Northwestern Academic Calendar 2025‑2026: Important Dates

The Northwestern Academic Calendar 2025‑2026 is your one‑stop reference for every milestone from Northwestern academic calendar 2025‑2026 enrollment and tuition payment deadlines to registration windows, add/drop deadlines, and final exam schedules.

By checking the Northwestern University term dates, you’ll know exactly when each quarter starts, how long a quarter is at Northwestern, and when you can register for classes at NU during Priority Enrollment.

Whether you’re planning around Northwestern exam schedules, aiming to meet registration deadlines, or tracking the last day to withdraw without a “W”, this calendar ensures you never miss a key academic or financial cutoff.

Northwestern University follows a quarter system with four main terms:

• Fall Quarter (mid-September to early December; 10 weeks of instruction + one week of finals)
• Winter Quarter (early January to mid-March; 10 instructional weeks + finals week)
• Spring Quarter (late March to early June; 10 weeks + finals)
• Summer Session (June through August), broken into Session A (approximately 6 weeks), Session B (6 weeks), and a Full Summer Session (10 weeks + finals).

Curious about how long Northwestern’s summer session lasts? The full session mirrors the academic quarter at 10 weeks, while each mini‑session gives you a fast‑track, 6‑week option.

Want to drop a class or switch sections? Add/drop periods typically close in the second week of each quarter—details you’ll find in the official calendar.

Bookmark the NU Academic Calendar 2025‑2026 today to plan your course load, budget for fees, and make the most of your Wildcat experience.

Northwestern Academic Calendar Fall 2025

1. New Transfer Student Registration begins at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, August 12, 2025.
2. Labor Day (university offices closed) is observed on Monday, September 1, 2025.
3. Continuing Student Registration for Fall Quarter 2025 ends at 11:59 PM on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
4. Fall registration for new TGS students and most Evanston graduate programs occurs on Thursday, September 11, 2025.
5. New Undergraduate Fall 2025 Registration is Friday, September 12, 2025.
6. Classes begin for Kellogg School of Management MBA programs on Monday, September 15, 2025.
7. Northwestern Fall 2025 Classes Begin on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
8. Late Registration for returning students starts on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
9. Undergraduate students in in-person courses must be on campus starting Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
10. The last day for full-term withdrawals (100% refund) for Schedule A programs is Monday, September 22, 2025.
11. The last day to add a class or change sections (with tuition adjustment) is Monday, September 22, 2025.
12. The deadline to request academic accommodations for religious observance is Friday, September 26, 2025.
13. The last day for full-term withdrawals (75% refund) for Schedule A programs is Sunday, October 5, 2025.
14. The last day to drop a 5W1 course is Monday, October 6, 2025.
15. The last day to withdraw from a 5W1 course is Friday, October 10, 2025, at 5:00 PM.
16. The Graduate School degree application deadline for Fall is Friday, October 24, 2025.
17. The last day to drop a full-term class without a “W” is Friday, October 24, 2025.
18. The last day for full-term withdrawals (50% refund) for Schedule A programs is Sunday, October 26, 2025.
19. Winter quarter courses become viewable in CAESAR on Monday, November 3, 2025.
20. The last day to change grading status to Pass/No Credit is Friday, November 7, 2025.
21. The last day to drop a 5W2 course is Monday, November 10, 2025.
22. Pre-registration for the Winter quarter begins Monday, November 10, 2025.
23. The last day to withdraw from a 5W2 course is Friday, November 14, 2025, at 5:00 PM.
24. Registration for the Winter quarter begins Monday, November 17, 2025.
25. Dissertation/PhD forms are due to TGS on Friday, November 21, 2025.
26. Thanksgiving Vacation begins at 6:00 PM on Monday, November 24, 2025. University offices close at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. Fall Classes Resume and WCAS Reading Period begins Monday, December 1, 2025.
27. Term withdrawal petitions are due Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at 5:00 PM.
28. Master’s completion forms are due to TGS on Friday, December 5, 2025.
29. Fall classes end Saturday, December 6, 2025.
30. WCAS Reading Period ends Sunday, December 7, 2025.
31. Fall Examinations run Monday, December 8, 2025, to Saturday, December 13, 2025.
32. Grades are due Monday, December 15, 2025, at 3:00 PM.
33. Fall 2025 Degrees are conferred on Friday, December 19, 2025.
34. Winter Recess begins (university closed) Wednesday, December 24, 2025, through Thursday, January 1, 2026.

Northwestern Academic Calendar Winter 2026

1. Winter Classes Begin, and undergraduates must be on campus on Monday, January 5, 2026.
2. The last day for full withdrawals (100% refund) for Schedule A programs is Friday, January 9, 2026.
3. The last day to add classes (with tuition adjustment) is Friday, January 9, 2026.
4. The deadline for religious accommodation requests is Friday, January 16, 2026.
5. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (no classes) is Monday, January 19, 2026.
6. The last day for full withdrawals (75% refund) for Schedule A programs is Saturday, January 24, 2026.
7. The last day to drop a Winter 5W1 course is Saturday, January 24, 2026.
8. The Graduate School degree application deadline for Winter is Friday, January 30, 2026.
9. The last day to withdraw from a Winter 5W1 course is Friday, January 30, 2026, at 5:00 PM.
10. The Graduate School degree application deadline for Spring is Friday, February 6, 2026.
11. Spring quarter courses become viewable in CAESAR on Monday, February 9, 2026.
12. The last day to drop a full-term Winter class without a “W” is Friday, February 13, 2026.
13. The last day for full withdrawals (50% refund) for Schedule A programs is Saturday, February 14, 2026.
14. Pre-registration for the Spring quarter begins Monday, February 16, 2026.
15. Registration for Spring Quarter begins Monday, February 23, 2026.
16. Dissertation/PhD forms and Pass/No Credit deadline are Friday, February 27, 2026.
17. The last day to drop a Winter 5W2 course is Monday, March 2, 2026.
18. The last day to withdraw from a Winter 5W2 course is Friday, March 6, 2026, at 5:00 PM.
19. Term withdrawal petitions are due Friday, March 6, 2026, at 5:00 PM.
20. WCAS Reading Period begins Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
21. Master’s completion forms are due to TGS on Friday, March 13, 2026.
22. Winter classes end Saturday, March 14, 2026.
23. WCAS Reading Period ends Sunday, March 15, 2026.
24. Winter Examinations run Monday, March 16, 2026, to Saturday, March 21, 2026.
25. Grades are due Monday, March 23, 2026, at 3:00 PM.
26. Winter Degrees are conferred on Friday, March 27, 2026.

Northwestern Academic Calendar Spring 2026

1. Spring Classes Begin (Monday classes meet) Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
2. Undergraduates must be on campus starting Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
3. The last day for full withdrawals (100% refund) for Schedule A programs is Monday, April 6, 2026.
4. The last day to add classes (with tuition adjustment) is Monday, April 6, 2026.
5. The deadline for religious accommodation requests is Friday, April 10, 2026.
6. The last day for full withdrawals (75% refund) for Schedule A programs is Sunday, April 19, 2026.
7. The last day to drop a Spring 5W1 course is Monday, April 20, 2026.
8. The last day to withdraw from a Spring 5W1 course is Friday, April 24, 2026, at 5:00 PM.
9. Fall 2026 quarter courses become viewable in CAESAR on Monday, May 4, 2026.
10. Dissertation/PhD forms are due to TGS on Friday, May 8, 2026.
11. The last day to drop a full-term Spring class without a “W” is Friday, May 8, 2026.
12. The last day for full withdrawals (50% refund) for Schedule A programs is Sunday, May 10, 2026.
13. Pre-registration for Fall 2026 begins Monday, May 11, 2026.
14. Master’s completion forms are due to TGS on Friday, May 15, 2026.
15. Registration for Fall begins Monday, May 18, 2026.
16. The Pass/No Credit deadline is Friday, May 22, 2026.
17. The last day to drop a Spring 5W2 course is Friday, May 22, 2026.
18. Memorial Day (no classes; university closed) is Monday, May 25, 2026.
19. The last day to withdraw from a Spring 5W2 course is Friday, May 29, 2026, at 5:00 PM.
20. Term withdrawal petitions are due Friday, May 29, 2026, at 5:00 PM.
21. WCAS Reading Period begins Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
22. Spring classes end Saturday, June 6, 2026.
23. WCAS Reading Period ends Sunday, June 7, 2026.
24. Spring Examinations run Monday, June 8, 2026, to Friday, June 12, 2026.
25. Grades are due Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 3:00 PM.
26. Juneteenth (university closed) is Friday, June 19, 2026.
27. Spring Degrees are conferred on Monday, June 22, 2026.

Northwestern Academic Calendar Summer 2026

1. Summer Classes Begin (tentative) Monday, June 22, 2026.
2. Independence Day observed (university closed) Friday, July 3, 2026.
3. The Graduate School degree application deadline for Summer is Friday, July 10, 2026.
4. Dissertation/PhD forms are due to TGS on Friday, August 7, 2026.
5. Master’s completion forms are due to TGS on Friday, August 21, 2026.
6. Summer Degrees are conferred on Friday, September 4, 2026.

For more on the Northwestern Academic Calendar 2025-2026, visit the Northwestern University Calendar website.