JMU Academic Calendar 2025-2026: Important Dates & Deadlines

The JMU Academic Calendar 2025‑2026 schedule contains important information on application deadlines, tuition payment due dates, course add/drop periods, university holidays, and final exam schedules for the upcoming academic year.

Consulting the James Madison University academic calendar helps students and faculty stay ahead of JMU registration deadlines, plan around JMU exam schedules, and never miss key milestones such as add/drop cutoffs or commencement ceremonies.

James Madison University operates on a comprehensive semester system, featuring two primary semesters: Fall (typically late August to mid‑December) and Spring (late January to early May).

Each of these main semesters provides approximately 15 weeks of instruction, culminating in dedicated examination periods.

Additionally, JMU offers a concise Winter Session (an optional, intensive period in early January) and a flexible Summer Session, which includes various shorter parts‑of‑term for accelerated study.

JMU Academic Calendar Fall 2025

1. JMU Residence halls are open for first-year students from Friday, August 15, to Sunday, August 17, 2025 (JMU move-in days).
2. JMU Fall 2025 classes start on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. It is the first day of classes.
3. The last day to withdraw with tuition cancellation/refund is Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
4. Family Weekend runs from Friday, September 26, to Sunday, September 28, 2025.
5. First Block courses end on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.
6. Second Block courses begin on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.
7. Graduate application deadline for May/August 2026 degrees is Thursday, October 9, 2025.
8. Mid-semester grades and First Block final grades are due on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
9. Homecoming occurs from Friday, October 17, to Sunday, October 19, 2025, according to the JMU Academic Calendar schedule for Fall 2025.
10. JMU Fall Break 2025 (no classes) runs from Wednesday, October 22, to Sunday, October 26, 2025 (offices open).
11. Graduate documents are due for December 2025 candidates on Friday, November 14, 2025.
12. JMU Thanksgiving break 2025 holiday begins on Saturday, November 22, 2025. Classes resume on Monday, December 1, 2025.
13. The last day of classes is Friday, December 5, 2025.
14. Final examinations run from Saturday, December 6, to Friday, December 12, 2025.
15. The coursework deadline for December graduates is Friday, December 12, 2025.
16. December Commencement on Saturday, December 13, 2025.
17. Final grades due for regular and Second Block courses by 3:00 p.m. on Monday, December 15, 2025.

JMU Academic Calendar Winter 2026

1. Winter Session 1 (1-week) and Session 2 (2-week) classes begin on Monday, January 5, 2026.
2. Winter Session 1 final exams on Friday, January 9, 2026.
3. Winter Session 3 (1-week) classes begin on Monday, January 12, 2026.
4. Winter Session 1 grades are due on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
5. Winter Sessions 2 and 3 final exams on Friday, January 16, 2026.
6. Winter Sessions 2 and 3 grades are due on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

JMU Academic Calendar Spring 2026

1. Spring 2026 registration opens for select groups on Friday, October 31, 2025.
2. General Spring 2026 registration begins on Monday, November 3, 2025.
3. Residence halls and dining services open on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
4. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (no classes, offices closed) on Monday, January 19, 2026.
5. JMU Spring 2026 classes begin on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
6. The last day to withdraw with tuition cancellation/refund is Tuesday, February 10, 2026 (no daytime classes; evening classes meet).
7. First Block courses end on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
8. Second Block courses begin on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
9. Mid-semester grades are due on Friday, March 13, 2026.
10. JMU Spring Break 2026 (no classes) runs from Monday, March 16, to Friday, March 20, 2026. Classes resume on Monday, March 23, 2026.
11. First Block course grades are due on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
12. Summer 2026 advance registration begins on Monday, March 30, 2026.
13. Fall 2026 registration opens for select groups on Friday, April 10, 2026.
14. General Fall 2026 registration begins on Monday, April 13, 2026.
15. Graduate application deadline for December 2026 degrees is Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
16. Graduate documents are due for May 2026 candidates on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
17. The last day of classes is Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
18. Final examinations run from Thursday, May 7, to Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
19. The coursework deadline for May graduates is Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
20. Commencement ceremonies from Thursday, May 14 to Saturday, May 16, 2026.
21. Final grades due for regular and Second Block courses by 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

JMU Academic Calendar Summer Session 2026

1. 1-week session begins on Monday, May 18, 2026.
2. 1-week session final exams on Friday, May 22, 2026.
3. Memorial Day (no classes) on Monday, May 25, 2026.
4. Multi-session terms begin (12/10/8/6/4/2-week) on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
5. 2-week(one) final exams on Friday, June 5, 2026.
6. 2-week(two) session begins on Monday, June 8, 2026.
7. 4-week(one) and 2-week(two) final exams on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
8. Juneteenth (no classes) on Friday, June 19, 2026.
9. 8-week(two) and 4-week(two) sessions begin on Monday, June 22, 2026.
10. 6-week(one) final exams on Thursday, July 2, 2026.
11. Independence Day is observed (no classes) on Friday, July 3, 2026.
12. 6-week(two) session begins on Monday, July 6, 2026.
13. Graduate documents are due for August 2026 candidates on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
14. 8-week(one) and 4-week(two) final exams on Friday, July 17, 2026.
15. 10-week session final exams on Friday, July 31, 2026.
16. 6-week(two)/8-week(two)/12-week final exams on Friday, August 14, 2026.
17. Coursework deadline for summer graduates is Friday, August 14, 2026.
18. CLN session begins on Monday, August 17, 2026.
19. CLN session ends/final exams on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.

For more on the JMU Academic Calendar 2025-2026, visit the James Madison University registrar website.