Fairfield University Academic Calendar 2026: Important Dates

The Fairfield University Academic Calendar 2026 schedule contains all the key dates from application and enrollment deadlines, tuition payment due dates, and course add/drop periods to campus holidays and final exam schedules.

Fairfield University’s academic year is structured around:

• Fall Semester: a standard 15‑week term (14 instructional weeks plus a dedicated finals week), complete with a mid‑term recess and Reading Days before exams.
• Spring Semester: mirrors the Fall structure—15 weeks of teaching plus finals, with built‑in breaks for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Spring Recess.
• Summer Sessions: multiple accelerated modules (ranging from about 4 to 8 weeks each) alongside a longer full-term session, each with its own registration, add/drop, and billing deadlines for maximum flexibility.

Whether you’re mapping out a 15‑week semester course load, enrolling in a short Summer Session module, or planning your study around key breaks and Reading Days, the Fairfield University Academic Calendar 2025‑2026 keeps every essential date and deadline at your fingertips so you can focus on thriving at Fairfield.

Fairfield University Academic Calendar Spring 2026

1. Undergraduate advising for Spring and the deadline for undergraduate major/minor changes for Spring registration also begin on Monday, October 6, 2025.
2. The deadline for completing Spring and Summer incompletes is Wednesday, October 15, 2025.
3. Winter registration begins for all students on Wednesday, October 29, 2025.
4. Spring registration begins for graduate students on Monday, November 3, 2025.
5. Spring registration begins for seniors on Thursday, November 6, 2025.
6. Spring registration begins for juniors on Monday, November 10, 2025.
7. Spring registration begins for sophomores on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. This is also the last day for Fall full-semester course withdrawals and to declare credit/no-credit for undergraduates.
8. Spring registration begins for first-year students on Friday, November 14, 2025.
9. The deadline to apply to graduate for January and May 2026, and the beginning of Spring registration for non-matriculated students, is Monday, December 1, 2025.
10. Wednesday, December 17, 2025, is the deadline for undergraduate readmission applications for Spring, according to the Fairfield University Academic Calendar 2025-2026.
11. The Winter Session runs from Thursday, December 18, 2025, through Friday, January 16, 2026.
12. The last day to apply for School of Education & Human Development non-matriculated status for Spring 2026 is Friday, January 2, 2026.
13. The last date for Continuing Studies and Graduate Students to drop with a 100% refund is Monday, January 5, 2026.
14. International undergraduate students’ arrival day is Thursday, January 15, 2026.
15. New international student orientation for both graduate and undergraduate students is on Friday, January 16, 2026.
16. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is observed on Monday, January 19, 2026, and the university will be closed. Residence halls open at 10:00 a.m., and the BCC Dining Hall opens at 4:00 p.m. This is also the last date for full-time undergraduate university withdrawal with a 100% refund.
17. Fairfield Spring 2026 classes for all programs begin on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
18. The add/drop period runs from Tuesday, January 20, 2026, through Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
19. The last date for full-time undergraduate university withdrawal with a 90% refund is Monday, January 26, 2026.
20. Spring Accelerated Session I runs from Tuesday, January 20, 2026, through Friday, March 6, 2026, according to the Fairfield University Academic Calendar 2025-2026.
21. The last date for full-time undergraduate university withdrawal with a 90% refund is Monday, February 2, 2026.
22. Summer registration begins for all students on Thursday, February 5, 2026.
23. The last date for full-time undergraduate university withdrawal with a 60% refund is Monday, February 9, 2026.
24. The deadline for making up Fall incompletes is Friday, February 13, 2026.
25. Monday, February 16, 2026, is the last date for full-time undergraduate university withdrawal with a 40% refund. It is also the last day for Accelerated Session I course withdrawals, to declare credit/no-credit for Accelerated Session I, and the deadline for undergraduate major and minor changes for Fall registration. Presidents’ Day is also observed, and the university is closed.
26. All classes operate on a Monday schedule on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
27. The last date for full-time undergraduate university withdrawal with a 20% refund is Monday, February 23, 2026.
28. Undergraduate advising for Fall begins on Monday, March 2, 2026.
29. Fairfield Spring Break 2026 for all schools is from Sunday, March 8, 2026, through Saturday, March 14, 2026. Tully Dining closes at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 6. Residence halls close at 6:30 p.m., except for students with evening classes or clinicals. Residence halls reopen at noon on Sunday, March 15, and Tully Dining reopens at 4:00 p.m. Classes resume on Monday, March 16, 2026.
30. Spring Accelerated Session II runs from Monday, March 16, 2026, through Friday, May 8, 2026, according to the Fairfield University Academic Calendar 2025-2026.
31. The last day for Spring full-semester course withdrawals and to declare credit/no-credit for undergraduates is Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
32. Easter Break for all schools is from Thursday, April 2, 2026, through Monday, April 6, 2026.
33. Fall registration for graduate students begins on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. It is also the last day for Accelerated Session II course withdrawals and to declare credit/no-credit for Accelerated Session II.
34. All classes operate on a Monday schedule on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
35. Fall registration for seniors begins on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
36. Fall registration for juniors begins on Monday, April 13, 2026.
37. Fall registration for sophomores begins on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. This is also the deadline for all students to submit the FAFSA for 2026–2027.
38. Fall registration for continuing first-year students begins on Friday, April 17, 2026.
39. The last day for Spring financial aid processing for all students is Friday, April 24, 2026.
40. The last day of classes for undergraduate students is Wednesday, April 29, 2026, according to the Fairfield University Academic Calendar 2025-2026.
41. Undergraduate reading days are scheduled for Thursday, April 30; Friday, May 1; and Sunday, May 3, 2026.
42. Undergraduate final exams, excluding reading days, take place from Saturday, May 2, 2026, through Friday, May 8, 2026.
43. The last day of classes for graduate students is Friday, May 8, 2026. Graduate courses cross-listed with undergraduate courses follow the undergraduate final exam schedule. This is also the last date for full-time undergraduate university withdrawal with a 0% refund. Tully Dining Commons closes at 2:00 p.m.; apartment complexes, residence halls, and townhouses close at 6:30 p.m., except for students with evening exams.
44. The final exam make-up day is Monday, May 11, 2026.
45. All final grades are due to the Office of the Registrar by Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
46. Senior Week is scheduled from Monday, May 11, 2026, through Friday, May 15, 2026.
47. The 76th Commencement Graduate Exercises will take place on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
48. The 76th Commencement Undergraduate Exercises will take place on Sunday, May 17, 2026, according to the Fairfield University Academic Calendar 2025-2026.
49. Apartment complexes, residence halls, and townhouses close for seniors at noon on Monday, May 18, 2026.

Fairfield University Academic Calendar Summer 2026

1. The Full Summer Session runs from Tuesday, May 26, 2026, through Friday, August 14, 2026.
2. The Full Summer Session add/drop period runs from Tuesday, May 26, 2026, through Thursday, May 28, 2026.
3. The general Summer add/drop period runs from Tuesday, May 26, 2026, through Thursday, July 2, 2026.
4. Summer Session I runs from Tuesday, May 26, 2026, through Thursday, May 28, 2026.
5. The Summer Session I add/drop period runs from Tuesday, May 26, 2026, through Thursday, May 28, 2026.
6. Memorial Day is observed as a university holiday on Monday, May 25, 2026.
7. Juneteenth is observed as a university holiday on Friday, June 19, 2026.
8. First Year Orientation Sessions A and B are held on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, and Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
9. First Year Orientation Sessions C and D are held on Monday, June 22, 2026, and Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
10. Final grades for all Summer Session I courses are due on Monday, July 6, 2026.
11. Summer Session II runs from Monday, July 6, 2026, through Friday, August 14, 2026.
12. The Summer Session II add/drop period runs from Monday, July 6, 2026, through Wednesday, July 8, 2026.
13. Independence Day is observed as a university holiday on Friday, July 3, 2026.
14. The deadline to apply to graduate for August 2026 is Monday, July 20, 2026.
15. The last day for Summer financial aid to process is Monday, August 3, 2026.
16. Final grades for all Summer Session II and Full Summer courses are due on Monday, August 17, 2026.

Fairfield University Academic Calendar Fall 2026

1. The deadline for selected students on financial aid to submit verification documents to the Office of Financial Aid is Monday, August 3, 2026.
2. The deadline for undergraduate readmission applications for Fall 2026 is Friday, August 7, 2026.
3. The last date for Continuing Studies and graduate students to drop with a 100% refund is Monday, August 31, 2026.
4. International undergraduate student arrival day is Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
5. New international student orientation for graduate and undergraduate students is held on Thursday, September 3, 2026.
6. First Year move-in and welcome is held on Friday, September 4, 2026.
7. First Year Convocation at Mahoney Arena takes place on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
8. Sophomore move-in occurs on Sunday, September 6, 2026.
9. Labor Day 2026 is observed as a university holiday on Monday, September 7, 2026.
10. Fall Welcome continues on Monday, September 7, 2026, and juniors and seniors move in on the same day.
11. The last date for full-time undergraduates to withdraw from the university with a 100% refund is Monday, September 7, 2026 (part-time and graduate students must consult the Bursar’s website).
12. All Fall 2026 courses begin on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. It is the first day of classes.
13. The add/drop period runs from Tuesday, September 8, 2026, through Monday, September 14, 2026.
14. Fall Accelerated Session I runs from Tuesday, September 8, 2026, through Friday, October 30, 2026.
15. Undergraduate advising for Spring registration begins on Monday, October 5, 2026, which is also the deadline for undergraduate major and minor changes for Spring registration.
16. The last day for Accelerated Session I course withdrawals and the last day to declare credit/no credit for Accelerated Session I courses is Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
17. Fall Break is observed on Monday, October 12, 2026, and Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
18. The deadline for make-up of Spring and Summer incompletes is Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
19. Fall Accelerated Session II runs from Monday, October 26, 2026, through Friday, December 11, 2026.
20. Winter registration begins for all students on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
21. Spring registration begins for graduate students on Monday, November 2, 2026.
22. Spring registration begins for seniors on Thursday, November 5, 2026.
23. Spring registration begins for juniors on Monday, November 9, 2026.
24. Spring registration begins for sophomores on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, which is also the last day for Fall full-semester course withdrawals for all schools and the last day for undergraduates to declare credit/no credit courses.
25. Spring registration begins for first-year students on Thursday, November 12, 2026.
26. The last day for Accelerated Session II course withdrawals and the last day to declare credit/no credit for Accelerated Session II courses is Tuesday, November 17, 2026.
27. Thanksgiving recess is observed from Wednesday, November 25, 2026, through Sunday, November 29, 2026, and residence halls close at 6:30 p.m. except for students with evening classes or clinicals and reopen on Sunday at 12:00 p.m.
28. The deadline to apply to graduate for January and May 2025 is Wednesday, November 25, 2026, and Spring registration begins for non-matriculated students on the same day.
29. The last day of classes for undergraduate students is Friday, December 11, 2026, which is also the last day for financial aid to process for all students.
30. Undergraduate Reading Days are held on Saturday, December 12, 2026, and Sunday, December 13, 2026.
31. Undergraduate final exams are held from Monday, December 14, 2026, through Saturday, December 19, 2026.
32. The last day of classes for graduate students is Friday, December 18, 2026, and graduate courses cross-listed with undergraduate courses follow the undergraduate final exam schedule.
33. The deadline for undergraduate readmission applications for Spring is Friday, December 18, 2026, and residence halls close at 6:30 p.m. except for students with evening exams.
34. Final exam make-up day is Monday, December 21, 2026.
35. All final grades are due to the Office of the Registrar on Tuesday, December 22, 2026.

For more on the Fairfield University Academic Calendar 2026, visit the Fairfield University Calendar website.