Mines Academic Calendar 2026-2027: Important Dates

The Mines academic calendar 2026-2027 serves as the definitive master schedule for undergraduate students, graduate researchers, faculty, and administrative staff at Colorado School of Mines.

Situated in Golden, Colorado, Mines operates under a structured timeline designed to guide students through rigorous engineering, applied science, and energy curricula.

This official calendar details every critical operational milestone throughout the academic year—including class start and end dates, priority registration time tickets, tuition payment deadlines, census dates, official university breaks, final exam schedules, and commencement ceremonies.

Whether you are an incoming freshman preparing for your first semester in Oredigger territory or a continuing student mapping out your path to graduation, keeping track of these key dates is essential for maintaining academic standing and avoiding registration holds.

Operating on a traditional semester system, the Colorado School of Mines academic calendar 2026 2027 structures the academic year into two primary 16-week terms—Fall and Spring—alongside specialized Summer sessions and intensive Field Sessions.

Each standard semester comprises 15 full weeks of active instruction followed by one designated week of final examinations.

Because of the demanding nature of Mines’ STEM degree programs (which typically require 130+ cumulative credit hours for graduation), undergraduate students must register for a minimum of 12 credit hours per term to maintain full-time enrollment for financial aid and housing, while average course loads range between 15 and 18 units per semester.

Graduate students are generally classified as full-time at 9 credit hours per term (or 4 credit hours for thesis/dissertation research credits).

Staying ahead of key registration windows on the Mines academic calendar 2026 helps prevent disruptions to your course sequence. Registration for upcoming terms takes place through the Trailhead self-service portal, with priority time tickets assigned according to earned credit hours.

Students tracking the Mines Fall 2026 schedule must pay close attention to the official Census Date—typically occurring near the end of the second week of instruction.

The Census Date is a critical deadline: it is the last day to add or drop standard courses without receiving a “W” grade on your permanent transcript, as well as the final lock-in date for Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF) eligibility and financial aid credit adjustments.

Subsequent course withdrawals after the Census Date result in a transcript “W” and carry financial implications.

Mines Academic Calendar Fall 2026

1. Convocation is scheduled from Saturday, August 15, 2026, through Sunday, August 16, 2026.
2. The M Climb and Campus Conference is scheduled for Friday, August 21, 2026.
3. Classes for the Fall 2026 16-Week Session and the 1st 8-Week Session begin on Monday, August 24, 2026.
4. Classes for the 2nd 8-Week Session begin on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
5. The last day to add courses for the 16-Week Session is Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
6. The last day to add courses for the 1st 8-Week Session is Friday, August 28, 2026.
7. The last day to add courses for the 2nd 8-Week Session is Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
8. The last day to drop courses with a 100% refund for the 16-Week Session is Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
9. The last day to drop courses with a 100% refund for the 1st 8-Week Session is Friday, August 28, 2026.
10. The last day to drop courses with a 100% refund for the 2nd 8-Week Session is Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
11. The university is closed in observance of Labor Day on Monday, September 7, 2026.
12. Census Day is Wednesday, September 9, 2026, for the 16-Week Session, 1st 8-Week Session, and 2nd 8-Week Session.
13. The term bill due date is Thursday, September 10, 2026, for the 16-Week Session, 1st 8-Week Session, and 2nd 8-Week Session.
14. Career Day is scheduled from Tuesday, September 15, 2026, through Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
15. Homecoming is scheduled from Friday, October 2, 2026, through Saturday, October 3, 2026.
16. Fall Break is scheduled from Monday, October 12, 2026, through Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The campus remains open, but there are no classes.
17. Midterm grades for the 16-Week Session are due on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
18. Family & Friends Weekend is scheduled from Friday, October 23, 2026, through Sunday, October 25, 2026.
19. The last day to withdraw from courses for the 1st 8-Week Session is Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
20. The last day to withdraw from courses for the 16-Week Session is Friday, November 13, 2026.
21. The last day to withdraw from courses for the 2nd 8-Week Session is Tuesday, November 24, 2026.
22. Registration for the Spring 2027 term begins from Monday, November 16, 2026, through Friday, November 20, 2026, for the 16-Week Session, 1st 8-Week Session, and 2nd 8-Week Session.
23. The Thanksgiving Holiday with no class days is observed on Wednesday, November 25, 2026.
24. The university is closed for the Thanksgiving Holiday from Thursday, November 26, 2026, through Friday, November 27, 2026.
25. Course evaluations for the 1st 8-Week Session are scheduled from Monday, October 12, 2026, through Sunday, October 18, 2026.
26. Course evaluations for the 16-Week Session are scheduled from Friday, November 27, 2026, through Thursday, December 10, 2026.
27. Course evaluations for the 2nd 8-Week Session are scheduled from Tuesday, December 1, 2026, through Monday, December 7, 2026.
28. The last week of classes for the 16-Week Session is scheduled from Monday, December 7, 2026, through Wednesday, December 9, 2026.
29. Classes for the 16-Week Session end on Wednesday, December 9, 2026.
30. Classes for the 1st 8-Week Session end on Monday, October 19, 2026.
31. Classes for the 2nd 8-Week Session end on Wednesday, December 9, 2026.
32. Review Day with no class days is scheduled for Thursday, December 10, 2026.
33. Final examinations for the 16-Week Session are scheduled from Friday, December 11, 2026, through Saturday, December 12, 2026, and from Monday, December 14, 2026, through Wednesday, December 16, 2026.
34. Commencement is scheduled for Friday, December 18, 2026, for the 16-Week Session, 1st 8-Week Session, and 2nd 8-Week Session.
35. The semester ends on Friday, December 18, 2026, for the 16-Week Session, 1st 8-Week Session, and 2nd 8-Week Session.
36. Final grades for the 16-Week Session and 2nd 8-Week Session are due on Monday, December 21, 2026.
37. Final grades for the 1st 8-Week Session are due on Friday, October 23, 2026.
38. Final grades become available on transcripts on Thursday, January 7, 2027, for the 16-Week Session, 1st 8-Week Session, and 2nd 8-Week Session.
39. The campus is closed from Friday, December 25, 2026, through Friday, January 1, 2027.
40. Winter Break is scheduled from Monday, December 21, 2026, through Sunday, January 10, 2027, for the 16-Week Session, 1st 8-Week Session, and 2nd 8-Week Session.

Mines Academic Calendar Spring 2027

1. Classes for the Spring 2027 16-Week Session and the 1st 8-Week Session begin on Monday, January 11, 2027.
2. Classes for the 2nd 8-Week Session begin on Wednesday, March 10, 2027.
3. The university is closed in observance of Martin Luther King Day on Monday, January 18, 2027.
4. The last day to add courses for the 16-Week Session is Wednesday, January 20, 2027.
5. The last day to add courses for the 1st 8-Week Session is Friday, January 15, 2027.
6. The last day to add courses for the 2nd 8-Week Session is Tuesday, March 16, 2027.
7. The last day to drop courses with a 100% refund for the 16-Week Session is Wednesday, January 20, 2027.
8. The last day to drop courses with a 100% refund for the 1st 8-Week Session is Friday, January 15, 2027.
9. The last day to drop courses with a 100% refund for the 2nd 8-Week Session is Tuesday, March 16, 2027.
10. Census Day is Wednesday, January 27, 2027, for the 16-Week Session, 1st 8-Week Session, and 2nd 8-Week Session.
11. The term bill due date is Thursday, January 28, 2027, for the 16-Week Session, 1st 8-Week Session, and 2nd 8-Week Session.
12. Career Day with no assessment days is scheduled from Tuesday, February 2, 2027, through Wednesday, February 3, 2027.
13. President’s Day Break with no class days is scheduled from Monday, February 15, 2027, through Tuesday, February 16, 2027.
14. The last day to withdraw from courses for the 1st 8-Week Session is Thursday, February 18, 2027.
15. Course evaluations for the 1st 8-Week Session are scheduled from Monday, March 1, 2027, through Sunday, March 7, 2027.
16. Midterm grades for the 16-Week Session are due on Wednesday, March 17, 2027.
17. Mines Spring Break 2027 is scheduled from Monday, March 22, 2027, through Friday, March 26, 2027.
18. The last day to withdraw from courses for the 16-Week Session is Friday, April 2, 2027.
19. The last day to withdraw from courses for the 2nd 8-Week Session is Thursday, April 15, 2027.
20. Registration for Summer and Fall 2027 begins on Monday, April 5, 2027, through Friday, April 9, 2027, for the 16-Week Session, 1st 8-Week Session, and 2nd 8-Week Session.
21. E-Days with no assessments after 5:00 P.M. are scheduled for Thursday, April 15, 2027.
22. E-Days with no class days are scheduled from Friday, April 16, 2027, through Sunday, April 18, 2027.
23. The E-Day with no assessments is scheduled for Monday, April 19, 2027.
24. Course evaluations for the 16-Week Session are scheduled from Friday, April 23, 2027, through Thursday, May 6, 2027.
25. Course evaluations for the 2nd 8-Week Session are scheduled from Wednesday, April 28, 2027, through Tuesday, May 4, 2027.
26. The last week of classes for the 16-Week Session is scheduled from Monday, May 3, 2027, through Wednesday, May 5, 2027.
27. Classes for the 16-Week Session end on Wednesday, May 5, 2027.
28. Classes for the 1st 8-Week Session end on Monday, March 8, 2027.
29. Classes for the 2nd 8-Week Session end on Wednesday, May 5, 2027.
30. Review Day with no class days is scheduled for Thursday, May 6, 2027.
31. Final examinations for the 16-Week Session are scheduled from Friday, May 7, 2027, through Saturday, May 8, 2027, and from Monday, May 10, 2027, through Wednesday, May 12, 2027.
32. Commencement is scheduled from Thursday, May 13, 2027, through Friday, May 14, 2027, for the 16-Week Session, 1st 8-Week Session, and 2nd 8-Week Session.
33. The semester ends on Friday, May 14, 2027, for the 16-Week Session, 1st 8-Week Session, and 2nd 8-Week Session.
34. Final grades for the 16-Week Session and 2nd 8-Week Session are due on Monday, May 17, 2027.
35. Final grades for the 1st 8-Week Session are due on Friday, March 12, 2027.
36. Final grades become available on transcripts on Thursday, May 27, 2027, for the 16-Week Session, 1st 8-Week Session, and 2nd 8-Week Session.

Mines Academic Calendar Summer 2027

1. The first term bill is issued on Tuesday, May 11, 2027, for the 14-Week Session, 1st 6-Week Session, 2nd 6-Week Session, and 8-Week Session.
2. Classes for the 14-Week Session and 1st 6-Week Session begin on Monday, May 17, 2027.
3. Classes for the 2nd 6-Week Session and 8-Week Session begin on Monday, June 28, 2027.
4. Census Day is Friday, May 21, 2027, for the 14-Week Session, 1st 6-Week Session, 2nd 6-Week Session, and 8-Week Session.
5. The term bill due date is Saturday, May 22, 2027, for the 14-Week Session, 1st 6-Week Session, 2nd 6-Week Session, and 8-Week Session.
6. The last day to add or drop courses with a 100% refund for the 14-Week Session and 1st 6-Week Session is Friday, May 21, 2027.
7. The last day to add or drop courses with a 100% refund for the 2nd 6-Week Session and 8-Week Session is Friday, July 2, 2027.
8. The university is closed in observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 31, 2027.
9. The university observes Juneteenth on Friday, June 18, 2027.
10. The university is closed in observance of Independence Day on Monday, July 5, 2027.
11. The last day to withdraw from courses for the 1st 6-Week Session is Friday, June 11, 2027.
12. The last day to withdraw from courses for the 14-Week Session and 8-Week Session is Friday, August 6, 2027.
13. The last day to withdraw from courses for the 2nd 6-Week Session is Friday, July 23, 2027.
14. Course evaluations for the 1st 6-Week Session are scheduled from Friday, June 18, 2027, through Thursday, June 24, 2027.
15. Course evaluations for the 2nd 6-Week Session are scheduled from Friday, July 30, 2027, through Thursday, August 5, 2027.
16. Course evaluations for the 14-Week Session are scheduled from Friday, August 6, 2027, through Thursday, August 19, 2027.
17. Course evaluations for the 8-Week Session are scheduled from Friday, August 13, 2027, through Thursday, August 19, 2027.
18. Classes for the 1st 6-Week Session end on Friday, June 25, 2027.
19. Classes for the 2nd 6-Week Session end on Friday, August 6, 2027.
20. Classes for the 14-Week Session and 8-Week Session end on Friday, August 20, 2027.
21. The semester ends on Friday, August 20, 2027, for the 14-Week Session, 1st 6-Week Session, 2nd 6-Week Session, and 8-Week Session.
22. Final grades for the 14-Week Session, 1st 6-Week Session, 2nd 6-Week Session, and 8-Week Session are due on Monday, August 23, 2027.
23. Summer grades become available on transcripts on Wednesday, August 25, 2027, for the 14-Week Session, 1st 6-Week Session, 2nd 6-Week Session, and 8-Week Session.

For more on the Mines Academic Calendar 2026-2027, visit the Colorado School of Mines registrar website.