Cal Poly Academic Calendar 2026-2027: Important Dates

The Cal Poly Academic Calendar 2026-2027 includes information on admission deadlines, tuition payment due dates, course add/drop periods, campus holidays, and final exam schedules for the upcoming academic year.

For the 2026-2027 academic year, California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo will continue to operate on its established quarter system.

This means the academic year is primarily structured around three main quarters: Fall, Winter, and Spring, each spanning approximately 10 weeks of instruction, followed by dedicated final examination periods.

Additionally, a flexible Summer Quarter is offered, providing various session lengths for accelerated study or summer coursework.

Let’s move into the detailed sections for Fall Quarter 2026, Winter Quarter 2027, Spring Quarter 2027, and Summer Quarter 2027 to meticulously plan your academic year at Cal Poly SLO.

Cal Poly academic calendar fall 2026

1. The university year begins on Monday, August 17, 2026.
2. The Fall Term for faculty begins on Monday, August 17, 2026.
3. Cal Poly move-in day 2026 is scheduled from Tuesday, August 18, 2026, to Saturday, August 22, 2026. First-year students and new transfer students will move in on an assigned date, either Tuesday, August 18, 2026, or Wednesday, August 19, 2026. First-year students and new transfer students must book their required move-in appointment through the Housing Portal on MyCalPoly by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Continuing students living in Cerro Vista Apartments will move in on Friday, August 21, 2026. Continuing students living in Poly Canyon Village (PCV) will move in between Friday, August 21, 2026, and Saturday, August 22, 2026. Continuing students must book their required move-in appointment through the Housing Portal on MyCalPoly by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
4. Cal Poly Fall 2026 classes start on Monday, August 24, 2026. It is the first day of classes.
5. Labor Day is Monday, September 7, 2026. This is an academic holiday.
6. The Twentieth Day of Instruction (Census Date) is Monday, September 21, 2026.
7. Early voting sites are open throughout October and November 2026. Dates, times, and locations may be confirmed through the Secretary of State website or the local county elections office.
8. Twenty percent of instruction remaining for the 7.5-week Session 1 occurs on Friday, October 2, 2026.
9. The last day of classes for the 7.5-week Session 1 is Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
10. Classes for the 7.5-week Session 2 begin on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
11. The deadline to register to vote is Monday, October 20, 2026.
12. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
13. Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11, 2026. This is an academic holiday.
14. Twenty percent of instruction remaining for the 15-week term occurs on Friday, November 13, 2026.
15. Cal Poly Fall Break/Thanksgiving Break runs from Monday, November 23, 2026, through Sunday, November 29, 2026. This is an academic holiday.
16. Twenty percent of instruction remaining for the 7.5-week Session 2 occurs on Thursday, December 3, 2026.
17. The last day of classes for the 15-week term and the 7.5-week Session 2 is Friday, December 11, 2026.
18. Common final exams for the 15-week term (optional) and a faculty workday are scheduled for Saturday, December 12, 2026.
19. The final examination period for the 15-week term runs from Monday, December 14, 2026, through Friday, December 18, 2026.
20. Saturday, December 19, 2026, is a faculty workday with no classes.
21. Monday, December 21, 2026, is a faculty workday with no classes.
22. Tuesday, December 22, 2026, is a faculty workday with no classes.
23. The Fall Term ends on Tuesday, December 22, 2026.
24. The academic holiday period runs from Wednesday, December 23, 2026, through Thursday, January 21, 2027.

Cal Poly Academic Calendar Spring 2026

1. The beginning of the Spring 2027 term and faculty workday will take place on Friday, January 22, 2027.
2. Cal Poly Spring 2027 term classes begin on Monday, January 25, 2027.
3. The university will observe an Academic Holiday for Washington’s Birthday on Monday, February 15, 2027.
4. The Twentieth Day of Instruction and Census Date will take place on Monday, February 22, 2027.
5. The Twenty Percent of Instruction Remaining deadline for the 7.5-week 1 session is Friday, March 5, 2027.
6. Cal Poly Spring Break 2027 is from Monday, March 15, 2027, through Sunday, March 21, 2027.
7. The last day of classes for the 7.5-week 1 session is Wednesday, March 24, 2027.
8. The second 7.5-week session of Spring 2027 term classes begins on Thursday, March 25, 2027.
9. The university will observe an Academic Holiday for Farmworkers Day on Wednesday, March 31, 2027.
10. The Twenty Percent of Instruction Remaining deadline for the 15-week term is Friday, April 23, 2027.
11. The Twenty Percent of Instruction Remaining deadline for the 7.5-week 2-session is Thursday, May 6, 2027.
12. The last day of classes for the 15-week term and 7.5-week 2 session is Friday, May 14, 2027.
13. The final examination period for the 15-week term will take place on Saturday, May 15, 2027, and Monday, May 17, 2027, through Friday, May 21, 2027.
14. Commencement ceremonies will take place on Friday, May 21, 2027, and Saturday, May 22, 2027, through Sunday, May 23, 2027.
15. Faculty workdays will take place from Monday, May 24, 2027, through Tuesday, May 25, 2027.
16. The end of the Spring 2027 term is Tuesday, May 25, 2027.
17. The university will observe an Academic Holiday from Wednesday, May 26, 2027, through Monday, May 31, 2027.

For more on the Cal Poly academic calendar 2026-2027, visit the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (SLO) academic calendar website.