Kean Academic Calendar 2026-2027: Important Dates

The Kean academic calendar 2026-2027 serves as the primary operational blueprint for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students across Kean University’s Union campus, Kean Ocean, and online programs.

Whether you are an incoming freshman setting up your schedule on Keanwise or a graduating senior tracking final degree audit clearance, checking the official Kean academic calendar 2026 and 2027 schedule ensures you hit essential registration appointment windows, add/drop refund cutoffs, and university holiday breaks without penalty.

Kean University operates on a traditional semester-based academic structure consisting of Fall and Spring terms, alongside an intensive 3-week Winter intersession and multi-session Summer terms. Primary semesters feature 15 weeks of active instruction, followed by a dedicated final examination week.

To maintain full-time undergraduate status for state and federal financial aid, institutional scholarships, and campus housing, students carry between 12 and 18 credit hours per semester, with 15 credits per term serving as the benchmark to complete a bachelor’s degree in four years. Kean also offers flexible 7-week first-half and second-half term courses for accelerated learning.

Key scheduling milestones mark the cadence for the entire school year. The Fall semester kicks off on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 (following Kean Fall 2026 registration windows that open on Keanwise in mid-spring).

The Fall term includes breaks for Labor Day, Thanksgiving Recess (November 26–29), and final exams in mid-December.

Following the Winter session (December 28, 2026 – January 15, 2027), students wondering when does kean spring semester starts will find classes officially launching on Tuesday, January 19, 2027 (following Martin Luther King Jr. Day) on the Kean academic calendar spring 2027.

Students planning year-round study can also take advantage of Kean summer courses 2027, which deliver multiple 4-week and 6-week sessions starting in late May.

Use the detailed sections below to navigate complete add/drop refund cutoffs via Keanwise, pass/fail option election cutoffs, official holiday campus closures, and final examination timetables for the full academic year.

Kean Academic Calendar Fall 2026

1. The deadline to submit required immunization records for students admitted for the Fall semester is Saturday, August 1, 2026.
2. Kean Fall 2026 classes start on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. It is the first day of classes.
3. Full-term, first-half term, and first-half online courses begin on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
4. The final deadline to submit an application for January (Fall) graduation for undergraduate and graduate students is Friday, September 4, 2026.
5. The last day to add first-half online courses is Friday, September 4, 2026.
6. The Labor Day holiday is observed on Monday, September 7, 2026, and the university is closed.
7. The last day to add full-term and first-half term courses is Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
8. The last day to drop full-term, first-half term, and first-half online courses with a 100% refund and no mark on the academic record is Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
9. A mark of “W” begins for withdrawals from full-term, first-half term, and first-half online courses on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
10. The last day to withdraw from full-term, first-half term, and first-half online courses with a 75% refund is Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
11. The last day to declare first-half term and first-half online courses as an audit is Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
12. The last day to declare or change the undergraduate Pass/Fail option for first-half term and first-half online courses is Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
13. The last day to declare full-term courses as an audit is Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
14. The last day to declare or change the undergraduate Pass/Fail option for full-term courses is Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
15. The last day to withdraw from full-term, first-half term, and first-half online courses with a 50% refund is Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
16. The last day to submit required immunization records before a hold or restriction is placed on a student account for students admitted for the Fall semester is Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
17. The last day to withdraw from first-half term and first-half online courses with a W grade and no refund is Friday, October 9, 2026.
18. Columbus Day is observed as a state holiday on Monday, October 12, 2026, and classes are held.
19. The last day to file for Fall graduate comprehensive examinations is Friday, October 16, 2026.
20. First-half term exam week takes place from Tuesday, October 20, 2026, through Monday, October 26, 2026.
21. The last day for students to initiate a change of grade for courses taken during the preceding Spring semester or Summer session is Friday, October 23, 2026.
22. First-half term and first-half online courses end on Monday, October 26, 2026.
23. Registration for Winter and Spring begins on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
24. Second-half term and second-half online courses begin on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
25. Grades for first-half term and first-half online courses are due on Friday, October 30, 2026.
26. The last day to add second-half online courses is Friday, October 30, 2026.
27. Election Day is observed on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and the university is closed. Online courses do not observe holidays or breaks, and online students should refer to their course outlines for details.
28. The last day to add second-half term courses is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
29. The last day to drop second-half term and second-half online courses with a 100% refund and no mark on the academic record is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
30. A mark of “W” begins for withdrawals from second-half term and second-half online courses on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
31. The last day to make up incomplete grades from the preceding Summer semester is Friday, November 6, 2026. Graduating students should follow the graduation instructions.
32. Graduate comprehensive examinations take place on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
33. The last day to withdraw from second-half term and second-half online courses with a 75% refund is Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
34. The last day to declare second-half term and second-half online courses as an audit is Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
35. The last day to declare or change the undergraduate Pass/Fail option for second-half term and second-half online courses is Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
36. Veterans Day is observed as a state holiday on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, and classes are held.
37. The last day to withdraw from full-term courses with a W grade and no refund is Monday, November 16, 2026.
38. The last day to withdraw from second-half-term and second-half online courses with a 50% refund is Tuesday, November 17, 2026.
39. Kean Thanksgiving Break 2026 takes place from Thursday, November 26, 2026, through Sunday, November 29, 2026, and the university is closed. Online courses do not observe holidays or breaks, and online students should refer to their course outlines for details.
40. The last day to withdraw from second-half term and second-half online courses with a W grade and no refund is Friday, December 4, 2026.
41. Full-term and second-half term classes follow a Tuesday schedule on Wednesday, December 9, 2026. No Wednesday full-term or second-half term classes meet.
42. Full-term and second-half term exam week takes place from Tuesday, December 15, 2026, through Monday, December 21, 2026.
43. Full-term, second-half term, and second-half online courses end on Monday, December 21, 2026.
44. Grades for full-term, second-half term, and second-half online courses are due on Monday, December 28, 2026.

Kean Academic Calendar Winter 2027

1. The Winter 2027 term begins on Monday, December 28, 2026.
2. Full-term and Kean Online Winter courses begin on Monday, December 28, 2026.
3. The last day to add full-term and Kean Online Winter courses is Monday, December 28, 2026.
4. The last day to drop full-term and Kean Online Winter courses with a 100% refund is Tuesday, December 29, 2026. No refunds are issued after this date.
5. A mark of “W” begins for withdrawals from full-term and Kean Online Winter courses on Wednesday, December 30, 2026.
6. New Year’s Day is observed as a state holiday on Friday, January 1, 2027. The university is closed, and classes are not in session. Online courses do not observe holidays or breaks, and online students should review their course outlines for details.
7. The last day to withdraw from full-term and Kean Online Winter courses with a W grade and no refund is Friday, January 8, 2027.
8. Full-term Winter courses end on Friday, January 15, 2027.
9. Kean Online Winter courses end on Sunday, January 17, 2027.
10. Grades for full-term and Kean Online Winter courses are due on Friday, January 22, 2027.

Kean Academic Calendar Spring 2027

1. The deadline to submit required immunization records for students admitted for the Spring semester is Friday, January 1, 2027.
2. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on Monday, January 18, 2027, and the university is closed.
3. The Spring 2027 term classes begin on Tuesday, January 19, 2027.
4. Full-term, first-half term, and first-half Kean Online courses begin on Tuesday, January 19, 2027.
5. The last day to add first-half Kean Online courses is Friday, January 22, 2027.
6. The last day to add full-term and first-half term courses is Tuesday, January 26, 2027.
7. The last day to drop full-term, first-half term, and first-half Kean Online courses with a 100% refund and no mark on the academic record is Tuesday, January 26, 2027.
8. A mark of “W” begins for withdrawals from full-term, first-half term, and first-half Kean Online courses on Wednesday, January 27, 2027.
9. The last day to withdraw from full-term, first-half term, and first-half Kean Online courses with a 75% refund is Tuesday, February 2, 2027.
10. The last day to declare first-half term and first-half Kean Online courses as an audit is Tuesday, February 2, 2027.
11. The last day to declare or change the undergraduate Pass/Fail option for first-half term and first-half Kean Online courses is Tuesday, February 2, 2027.
12. The final deadline to submit an application for May graduation for undergraduate and graduate students is Friday, February 5, 2027.
13. The last day to declare full-term courses as an audit is Tuesday, February 9, 2027.
14. The last day to declare or change the undergraduate Pass/Fail option for full-term courses is Tuesday, February 9, 2027.
15. The last day to withdraw from full-term, first-half term, and first-half Kean Online courses with a 50% refund is Tuesday, February 9, 2027.
16. The last day to file for Spring graduate comprehensive examinations is Friday, February 12, 2027.
17. Presidents’ Day is observed on Monday, February 15, 2027, and the university is closed. Online courses do not observe holidays or breaks, and online students should review their course outlines for details.
18. The last day to withdraw from first-half term and first-half Kean Online courses with a W grade and no refund is Friday, February 26, 2027.
19. The last day to submit required immunization records before a hold or restriction is placed on a student account for students admitted during the Spring semester is Tuesday, March 2, 2027.
20. The last day to make up incomplete grades from the preceding Fall semester is Friday, March 5, 2027. Graduating seniors should follow the graduation instructions.
21. The final deadline to submit an application for August graduation for undergraduate and graduate students is Friday, March 5, 2027.
22. Graduate comprehensive examinations take place on Saturday, March 6, 2027.
23. First-half term exam week takes place from Monday, March 8, 2027, through Sunday, March 14, 2027.
24. The last day for students to initiate a change of grade for courses taken during the preceding Fall semester is Friday, March 12, 2027. Graduating seniors should follow the graduation instructions.
25. First-half term and first-half Kean Online courses end on Sunday, March 14, 2027.
26. Kean Spring Break 2027 takes place from Monday, March 15, 2027, through Sunday, March 21, 2027.
27. Grades for first-half term and first-half Kean Online courses are due on Thursday, March 18, 2027.
28. Second-half term and second-half Kean Online courses begin on Monday, March 22, 2027.
29. The last day to add second-half Kean Online courses is Thursday, March 25, 2027.
30. The last day to make up incomplete grades from the preceding Winter semester is Friday, March 26, 2027. Graduating seniors should follow the graduation instructions.
31. Good Friday and the Holiday Weekend take place from Friday, March 26, 2027, through Sunday, March 28, 2027, and the university is closed. Online courses do not observe holidays or breaks, and online students should review their course outlines for details.
32. The last day to add second-half term courses is Monday, March 29, 2027.
33. The last day to drop second-half term and second-half Kean Online courses with a 100% refund and no mark on the academic record is Monday, March 29, 2027.
34. Summer and Fall registration begins on Tuesday, March 30, 2027.
35. A mark of “W” begins for withdrawals from second-half term and second-half Kean Online courses on Tuesday, March 30, 2027.
36. The last day to withdraw from full-term courses with a W grade and no refund is Monday, April 5, 2027.
37. The last day to withdraw from second-half term and second-half Kean Online courses with a 75% refund is Monday, April 5, 2027.
38. The last day to declare second-half term and second-half Kean Online courses as an audit is Monday, April 5, 2027.
39. The last day to declare or change the undergraduate Pass/Fail option for second-half term and second-half Kean Online courses is Monday, April 5, 2027.
40. The last day to withdraw from second-half term and second-half Kean Online courses with a 50% refund is Monday, April 12, 2027.
41. Research Days take place from Monday, April 26, 2027, through Wednesday, April 28, 2027.
42. The last day to withdraw from second-half term and second-half Kean Online courses with a W grade and no refund is Thursday, April 29, 2027.
43. Full-term and second-half term classes follow a Friday schedule on Tuesday, May 4, 2027. No Tuesday full-term or second-half term classes meet.
44. Full-term and second-half term exam week takes place from Friday, May 7, 2027, through Thursday, May 13, 2027.
45. Full-term and second-half term courses end on Thursday, May 13, 2027.
46. Second-half Kean Online courses end on Sunday, May 16, 2027.
47. Grades for full-term and second-half term courses are due on Wednesday, May 19, 2027.
48. Grades for second-half Kean Online courses are due on Thursday, May 20, 2027.

For more on the Kean Academic Calendar 2026-2027, visit the Kean University registrar website.