GWU Academic Calendar 2025‑2026: Important Dates

The GWU Academic Calendar 2025‑2026 is your go‑to roadmap for every critical deadline from application and enrollment windows, tuition payment due dates, and course add/drop periods, to university holidays and final exam schedules.

The George Washington University academic calendar helps Colonials to stay ahead of GWU term dates, plan around the GWU exam schedule, track priority registration deadlines, and never miss the last day to withdraw without a “W,” ensuring smooth academic and financial planning at GWU.

George Washington University follows a traditional semester system complemented by flexible summer sessions:

• Fall Semester and Spring Semester: each spans roughly 15 weeks (14 instructional weeks + 1 week of finals), perfect for a full‑term course load, mid‑term assessments, and dedicated exam preparation.
• Summer Sessions: offered in multiple formats: Session I (6 weeks), University Summer (12 weeks), and Session II (6 weeks). Each with its own registration, add/drop deadlines, and grading option cut‑offs, giving you the flexibility to accelerate your degree or make up credits.

Whether you’re mapping out a semester‑long schedule, squeezing in a 6‑week Summer Session module, or budgeting for GWU summer fees, the GWU Academic Calendar 2025‑2026 keeps every date and deadline at your fingertips so you can focus on thriving in Washington, D.C.

GWU Academic Calendar Fall 2025

1. Fall semester classes begin on Monday, August 25, 2025.
2. Labor Day is observed with no classes on Monday, September 1, 2025.
3. GWU Fall Break occurs with no classes on Thursday, October 9, 2025, and Friday, October 10, 2025.
4. GWU Thanksgiving Break 2025 runs with no classes from Monday, November 24, 2025, to Saturday, November 29, 2025.
5. The last day of classes is Monday, December 8, 2025.
6. Designated Thursday occurs on Tuesday, December 9, 2025.
7. Designated Friday occurs on Wednesday, December 10, 2025.
8. A Make-up/Reading Day is held on Thursday, December 11, 2025.
9. Final examinations take place from Friday, December 12, 2025, to Thursday, December 18, 2025.
10. Fall degrees are conferred on Friday, January 9, 2026.

GWU Academic Calendar Spring 2026

1. Spring semester classes begin on Monday, January 12, 2026.
2. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed with no classes on Monday, January 19, 2026.
3. Presidents’ Day is observed with no classes on Monday, February 16, 2026.
4. GWU Spring Break 2026 runs with no classes from Monday, March 9, 2026, to Saturday, March 14, 2026.
5. The last day of classes is Monday, April 27, 2026.
6. A Make-up Day is held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
7. Designated Monday occurs on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
8. Reading Days are scheduled for Thursday, April 30, 2026, and Friday, May 1, 2026.
9. Final examinations take place from Saturday, May 2, 2026, to Friday, May 8, 2026.
10. Commencement Weekend runs from Thursday, May 14, 2026, to Sunday, May 17, 2026.
11. Spring degrees are conferred on Sunday, May 17, 2026.

GWU Academic Calendar Summer 2026

1. Session I begins for 6-week, 8-week, 10-week, and full-term courses on Monday, May 18, 2026.
2. Memorial Day is observed with no classes on Monday, May 25, 2026.
3. Juneteenth is observed with no classes on Friday, June 19, 2026.
4. The 6-week Session I ends on Saturday, June 27, 2026.
5. Session II begins for 6-week courses on Monday, June 29, 2026.
6. Independence Day is observed with no classes on Friday, July 3, 2026.
7. The 8-week Session I ends on Saturday, July 11, 2026.
8. The 10-week Session I ends on Saturday, July 25, 2026.
9. The 6-week Session II ends on Saturday, August 8, 2026.
10. The full-term Session I ends on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
11. Summer degrees are conferred on Monday, August 31, 2026.
12. Law degrees are conferred on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.

For more on the GWU Academic Calendar 2025-2026, visit the George Washington University Calendar website.