RIC Academic Calendar 2026-2027: Important Dates and Deadlines

RIC academic calendar 2026-2027 provides the official schedule of course registration windows, instructional start dates, add/drop periods, campus recesses, and final examinations for students at Rhode Island College.

Whether you are planning course enrollment through MyRIC, tracking tuition billing deadlines, or coordinating travel around major holidays, staying informed on official RIC dates ensures smooth degree progression and prevents unexpected registration holds.

Rhode Island College operates on a traditional semester-based academic calendar divided into two primary 15-week terms: the Fall Semester (running late August through mid-December) and the Spring Semester (spanning mid-January through mid-May).

Full-time undergraduate students generally enroll in 12 to 18 credit hours per semester to stay on track for the standard 120-credit bachelor’s degree requirement.

In addition to traditional 15-week semesters, the college features accelerated 7-week terms (7W1 and 7W2) for select adult and professional programs (such as BPS and RN to BSN), an intensive Early Spring/Winter session in January, and multiple multi-week summer sessions (Summer I and Summer II) to support continuous degree completion.

This guide highlights key administrative deadlines and enrollment milestones across both undergraduate and graduate divisions. You will find targeted dates for priority and open registration appointments, course add/drop cutoffs, mid-semester grade submissions, and the final deadlines to withdraw from a class with a “W” grade.

Monitoring these dates within MyRIC allows you to manage prerequisite sequences, financial aid disbursements, and academic advisement checkpoints effectively.

In addition to lecture schedules, this resource outlines designated campus closures and recess periods—including Victory Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving break, and Rhode Island College spring recess—alongside reading days, final examination periods, and commencement ceremonies.

From booking upcoming course enrollments to preparing for finals and graduation, having the verified timeline in one place keeps your entire academic year structured and on track.

RIC Academic Calendar Fall 2026

1. First-year student orientation takes place on Monday, August 3, 2026, and Tuesday, August 4, 2026.
2. Transfer student orientation takes place on Thursday, August 6, 2026.
3. Victory Day takes place on Monday, August 10, 2026.
4. Fall registration begins for undergraduate non-degree students on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
5. The President’s Opening Address and RIC Community Development Day take place on Monday, August 24, 2026.
6. New faculty orientation takes place on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
7. New student orientation make-up day takes place on Thursday, August 27, 2026.
8. Move-in day for first-year resident students and fall waiver registration day for seniors and unemployed Rhode Island residents occur on Friday, August 28, 2026.
9. Anchors Away takes place on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
10. RIC Fall 2026 semester classes start on Monday, August 31, 2026. It is the first day of classes.
11. First-year convocation takes place on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
12. The college and library are closed with no classes scheduled on Monday, September 7, 2026, in observance of Labor Day.
13. The last day to add courses without departmental permission while still allowing drops without permission for undergraduate programs, excluding seven-week courses, is Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
14. The last day to add with permission and drop courses for all academic programs excluding seven-week courses is Monday, September 14, 2026.
15. The college is closed with no classes scheduled, and the library operates on holiday hours on Monday, October 12, 2026, in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
16. An administratively designated make-up day is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, 2026, if needed.
17. Mid-semester grades are due by 12:00 PM on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
18. The college and library are closed with no classes scheduled on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for Election Day.
19. Admissions Open House takes place on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
20. The college is closed with no classes scheduled, and the library operates on holiday hours on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, in observance of Veterans Day.
21. The last day to withdraw from a class with an assigned grade of W is Thursday, November 12, 2026.
22. Spring and early spring registration begins for degree students on Monday, November 16, 2026.
23. RIC Thanksgiving Break 2026 takes place with no classes scheduled from Thursday, November 26, 2026, through Sunday, November 29, 2026.
24. Classes resume, and early spring registration begins for all non-degree students on Monday, November 30, 2026.
25. Registration begins for non-degree graduate students on Tuesday, December 1, 2026.
26. An administratively designated make-up day is scheduled for Saturday, December 12, 2026, if needed.
27. Fall semester classes end on Monday, December 14, 2026.
28. Reading Day takes place on Tuesday, December 15, 2026.
29. Final examinations begin on Wednesday, December 16, 2026.
30. Final examinations end on Tuesday, December 22, 2026.
31. The make-up date for final examinations is Wednesday, December 23, 2026.
32. The college and library are closed on Friday, December 25, 2026, in observance of Christmas Day.
33. Fall final grades are due by 4:00 PM on Monday, December 28, 2026.

RIC Academic Calendar Early Spring 2027

1. Early Spring classes begin, and the deadline to add or drop an Early Spring course is Monday, December 28, 2026.
2. The college and library are closed on Friday, January 1, 2027, in observance of New Year’s Day.
3. Early Spring classes end, and waiver registration day takes place for seniors and unemployed Rhode Island residents on Friday, January 15, 2027.
4. Early Spring final grades are due by 4:00 PM on Tuesday, January 19, 2027.

RIC Academic Calendar Spring 2027

1. The college and library are closed on Friday, January 1, 2027, in observance of New Year’s Day.
2. New student orientation takes place on Wednesday, January 6, 2027.
3. Spring registration begins for undergraduate non-degree students on Monday, January 11, 2027.
4. New student orientation takes place on Thursday, January 14, 2027.
5. Waiver registration day for seniors and unemployed Rhode Island residents takes place on Friday, January 15, 2027.
6. The college and library are closed with no classes scheduled on Monday, January 18, 2027, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
7. Spring classes begin on Tuesday, January 19, 2027.
8. The last day to add courses without departmental permission while still allowing drops without permission for undergraduate programs, excluding seven-week courses, is Monday, January 25, 2027.
9. The last day to add with permission and drop courses for all academic programs, excluding seven-week courses, is Monday, February 1, 2027.
10. An administratively designated make-up day is scheduled for Saturday, February 13, 2027, if needed.
11. Summer registration begins for degree students on Monday, February 15, 2027.
12. Summer registration begins for non-degree students on Monday, February 22, 2027.
13. RIC Spring Break 2027 takes place with no classes scheduled from Monday, March 8, 2027, through Sunday, March 14, 2027. Classes resume on Monday, March 15, 2027.
14. Mid-semester grades are due on Wednesday, March 17, 2027.
15. An administratively designated make-up day is scheduled for Saturday, March 20, 2027, if needed.
16. The last day to withdraw from a class with an assigned grade of W is Wednesday, March 31, 2027.
17. Accepted Students Day takes place on Saturday, April 3, 2027.
18. Fall registration begins for degree students on Monday, April 5, 2027.
19. An administratively designated make-up day is scheduled for Saturday, April 17, 2027, if needed.
20. Fall registration begins for non-degree graduate students on Monday, April 19, 2027.
21. Cap and Gown Convocation takes place on Wednesday, April 28, 2027.
22. The last day of spring classes is Monday, May 3, 2027.
23. Reading Day takes place on Tuesday, May 4, 2027.
24. Final examinations begin on Wednesday, May 5, 2027.
25. Final examinations end on Tuesday, May 11, 2027.
26. Senior grades are due by 4:00 PM, and the make-up date for final examinations is Wednesday, May 12, 2027.
27. The Advanced Degree Commencement Ceremony takes place on Thursday, May 13, 2027.
28. All remaining grades are due by 4:00 PM, and Summer Session I waiver registration opens for seniors and unemployed Rhode Island residents on Friday, May 14, 2027.
29. The Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony takes place on Saturday, May 15, 2027.

RIC Academic Calendar Summer 2027

1. Summer Session I begins on Monday, May 17, 2027.
2. The last day to add or drop Summer Session I courses without a charge is Friday, May 21, 2027.
3. The college and library are closed with no classes scheduled on Monday, May 31, 2027, in observance of Memorial Day.
4. The last day to withdraw from Summer Session I courses with an assigned grade of W is Friday, June 4, 2027.
5. First-year orientation takes place on Monday, June 14, 2027, and Tuesday, June 15, 2027.
6. Transfer student orientation takes place on Thursday, June 17, 2027.
7. The college and library are closed with no classes scheduled on Monday, June 21, 2027, in observance of Juneteenth.
8. Summer Session I ends, and Summer Session II waiver registration opens for seniors and unemployed Rhode Island residents on Friday, June 25, 2027.
9. Summer Session II begins on Monday, June 28, 2027.
10. Final grades for Summer Session I are due by 4:00 PM on Tuesday, June 29, 2027.
11. The college and library are closed on Monday, July 5, 2027, in observance of Independence Day.
12. The last day to add or drop Summer Session II courses without a charge is Friday, July 9, 2027.
13. Transfer student orientation takes place on Monday, July 12, 2027.
14. First-year orientation takes place on Thursday, July 15, 2027, and Friday, July 16, 2027.
15. The last day to withdraw from Summer Session II courses with an assigned grade of W is Friday, July 16, 2027.
16. First-year orientation takes place on Monday, August 2, 2027, and Tuesday, August 3, 2027.
17. Transfer student orientation takes place, and Summer Session II ends on Friday, August 6, 2027.
18. The college is closed on Monday, August 9, 2027, in observance of Victory Day.
19. Final grades for Summer Session II are due by 4:00 PM on Wednesday, August 11, 2027.
20. Make-up orientation day takes place on Thursday, August 26, 2027.

For more on the RIC Academic Calendar 2026-2027, visit the Rhode Island College Office of the Registrar website.