Academic Calendar

JMU Academic Calendar 2026-2027: Important Dates & Deadlines

By eriq elikplim
JMU Academic Calendar.

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The JMU Academic Calendar 2026‑2027 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 2026

  1. Residence halls open for first-year students on assigned days from Friday, August 21, 2026, through Sunday, August 23, 2026.
  2. JMU Fall 2026 classes begin as scheduled on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
  3. Family Weekend takes place from Friday, October 2, 2026, through Sunday, October 4, 2026.
  4. JMU Fall Break 2026 occurs from Wednesday, October 7, 2026, through Friday, October 11, 2026. There are no classes, but university offices remain open.
  5. The last day to withdraw from the university with cancellation of tuition charges and refund is Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
  6. The last day to submit an application for a Master’s, Ed.S., or Doctoral degree (for May or August 2027 graduation) is Thursday, October 15, 2026.
  7. First Block courses end on Friday, October 16, 2026.
  8. Homecoming takes place from Friday, October 16, 2026, through Sunday, October 18, 2026.
  9. Second Block courses begin on Monday, October 19, 2026.
  10. Mid-semester grades for First Block courses are due in the Office of the Registrar on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
  11. First Block course final grades are also due in the Office of the Registrar on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
  12. Registration for the Spring 2027 semester (including Winter Session 2027) begins for some student populations on Friday, November 6, 2026.
  13. Registration for the Spring 2027 semester begins on Monday, November 9, 2026.
  14. Comprehensive assessment results and scholarly documents for December 2026 graduation candidates are due to the Graduate School on Friday, November 20, 2026.
  15. Thanksgiving holiday begins on Saturday, November 21, 2026. Classes resume on Monday, November 30, 2026.
  16. The last day of classes is Friday, December 11, 2026.
  17. Final examinations run from Saturday, December 12, 2026, through Friday, December 18, 2026.
  18. The deadline for completion of course work for December graduates is Friday, December 18, 2026.
  19. The December Commencement Ceremony is held on Saturday, December 19, 2026.
  20. Regular Semester and Second Block course grades are due in the Office of the Registrar by 3:00 p.m. on Monday, December 21, 2026.

JMU Academic Calendar Winter 2027

  1. Winter Session 1 (one-week), Winter Session 2 (two-week), and Winter Session 4 (three-week) classes meet as scheduled on Monday, January 4, 2027.
  2. Winter Session 1 final examinations take place on Friday, January 8, 2027.
  3. Winter Session 3 (one-week) classes meet as scheduled on Monday, January 11, 2027.
  4. Winter Session 1 grades are due on Tuesday, January 12, 2027.
  5. Winter Session 2 and Winter Session 3 final examinations take place on Friday, January 15, 2027.
  6. Winter Session 2 and Winter Session 3 grades are due on Tuesday, January 19, 2027.

JMU Academic Calendar Spring 2027

  1. Residence halls and Dining Services open on Sunday, January 17, 2027.
  2. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday is Monday, January 18, 2027. There are no classes, and university offices are closed.
  3. JMU Spring 2027 classes begin as scheduled on Tuesday, January 19, 2027.
  4. The last day to withdraw from the university with cancellation of tuition charges and refund is Tuesday, February 9, 2027.
  5. Student Assessment and Faculty Assistance occurs on Tuesday, February 9, 2027. No classes are held from 8:00 a.m. to 3:55 p.m., while evening classes (3:55 p.m. or later) meet as scheduled.
  6. First Block courses end on Tuesday, March 9, 2027.
  7. Second Block courses begin on Thursday, March 11, 2027.
  8. Mid-semester grades are due in the Office of the Registrar on Friday, March 12, 2027.
  9. JMU Spring Break 2027 runs from Monday, March 15, 2027, through Friday, March 19, 2027. No classes are held. Classes resume on Monday, March 22, 2027.
  10. First Block course grades are due in the Office of the Registrar on Tuesday, March 23, 2027.
  11. Advance registration for the Summer 2027 session begins on Monday, March 29, 2027.
  12. Registration for the Fall 2027 semester begins for some student populations on Friday, April 9, 2027.
  13. Registration for the Fall 2027 semester begins on Monday, April 12, 2027.
  14. The last day to submit an application for a Master’s, Ed.S., or Doctoral degree (for December 2027 graduation) is Wednesday, April 14, 2027.
  15. Comprehensive assessment results and scholarly documents for May 2027 graduation candidates are due to the Graduate School on Wednesday, April 14, 2027.
  16. The last day of classes is Wednesday, May 5, 2027.
  17. Final examinations run from Thursday, May 6, 2027, through Wednesday, May 12, 2027.
  18. The deadline for completion of course work for May graduates is Wednesday, May 12, 2027.
  19. Commencement ceremonies take place from Thursday, May 13, 2027, through Saturday, May 15, 2027.
  20. Regular Semester and Second Block course grades are due in the Office of the Registrar by 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18, 2027.

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 2026-2027, visit the James Madison University 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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