RPI Academic Calendar 2025-2026: Important Dates & Deadlines

The RPI Academic Calendar 2025-2026 schedule includes application deadlines (including Early Decision and Early Action), tuition payment due dates, financial aid deadlines (including FAFSA and CSS Profile), course add/drop periods, RPI holidays, and Commencement ceremony dates.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute operates on a robust semester system, primarily featuring two main terms: Fall (late August to late December) and Spring (early January to early May).

Each semester provides approximately 14 weeks of instruction, complemented by designated reading days and final exam periods.

Beyond these, RPI offers comprehensive Summer Sessions (including Session I, II, and III with various lengths) and a unique Winter Term, providing flexible study options.

RPI Academic Calendar Fall 2025

1. The Pass/No Credit designation for Summer Session III is Friday, August 1, 2025.
2. Course withdrawal deadline (W grade) for Summer Session III is Friday, August 1, 2025.
3. Fall registration reopens for undergraduates on Monday, August 11, 2025.
4. The fall tuition payment deadline is Friday, August 15, 2025.
5. Summer Session I/III classes end on Friday, August 15, 2025.
6. RPI Move in day for fall 2025 is scheduled from Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Move-in for New first-year students not participating in an overnight trip for the Fall 2025 semester is scheduled for Saturday, August 23, 2025. Move-in for New first-year students participating in an overnight trip is scheduled for Wednesday, August 20, 2025. New transfer students move in on Saturday, August 23, 2025, while move-in for returning RPI students is scheduled for Tuesday, August 26, 2025, between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
7. August degree conferral occurs on Friday, August 22, 2025.
8. December graduation applications open on Monday, August 25, 2025.
9. RPI Fall 2025 classes begin (follow Monday schedule) on Thursday, August 28, 2025. It is the first day of classes.
10. Labor Day holiday (no classes) on Monday, September 1, 2025. Classes follow a Monday class schedule on Friday, September 5, 2025.
11. The add/drop/audit deadline is Friday, September 12, 2025.
12. Master’s Thesis committee nominations are due on Friday, September 12, 2025.
13. NE/I grade resolution deadline is Friday, September 12, 2025.
14. The online degree application deadline is Friday, October 10, 2025.
15. Paper degree applications open on Saturday, October 11, 2025.
16. Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day (no classes) on Monday, October 13, 2025.
17. Advising for Spring 2026 registration runs from Monday, October 20, 2025, to Friday, October 31, 2025.
18. Doctoral dissertations are due to advisors on Friday, October 24, 2025.
19. The late degree application deadline is Friday, October 24, 2025.
20. Master’s theses/projects due to advisors on Friday, October 31, 2025.
21. Spring 2026 pre-registration runs from Monday, November 3, 2025, to Friday, November 21, 2025.
22. The course withdrawal deadline (W grade) is Friday, November 7, 2025.
23. Master’s theses due to Graduate Education on Monday, November 10, 2025.
24. The Pass/No Credit designation deadline is Friday, November 14, 2025.
25. Doctoral dissertations are due to Graduate Education on Monday, November 24, 2025.
26. RPI Thanksgiving Break 2025 (no classes) runs from Monday, November 24, 2025, to Friday, November 28, 2025.
27. The last day of classes is Friday, December 12, 2025.
28. Reading/Study Days run from Saturday, December 13, 2025, to Monday, December 15, 2025.
29. Final Exams run from Tuesday, December 16, 2025, to Monday, December 22, 2025.
30. RPI Winter Break 2025 (no classes) runs from Tuesday, December 23, 2025, to Friday, January 9, 2026.
31. December degree conferral occurs on Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

RPI Academic Calendar Spring 2026

1. The spring tuition payment deadline is Friday, January 9, 2026.
2. Spring classes begin on Monday, January 12, 2026.
3. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (no classes) on Monday, January 19, 2026.
4. Presidents’ Day (no classes) on Monday, February 16, 2026. Classes follow the Monday class schedule on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
5. RPI Spring Break 2026 (no classes) runs from Monday, March 2, 2026, to Friday, March 6, 2026.
6. Grand Marshal Week runs from Monday, March 23, 2026, to Friday, March 27, 2026, according to the RPI Academic Calendar 2026.
7. GM Activities (no classes) on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
8. The last day of classes is Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
9. Reading/Study Days run from Thursday, April 30, 2026, to Sunday, May 3, 2026.
10. Final Exams run from Monday, May 4, 2026, to Friday, May 8, 2026.
11. Ph.D. Hooding Ceremony is Friday, May 15, 2026.
12. Commencement Ceremony is Saturday, May 16, 2026.

For more on the RPI Academic Calendar 2025-2026, visit the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute registrar website.