Academic Calendar

RPI Academic Calendar 2026-2027: Important Dates & Deadlines

By eriq elikplim
RPI Academic Calendar

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The RPI Academic Calendar 2026-2027 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 2026

  1. RPI Fall 2026 classes begin on Thursday, August 27, 2026.
  2. Labor Day is Monday, September 7, 2026, and there are no classes. Staff holiday.
  3. A Monday class schedule will be followed on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
  4. The last day for undergraduate and graduate students to drop a course in Fall 2026 without receiving a W grade is Friday, September 11, 2026.
  5. Nomination of Master’s Thesis Committee forms for December 2026 degree applicants are due to the Office of Graduate Education on Friday, September 11, 2026.
  6. The last day for undergraduate and graduate students to add courses, change sections, or place courses on audit for Fall 2026 is Friday, September 11, 2026.
  7. The final deadline to complete I-grade requirements for Spring 2026 courses is Friday, September 11, 2026.
  8. The last day to file an online Degree Application through SIS for December 2026 graduation is Friday, October 9, 2026.
  9. Late Degree Applications (paper) for December 2026 graduation begin being accepted on Saturday, October 10, 2026.
  10. Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day is Monday, October 12, 2026, and there are no classes.
  11. A Monday class schedule will be followed on Friday, October 16, 2026.
  12. Consultation weeks for advisement and Spring 2027 registration run from Monday, October 19, 2026, through Friday, October 30, 2026.
  13. The last day to file a late Degree Application (paper) for December 2026 graduation is Friday, October 23, 2026.
  14. Doctoral dissertations for December 2026 degree applicants are due to advisors on Friday, October 23, 2026.
  15. The deadline for Master’s theses and Engineering projects for December 2026 degree applicants to be submitted to advisors is Friday, October 30, 2026.
  16. Pre-registration for the Spring 2027 term opens for currently enrolled students from Monday, November 2, 2026, through Friday, November 20, 2026.
  17. Master’s theses for December 2026 degree applicants are due to the Office of Graduate Education on Monday, November 9, 2026.
  18. The last day for Doctoral candidates who applied for December 2026 graduation to defend their dissertations is Monday, November 9, 2026.
  19. The last day for undergraduate students to add or remove Pass/No Credit designations for Fall 2026 is Friday, November 13, 2026.
  20. Thanksgiving Break runs from Monday, November 23, 2026, through Friday, November 27, 2026, and there are no classes.
  21. Doctoral dissertations for December 2026 degree applicants must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Education by Monday, November 23, 2026.
  22. The last day of Fall 2026 classes is Friday, December 11, 2026.
  23. Reading and Study Days run from Saturday, December 12, 2026, through Tuesday, December 15, 2026. No exams or required student work may be scheduled during this period.
  24. Final Exams run from Wednesday, December 16, 2026, through Tuesday, December 22, 2026.
  25. Winter Break runs from Wednesday, December 23, 2026, through Friday, January 8, 2027, and there are no classes.
  26. The December 2026 Degree Conferral Date is Thursday, December 31, 2026. Final degree clearance will occur during the first two weeks of January 2027, and diplomas/e-diplomas will be distributed in late January 2027.

RPI Academic Calendar Spring 2026

  1. The bill due date for Spring 2026 is Friday, January 9, 2026.
  2. Spring 2026 classes begin on Monday, January 12, 2026.
  3. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is observed on Monday, January 19, 2026, with no classes held and a staff holiday.
  4. The last day for undergraduate and graduate students to add courses, change sections, or put courses on audit for Spring 2026 is Monday, January 26, 2026.
  5. The last day for undergraduate and graduate students to drop a course in Spring 2026 without being issued a W grade is Monday, January 26, 2026.
  6. Nomination of Master’s Thesis committee forms for May 2026 degree applicants is due to the Office of Graduate Education on Friday, January 30, 2026.
  7. President’s Day is observed on Monday, February 16, 2026, with no classes held and a staff holiday.
  8. A Monday class schedule will be followed on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
  9. The deadline for Master’s theses and Engineering projects for May 2026 degree applicants to be submitted to advisors is Monday, February 23, 2026.
  10. Doctoral dissertations for May 2026 degree applicants are due to advisors on Monday, February 23, 2026.
  11. The last day to file an online Degree Application via SIS for the May 2026 graduation is Saturday, February 28, 2026.
  12. Late Degree Applications (paper) for May 2026 graduation begin being accepted on Sunday, March 1, 2026, for students who did not apply via SIS.
  13. RPI Spring Break 2026 runs from Monday, March 2, 2026, to Friday, March 6, 2026, with no classes held. Classes resume on Monday, March 9, 2026.
  14. Consultation weeks for advisement for Summer/Fall 2026 registration run from Monday, March 9, 2026, to Friday, March 20, 2026, during which students should consult with their HUB or faculty advisors.
  15. The last day to file a late Degree Application (paper) for May 2026 graduation is Friday, March 13, 2026.
  16. Registration for Summer 2026, including students participating in The Arch, begins on Monday, March 16, 2026.
  17. The last day for undergraduate and graduate students to drop a course with a W grade for Spring 2026 is Friday, March 20, 2026.
  18. Master’s theses are due to the Office of Graduate Education for May 2026 degree applicants on Friday, March 20, 2026, and this is also the last day for Doctoral candidates who applied for May 2026 graduation to defend their theses.
  19. Pre-registration for the Fall 2026 term for currently enrolled students opens on Monday, March 23, 2026, and runs until Friday, April 10, 2026.
  20. GM Week runs from Monday, March 23, 2026, to Friday, March 27, 2026.
  21. GM Activities take place on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, with no classes held on this day.
  22. The last day for undergraduate students to add or remove Pass/No Credit designations for Spring 2026 is Friday, March 27, 2026.
  23. The deadline for Doctoral dissertations to be submitted to the Office of Graduate Education for May 2026 degree applicants is Friday, April 3, 2026.
  24. The deadline for completion of I-grade expectations related to Fall 2025 courses is Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
  25. The last day of Spring 2026 classes is Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
  26. Reading and study days run from Thursday, April 30, 2026, to Sunday, May 3, 2026, during which instructors may not schedule exams or require student work.
  27. Registration for Fall 2026 reopens for currently enrolled students, readmitted students, and new graduate students on Monday, May 4, 2026.
  28. Final exams run from Monday, May 4, 2026, to Friday, May 8, 2026.
  29. The Ph.D. Hooding Ceremony takes place on Friday, May 15, 2026.
  30. The RPI Commencement Ceremony for 2026 is held on Saturday, May 16, 2026.

RPI Academic Calendar Summer 2026

  1. Summer Session I and II classes begin on Monday, May 18, 2026.
  2. Memorial Day is observed on Monday, May 25, 2026, with no classes held and a staff holiday.
  3. A Monday class schedule will be followed on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
  4. A Friday class schedule will be followed on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
  5. Juneteenth is observed on Friday, June 19, 2026, with no classes held and a staff holiday.
  6. The last day of Summer Session II classes is Friday, June 26, 2026, and exams should be given in class during the final meeting day.
  7. The Summer Arch Break runs from Monday, June 29, 2026, to Friday, July 3, 2026, with no classes held.
  8. Summer Session III classes begin on Monday, July 6, 2026.
  9. The last day of Summer Session I and III classes is Friday, August 14, 2026, and exams should be given in class during the final meeting day.
  10. The August 2026 Degree Conferral Date is Monday, August 31, 2026, and final clearance will occur during the first two weeks of September 2026, with diplomas and e-diplomas to be sent out in late September 2026.

For more on the RPI Academic Calendar 2026-2027, visit the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute registrar website.

eriq elikplim
eriq elikplimhttps://acadcalendar.com
Eric Elikplim is the lead editor of AcadCalendar.com. Eriq draws on 10 years of experience in edtech and project management. He has collaborated directly with multiple universities, establishing processes to cross-check term dates, registration deadlines, and exam schedules. Beyond calendar data, Eriq contributes thought leadership on academic productivity: he has authored articles on semester planning, and consulted with student organizations to refine reminder features and user experience.

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