Academic Calendar

MSState Academic Calendar 2026-2027: Important Dates

By eriq elikplim

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The MSState Academic Calendar 2026-2027 provides essential dates and deadlines for students, faculty, and staff, including semester start dates, registration periods, add/drop deadlines, exam schedules, university holidays, breaks, and graduation timelines.

Mississippi State University follows a semester-based academic system with fall, spring, and summer terms. The MS State academic calendar 2026-2027 helps students organize their coursework, plan vacations, prepare for exams, and stay informed about important university events.

MSState Academic Calendar Fall 2026

  1. The deadline to pay tuition in full or enroll in a payment plan is Saturday, August 1, 2026. Class schedules are subject to cancellation if full payment is not received or if students are not enrolled in a payment plan.
  2. New freshman and transfer student orientation takes place on Monday, August 17, 2026.
  3. MSstate Fall 2026 semester classes start on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. It is the first day of classes
  4. Fall Convocation is held on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
  5. The last day to drop a course without receiving a grade is Tuesday, August 25, 2026, by 11:59 p.m.
  6. The last day to register for or add a course is Wednesday, August 26, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. Graduate students must be currently enrolled to apply for graduation.
  7. The Early Bird application period for the December 2026 degree through myState runs from Wednesday, September 2, 2026, through Friday, October 23, 2026, with a $50 application fee.
  8. Labor Day is observed on Monday, September 7, 2026. No classes are scheduled.
  9. The deadline for undergraduate students with Incomplete grades from a previous semester to submit coursework is Thursday, September 17, 2026.
  10. The first progress grade reporting deadline is Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
  11. MS State Fall Break 2026 is observed from Thursday, October 8, 2026, through Friday, October 9, 2026. No classes are scheduled.
  12. The last day to drop a course with a W grade is Monday, October 12, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. Tuition charges will still apply.
  13. Faculty advising for pre-registration takes place from Monday, October 19, 2026, through Friday, October 30, 2026. Some departments may begin advising earlier.
  14. The Early Bird application period for the December 2026 degree through myState ends on Friday, October 23, 2026.
  15. The second progress grade reporting deadline is Friday, October 23, 2026.
  16. The Regular Degree Application period for the December 2026 degree through myState runs from Saturday, October 24, 2026, through Monday, November 23, 2026, with a $150 application fee. Graduate students must be currently enrolled to apply for graduation.
  17. The pre-registration period for the Spring 2027 semester takes place from Monday, November 2, 2026, through Friday, November 13, 2026.
  18. The last day to withdraw from the semester is Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
  19. Progress grade reporting closes on Thursday, November 12, 2026.
  20. The deadline to apply for the December 2026 degree through myState with the Regular Degree Application fee is Monday, November 23, 2026.
  21. Thanksgiving holiday is observed from Wednesday, November 25, 2026, through Friday, November 27, 2026. No classes are scheduled. Classes resume on Monday, November 30, 2026.
  22. The last regularly scheduled class day is Tuesday, December 1, 2026.
  23. The deadline for graduate students with Incomplete grades from a previous semester to submit coursework is Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
  24. Reading and Reflection Day is observed on Wednesday, December 2, 2026. No mandatory class assignments, requirements, or meetings are scheduled.
  25. Final examinations take place from Thursday, December 3, 2026, through Thursday, December 10, 2026.
  26. The make-up day, if needed, is Saturday, December 5, 2026.
  27. The MSU-Meridian Commencement ceremony is held on Thursday, December 10, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.
  28. The Doctoral Graduation and Hooding Ceremony for Ph.D. and Ed.D. candidates is held on Thursday, December 10, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.
  29. The Starkville Campus Commencement ceremony is held on Friday, December 11, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
  30. The Starkville Campus Commencement ceremony is also held on Friday, December 11, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
  31. The last day for December 2026 degree applicants to pay their account balance is Friday, December 11, 2026, by 3:00 p.m.
  32. Final grades are due by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, December 14, 2026.
  33. Undergraduate academic forgiveness is unavailable on Monday, December 14, 2026, because of end-of-term processing.
  34. The last day for undergraduate degree candidates to apply for academic forgiveness is Tuesday, December 15, 2026.
  35. Winter Holidays are observed from Wednesday, December 23, 2026, through Friday, January 1, 2027.

MSState Academic Calendar Spring 2027

  1. The deadline to pay tuition in full or enroll in a payment plan is Friday, January 1, 2027. Class schedules are subject to cancellation if full payment is not received or if students are not enrolled in a payment plan.
  2. New freshman and transfer student orientation takes place on Monday, January 11, 2027.
  3. MS State Spring 2027 semester classes begin on Wednesday, January 13, 2027.
  4. The Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday is observed on Monday, January 18, 2027.
  5. The last day to drop a course without receiving a grade is Wednesday, January 20, 2027, by 11:59 p.m.
  6. The last day to register for or add a course is Thursday, January 21, 2027, by 5:00 p.m.
  7. The Early Bird application period for May 2027 graduation through myState runs from Wednesday, January 27, 2027, through Wednesday, March 31, 2027, with a $50 application fee. Graduate students must be currently enrolled to apply for graduation.
  8. The deadline for undergraduate students with Incomplete grades from a previous semester to submit coursework is Thursday, February 11, 2027.
  9. The first progress grade reporting deadline is Wednesday, February 24, 2027.
  10. The last day to drop a course with a W grade is Thursday, March 4, 2027, by 5:00 p.m. Tuition charges will still apply.
  11. MSSTATE Spring Break 2027 is observed from Monday, March 8, 2027, through Friday, March 12, 2027. No classes are scheduled.
  12. Faculty advising for pre-registration takes place from Monday, March 15, 2027, through Thursday, March 25, 2027.
  13. The second progress grade reporting deadline is Thursday, March 25, 2027.
  14. The university holiday is observed on Friday, March 26, 2027. Classes do not meet, and university offices are closed.
  15. The university holiday is observed on Monday, March 29, 2027. Classes do not meet, and university offices remain open.
  16. The Early Bird application period for May 2027 graduation through myState ends on Wednesday, March 31, 2027.
  17. The Regular Degree Application period for May 2027 graduation through myState runs from Thursday, April 1, 2027, through Friday, April 30, 2027, with a $150 application fee.
  18. The pre-registration period for the Summer and Fall semesters takes place from Monday, April 5, 2027, through Friday, April 16, 2027.
  19. The last day to withdraw from the university is Tuesday, April 20, 2027.
  20. Progress grade reporting closes on Wednesday, April 21, 2027.
  21. The deadline to apply for May 2027 graduation through myState with the Regular Degree Application fee is Friday, April 30, 2027.
  22. The last regularly scheduled class day is Monday, May 3, 2027.
  23. The deadline for graduate students with Incomplete grades from a previous semester to submit coursework is Monday, May 3, 2027.
  24. Reading and Reflection Day is observed on Tuesday, May 4, 2027. No mandatory class assignments, requirements, or meetings are scheduled.
  25. Final examinations take place from Wednesday, May 5, 2027, through Tuesday, May 11, 2027.
  26. The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Commencement ceremony is held on Tuesday, May 11, 2027, at 11:30 a.m.
  27. The Doctoral Graduation and Hooding Ceremony for Ph.D. and Ed.D. candidates is held on Tuesday, May 11, 2027, at 4:00 p.m.
  28. The MSU-Meridian Commencement ceremony is held on Wednesday, May 12, 2027, at 11:00 a.m.
  29. The Starkville Campus Commencement ceremony is held on Thursday, May 13, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
  30. The Starkville Campus Commencement ceremony is also held on Thursday, May 13, 2027, at 2:30 p.m.
  31. The last day for May 2027 degree applicants to pay their account balance is Friday, May 14, 2027.
  32. An additional Starkville Campus Commencement ceremony is held on Friday, May 14, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
  33. An additional Starkville Campus Commencement ceremony is held on Friday, May 14, 2027, at 2:30 p.m.
  34. Final grades are due by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 17, 2027.
  35. Undergraduate academic forgiveness is unavailable on Monday, May 17, 2027, because of end-of-term processing.
  36. The last day for undergraduate degree candidates to apply for academic forgiveness is Tuesday, May 18, 2027.

For more on the MSstate Academic Calendar 2026-2027, visit the Mississippi State 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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