for May 2027 degree applicants is Friday, April 2, 2027.
  23. The last day of Spring 2027 classes is Wednesday, April 28, 2027.
  24. The final deadline to complete Incomplete (I) grade requirements from Fall 2026 courses is Wednesday, April 28, 2027.
  25. Reading and study days take place from Thursday, April 29, 2027, through Sunday, May 2, 2027, during which instructors may not schedule exams or require student coursework.
  26. Spring 2027 final examinations take place from Monday, May 3, 2027, through Friday, May 7, 2027.
  27. The 2027 Commencement Ceremony takes place on Saturday, May 15, 2027.

For more on the RPI Academic Calendar 2026-2027, visit the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute registrar website.

eriq elikplim
eriq elikplimhttps://acadcalendar.com
Eric Elikplim is the lead editor of AcadCalendar.com. Eriq draws on 10 years of experience in edtech and project management. He has collaborated directly with multiple universities, establishing processes to cross-check term dates, registration deadlines, and exam schedules. Beyond calendar data, Eriq contributes thought leadership on academic productivity: he has authored articles on semester planning, and consulted with student organizations to refine reminder features and user experience.

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