The Princeton Academic Calendar 2026‑2027 is your essential roadmap for every critical date and deadline from Princeton enrollment and registration windows, tuition payment due dates, and course add/drop periods to campus holidays and final exam schedules.
By consulting the Princeton University academic calendar, students can lock in Princeton term dates, navigate the Princeton exam schedule, track Princeton registration deadlines, and never miss the last day to withdraw without a “W”, ensuring seamless academic and financial planning at Princeton.
Princeton operates on a traditional semester system:
- Fall Semester and Spring Semester each span 15 weeks—comprising 12 weeks of scheduled classes, an 8–9‑day Reading Period for final preparation, and a 7‑day Final Exam Period.
While Princeton does not maintain a standard Summer Session, it offers a variety of department‑sponsored Summer Programs ranging in length and format upon application and approval by the hosting department.
Students should consult individual program listings for specific session dates, registration requirements, and credit‑approval procedures.
Keep the Princeton Academic Calendar 2026‑2027 front and center so you can focus on thriving both in the classroom and across the historic campus.
Table of Contents
Princeton Academic Calendar Fall 2026
- New and Returning Graduate Students: Academic Year Sign-In begins at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2026.
- Returning Graduate Students: Fall 2026 term course selection continues on Saturday, August 1, 2026.
- New Graduate Students: Fall 2026 term course selection begins on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
- Undergraduate Academic Year Sign-In begins at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026.
- New Undergraduate Students: Fall 2026 course selection is on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
- Graduate School Opening Address/Orientation runs from Wednesday, August 26, 2026 to Thursday, August 27, 2026.
- International Graduate Student Orientation is on Friday, August 28, 2026.
- Opening Exercises, University Chapel is on Sunday, August 30, 2026.
- Undergraduate Academic Year Sign-In period ends at 11:59 pm on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
- Fall term classes begin at 8:30 am on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
- Undergraduate add/drop begins at 6:30 am on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
- Labor Day holiday is on Monday, September 7, 2026.
- Undergraduate add/drop period ends at 11:59 pm on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
- Midterm examination week runs from Monday, October 12, 2026 to Friday, October 16, 2026.
- Princeton Fall Break 2026 runs from Saturday, October 17, 2026 to Sunday, October 25, 2026. Classes resume, midterm grades due, and undergraduate P/D/F option begins on Monday, October 26, 2026.
- Graduate student deadline for fall term course changes ends at 11:59 pm on Friday, November 13, 2026.
- Undergraduate deadline to drop fall term courses or select P/D/F option ends at 11:59 pm on Friday, November 13, 2026.
- Thanksgiving recess begins after last class on Tuesday, November 24, 2026. Thanksgiving week follows a standard meeting pattern on Tuesday, November 24, 2026. Thanksgiving recess ends on Sunday, November 29, 2026. Classes resume after Thanksgiving recess on Monday, November 30, 2026.
- Senior spring term course selection begins at 7:30 am and ends at 11:59 pm on Tuesday, December 1, 2026.
- Junior spring term course selection begins at 7:30 am and ends at 11:59 pm on Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
- Sophomore spring term course selection begins at 7:30 am and ends at 11:59 pm on Thursday, December 3, 2026.
- First-year student spring term course selection begins at 7:30 am and ends at 11:59 pm on Friday, December 4, 2026.
- Last day of scheduled classes is on Monday, December 7, 2026.
- Graduate student deadline for fall term course grading option changes ends at 11:59 pm on Monday, December 7, 2026.
- Reading period begins on Tuesday, December 8, 2026.
- Graduate students spring term course selection begins at 7:30 am on Tuesday, December 8, 2026.
- Undergraduate deadline for submitting junior independent work is on Tuesday, December 15, 2026.
- Reading period ends on Tuesday, December 15, 2026.
- Dean’s Date (deadline for term assigned work) is on Tuesday, December 15, 2026.
- Fall term final assessments run from Wednesday, December 16, 2026 to Tuesday, December 22, 2026.
- Faculty deadline for submission of grades for junior independent work is on Monday, January 4, 2027.
- Faculty deadline for submission of grades for graduate courses is on Wednesday, January 13, 2027.
- Faculty deadline for submission of grades for undergraduate courses is on Wednesday, January 13, 2027.
Princeton Academic Calendar Spring 2027
- Spring term classes begin at 8:30 am on Monday, January 25, 2027.
- Spring midterm examination week runs from Monday, March 1, 2027 to Friday, March 5, 2027.
- Princeton Spring Break 2027 begins on Saturday, March 6, 2027, and ends on Sunday, March 14, 2027.
- Faculty deadline for reporting spring term midterm grades and classes resume on Monday, March 15, 2027.
- Last day of scheduled classes is on Friday, April 23, 2027.
- Reading period begins on Monday, April 26, 2027.
- Reading period ends on Tuesday, May 4, 2027.
- Senior departmental/comprehensive examinations run from Wednesday, May 5, 2027 to Thursday, May 6, 2027.
- Spring term final assessments run from Friday, May 7, 2027 to Thursday, May 13, 2027.
- Baccalaureate is on Sunday, May 23, 2027.
- Class Day and Graduate School Hooding and Recognition Ceremony are on Monday, May 24, 2027.
- Commencement Day is on Tuesday, May 25, 2027.
For more on the Princeton Academic Calendar 2026-2027, visit the Princeton University Calendar website.
