Northwestern Academic Calendar 2026‑2027: Important Dates

The Northwestern Academic Calendar 2026‑2027 is your one‑stop reference for every milestone, from enrollment and tuition payment deadlines to registration windows, add/drop deadlines, and final exam schedules.

By checking Northwestern University’s term dates, you’ll know exactly when each quarter starts, how long each quarter is, 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 2026‑2027 today to plan your course load, budget for fees, and make the most of your Wildcat experience.

Northwestern Academic Calendar Winter 2027

1. Winter recess runs through Friday, January 1, 2027, during which the university is closed through that date.
2. Undergraduate students enrolled in courses with in-person meetings are expected to be on campus and in attendance at the start of classes on Monday, January 4, 2027, and remain until the end of the quarter.
3. Winter classes begin on Monday, January 4, 2027.
4. The last day for full-term withdrawals to receive a 100% refund for Schedule A programs (except Kellogg and Physician’s Assistant programs) is Friday, January 8, 2027.
5. The Winter Quarter 2027 tuition adjustment and add/swap deadline is Friday, January 8, 2027, which is the last day for tuition adjustments related to enrollment changes.
6. There are no classes on Monday, January 18, 2027, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
7. The last day to drop a five-week course ending in week 5 of the term (5W1) is Friday, January 22, 2027.
8. The last day for full-term withdrawals to receive a 75% refund for Schedule A programs (except Kellogg and Physician’s Assistant programs) is Saturday, January 23, 2027.
9. The application for degree is due to The Graduate School on Friday, January 29, 2027 for students graduating in Winter.
10. The last day to withdraw from a five-week course ending in week 5 of the term (5W1) is Friday, January 29, 2027 at 5:00 PM.
11. The application for degree is due to The Graduate School on Friday, February 5, 2027 for students graduating in Spring.
12. Spring quarter courses become viewable in CAESAR on Monday, February 8, 2027, for multiple graduate and undergraduate programs.
13. The last day to drop a full-term Winter class in CAESAR is Friday, February 12, 2027, after which withdrawals will result in a “W” and must go through the official withdrawal process.
14. The last day for full-term withdrawals to receive a 50% refund for Schedule A programs (except Kellogg and Physician’s Assistant programs) is Saturday, February 13, 2027.
15. Pre-registration for Spring begins on Monday, February 15, 2027.
16. Regular registration for Spring Quarter begins on Monday, February 22, 2027.
17. Dissertation, PhD final exam, and change of grade forms for Winter PhD candidates are due to The Graduate School on Friday, February 26, 2027.
18. The last day for undergraduate and TGS students to change grading status to or from P/N for eligible courses is Friday, February 26, 2027.
19. The last day to drop a five-week course ending in week 10 of the Winter term (5W2) is Friday, February 26, 2027.
20. The last day to withdraw from a five-week course ending in week 10 of the Winter term (5W2) is Friday, March 5, 2027 at 5:00 PM.
21. The term withdrawal and full-term course withdrawal petition deadline for Winter is Friday, March 5, 2027 at 5:00 PM.
22. The WCAS reading period begins on Tuesday, March 9, 2027, and ends on Sunday, March 14, 2027.
23. The master’s completion form for TGS Winter master’s candidates is due on Friday, March 12, 2027.
24. Winter classes end on Saturday, March 13, 2027.
25. Winter exams begin on Monday, March 15, 2027, and end on Saturday, March 20, 2027.
26. Northwestern Spring break 2027 begins on Saturday, March 20, 2027, and ends on Monday, March 29, 2027.
27. Grades are due on Monday, March 22, 2027 at 3:00 PM.
28. Spring registration for new TGS students and most Evanston graduate programs occurs on Thursday, March 25, 2027.
29. Winter 2027 degrees are conferred on Friday, March 26, 2027.

Northwestern Academic Calendar Spring 2027

1. The application for a Spring 2027 degree is due to The Graduate School on Friday, February 5, 2027.
2. Spring quarter courses become viewable in CAESAR for Communication, Education, Engineering, Journalism, Music, Non-Degree, and The Graduate School programs on Monday, February 8, 2027.
3. Pre-registration for the Spring quarter begins on Monday, February 15, 2027.
4. Regular registration for the Spring quarter begins on Monday, February 22, 2027.
5. Spring registration for new Graduate School students and most Evanston graduate programs begins on Thursday, March 25, 2027.
6. Northwestern Spring 2027 quarter classes start on Tuesday, March 30, 2027.
7. Undergraduate students enrolled in courses with in-person class meetings are expected to be on campus at the start of classes on Tuesday, March 30, 2027, and remain until the end of the quarter.
8. The last day for full-term withdrawals to receive a 100% refund for Schedule A programs, except the Kellogg and Physician Assistant programs, is Monday, April 5, 2027.
9. The last day to add a class or change a section for the Spring quarter is Monday, April 5, 2027. This is also the last day for tuition adjustments related to enrollment changes to or from full-time status. No reductions are made to bills for dropped or swapped classes after this date.
10. The last day to confer Winter 2027 degrees is Friday, April 9, 2027.
11. The last day for full-term withdrawals to receive a 75% refund for Schedule A programs, except the Kellogg and Physician Assistant programs, is Sunday, April 18, 2027.
12. The last day to drop a five-week course ending in Week 5 of the Spring term (5W1) is Monday, April 19, 2027.
13. The last day to withdraw from a five-week course ending in Week 5 of the Spring term (5W1) is Friday, April 23, 2027, by 5:00 p.m.
14. Fall 2027 quarter courses become viewable in CAESAR for Communication, Education, Engineering, Journalism, Music, Non-Degree, and The Graduate School programs on Monday, May 3, 2027.
15. Dissertation, PhD final examination, and change-of-grade forms for Spring PhD candidates are due to The Graduate School on Friday, May 7, 2027.
16. The last day to drop a full-term Spring class in CAESAR is Friday, May 7, 2027. Requests submitted after this date receive a W on the transcript and require the course withdrawal process. No tuition adjustments are made after Monday, April 5, 2027.
17. The last day for full-term withdrawals to receive a 50% refund for Schedule A programs, except the Kellogg and Physician Assistant programs, is Sunday, May 9, 2027.
18. Pre-registration for Northwestern Fall 2027 quarter begins on Monday, May 10, 2027.
19. The master’s completion form for Spring master’s candidates in The Graduate School is due on Friday, May 14, 2027.
20. Registration for the Fall quarter begins on Monday, May 17, 2027.
21. The last day for undergraduate and Graduate School students to change their grading status to or from Pass/No Pass for eligible Spring classes is Friday, May 21, 2027.
22. The last day to drop a five-week course ending in Week 10 of the Spring term (5W2) is Monday, May 24, 2027.
23. The last day to withdraw from a five-week course ending in Week 10 of the Spring term (5W2) is Friday, May 28, 2027, by 5:00 p.m.
24. The deadline to submit a term withdrawal or full-term course withdrawal petition for the Spring quarter is Friday, May 28, 2027, by 5:00 p.m.
25. No classes are held on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, 2027, and university offices are closed.
26. The WCAS Reading Period begins on Wednesday, June 2, 2027, and ends on Sunday, June 6, 2027.
27. Spring quarter classes end on Saturday, June 5, 2027.
28. Spring examinations begin on Monday, June 7, 2027, and end on Friday, June 11, 2027.
29. Grades are due by 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 15, 2027.
30. Summer registration for new The Graduate School students and most Evanston graduate programs begins on Wednesday, June 16, 2027.
31. The university is closed in observance of Juneteenth on Friday, June 18, 2027.
32. Spring degrees are conferred on Monday, June 21, 2027.

Northwestern Academic Calendar Summer 2027

1. Summer classes begin on Monday, June 21, 2027.
2. The university is closed in observance of Independence Day on Monday, July 5, 2027.
3. The last day to confer Spring 2027 degrees is Tuesday, July 6, 2027.
4. The application for a Summer 2027 degree is due to The Graduate School on Friday, July 9, 2027.
5. Dissertation, PhD final examination, and change-of-grade forms for Summer PhD candidates are due to The Graduate School on Friday, August 6, 2027.
6. The master’s completion form for Summer master’s candidates in The Graduate School is due on Friday, August 20, 2027.
7. The Summer 10-week session ends on Saturday, August 28, 2027.
8. Summer classes end on Sunday, August 29, 2027.
9. Summer 2027 degrees are conferred on Friday, September 3, 2027.

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