South Alabama Academic Calendar 2026-2027: Important Dates

The South Alabama academic calendar 2026-2027 serves as the primary operational timeline for undergraduate, graduate, and healthcare professional students attending the University of South Alabama in Mobile.

Whether you are a new Jaguar planning your first term schedule or a prospective graduate preparing for degree conferral, reviewing the official USA academic calendar ensures you stay aligned with critical add/drop registration windows, advising holds, tuition payment deadlines, and university recesses without penalty.

The University of South Alabama (USA) operates on a traditional semester-based academic system comprising Fall, Spring, and multi-session Summer terms.

Primary terms on the USA academic calendar 2026 and 2027 schedule deliver approximately 15 weeks of active classroom instruction, concluding with a dedicated final examination week.

To maintain full-time student status for financial aid, institutional scholarships, and campus housing eligibility, undergraduate students carry between 12 and 18 credit hours per semester, with 15 credits per term remaining the target benchmark to complete 120-credit degree tracks in four years.

Additionally, South Alabama provides a specialized May Term alongside First, Full, and Second Summer sessions to help students accelerate their credit requirements.

Understanding key milestones across all USA University semester dates 2026 and 2027 allows students to plan their academic year effectively.

On the Fall 2026 schedule, classes officially begin on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, incorporating breaks for Labor Day and Fall Break before wrapping up with final exams from December 7–10 and Fall Commencement on December 11, 2026.

Spring 2027 classes resume on Monday, January 11, 2027, featuring unique regional breaks such as the Mardi Gras Holiday (February 8–9, 2027) and Spring Break (March 8–14, 2027) before May finals and graduation ceremonies.

Use the detailed sections below to navigate complete add/drop refund periods via the PAWSS student portal, “Avoid the Void” fee payment cutoffs, official campus holiday closures, and final exam schedules for the entire South Alabama academic calendar year.

South Alabama Academic Calendar Fall 2026

1. Registration begins for continuing students on Monday, April 6, 2026.
2. Registration begins for new undergraduate students on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
3. Registration begins for new graduate students on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
4. JagPack opt-out begins on Sunday, July 19, 2026.
5. The Financial Aid/Scholarship Bookstore Charging Period begins on Monday, July 20, 2026.
6. The 100% of fall balance due deadline is Wednesday, August 12, 2026.
7. All courses are voided on Thursday, August 13, 2026, unless the balance is paid in full or the student is enrolled in a payment plan through the Avoid the Void process.
8. Residence halls open on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
9. Convocation is held on Monday, August 17, 2026.
10. South Alabama Fall classes start on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. It is the first day of classes.
11. The Add/Drop Period begins on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
12. Late registration begins on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
13. The 100% Charge Removal Period begins for dropped classes on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
14. The last day to add classes is Monday, August 24, 2026.
15. Late registration ends at 10:00 p.m. on Monday, August 24, 2026.
16. The late registration 100% balance due deadline is Monday, August 24, 2026.
17. The last day to drop without a WD grade is Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at 10:00 p.m.
18. Credit hours freeze at 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, for financial aid eligibility, and eligible financial aid applies to the student account.
19. The last day to opt out of JagPack is Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
20. The 100% Charge Removal Period for dropped classes ends on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
21. The Financial Aid/Scholarship Bookstore Charging Period ends on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
22. The Withdrawal Period begins on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
23. All courses are voided on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, unless the balance is paid in full or the student is enrolled in a payment plan through the Avoid the Void process.
24. The 50% Charge Removal Period begins for withdrawn classes and complete withdrawals on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
25. The 50% Charge Removal Period for withdrawn classes and complete withdrawals ends on Monday, August 31, 2026. No course withdrawal refunds are available after this date.
26. The Census Date is Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
27. The credit balance refund review process begins on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. This process occurs in phases over several business days.
28. Labor Day Holiday is observed on Monday, September 7, 2026, for students, faculty, staff, and administration.
29. Mid-term grading opens on Monday, September 28, 2026.
30. The deadline for incomplete grades from Spring 2026 and Summer 2026 is Friday, October 2, 2026.
31. The last day for Spring graduation applications is Friday, October 2, 2026.
32. Mid-term grades are due by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 5, 2026.
33. Mid-term grades are posted on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
34. South Alabama Fall Break 2026 for students, including weekend classes, is held from Thursday, October 8, 2026, to Sunday, October 11, 2026.
35. Time tickets for Spring are posted on Monday, October 12, 2026.
36. The first submission deadline for theses and dissertations is Monday, October 19, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. in the Office of the Graduate Dean.
37. Spring registration begins for continuing students on Monday, October 26, 2026.
38. The Withdrawal Period ends on Friday, October 30, 2026. No course withdrawals are accepted after 11:59 p.m.
39. Spring registration begins for new undergraduate students on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
40. The final completion deadline for theses and dissertations is Monday, November 16, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. in the Office of the Graduate Dean.
41. South Alabama Thanksgiving Break 2026 for students begins at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 24, 2026, and continues through Sunday, November 29, 2026, including weekend classes. Thanksgiving Holiday for faculty, staff, and administration begins at noon on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, and continues through Friday, November 27, 2026.
42. The Financial Aid/Scholarship Bookstore Charging Period begins on Monday, November 30, 2026.
43. Spring registration begins for new graduate students on Tuesday, December 1, 2026.
44. The last day of classes is Friday, December 4, 2026.
45. Final examinations are held from Monday, December 7, 2026, to Thursday, December 10, 2026.
46. Final grading opens on Monday, December 7, 2026.
47. Commencement Weekend is held from Friday, December 11, 2026, to Saturday, December 12, 2026.
48. Residence halls close on Friday, December 11, 2026.
49. Final grades are due by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, December 14, 2026.
50. Final grades are posted on Tuesday, December 15, 2026.
51. The Winter Holiday Break for staff and administration is held from Monday, December 21, 2026, to Friday, January 1, 2027.
52. The annual campus-wide power outage for electrical maintenance is scheduled for a date to be determined from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
53. The backup date for the annual campus-wide power outage for electrical maintenance is scheduled for a date to be determined from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
54. The deadline for incomplete grades from Fall 2026 is Friday, March 5, 2027.

South Alabama Academic Calendar Spring 2027

1. Spring registration begins for continuing students on Monday, October 26, 2026.
2. Spring registration begins for new undergraduate students on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
3. The Financial Aid/Scholarship Bookstore Charging Period begins on Monday, November 30, 2026.
4. Spring registration begins for new graduate students on Tuesday, December 1, 2026.
5. JagPack opt-out begins on Saturday, December 12, 2026.
6. Faculty, staff, and administration return to work on Monday, January 4, 2027.
7. The 100% of spring balance due deadline is Wednesday, January 6, 2027.
8. All courses are voided on Thursday, January 7, 2027, unless the balance is paid in full or the student is enrolled in a payment plan through the Avoid the Void process.
9. Residence halls open on Friday, January 8, 2027.
10. Spring 2027 classes start on Monday, January 11, 2027.
11. The Add/Drop Period begins on Monday, January 11, 2027.
12. Late registration begins on Monday, January 11, 2027.
13. The 100% Charge Removal Period begins for dropped classes on Monday, January 11, 2027.
14. The last day to add classes is Friday, January 15, 2027.
15. Late registration ends at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, January 15, 2027.
16. The late registration 100% balance due deadline is Friday, January 15, 2027.
17. Martin Luther King Holiday is observed on Monday, January 18, 2027, for students, faculty, staff, and administration.
18. The last day to drop without a WD grade is Monday, January 18, 2027, at 10:00 p.m.
19. Credit hours freeze at 10:00 p.m. on Monday, January 18, 2027, for financial aid eligibility, and eligible financial aid applies to the student account.
20. The last day to opt out of JagPack is Monday, January 18, 2027.
21. The 100% Charge Removal Period for dropped classes ends on Monday, January 18, 2027.
22. The Withdrawal Period begins on Tuesday, January 19, 2027.
23. The 50% Charge Removal Period begins for withdrawn classes and complete withdrawals on Tuesday, January 19, 2027.
24. All courses are voided on Tuesday, January 19, 2027, unless the balance is paid in full or the student is enrolled in a payment plan through the Avoid the Void process.
25. The Financial Aid/Scholarship Bookstore Charging Period ends on Tuesday, January 19, 2027.
26. The 50% Charge Removal Period for withdrawn classes and complete withdrawals ends on Sunday, January 24, 2027. No course withdrawal refunds are available after this date.
27. The credit balance refund review process begins on Monday, January 25, 2027.
28. The Census Date is Tuesday, January 26, 2027.
29. Mardi Gras Holiday is observed from Monday, February 8, 2027, to Tuesday, February 9, 2027, for students, faculty, staff, and administration.
30. Mid-term grading opens on Monday, February 22, 2027.
31. Mid-term grades are due by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 1, 2027.
32. Mid-term grades are posted on Wednesday, March 3, 2027.
33. The deadline for incomplete grades from Fall 2026 is Friday, March 5, 2027.
34. The last day for Summer graduation applications is Friday, March 5, 2027.
35. South Alabama Spring Break 2027 is held from Monday, March 8, 2027, to Sunday, March 14, 2027.
36. Time tickets for Summer and Fall are posted on Monday, March 8, 2027.
37. The first submission deadline for theses and dissertations is Monday, March 22, 2027, by 5:00 p.m. in the Office of the Graduate Dean.
38. Summer registration begins for continuing students, including May Term, on Monday, April 5, 2027.
39. Fall registration begins for continuing students on Monday, April 5, 2027.
40. The Withdrawal Period ends on Friday, April 9, 2027. No course withdrawals are accepted after 11:59 p.m.
41. The final completion deadline for theses and dissertations is Monday, April 12, 2027, by 5:00 p.m. in the Office of the Graduate Dean.
42. Fall registration begins for new undergraduate students on Tuesday, April 20, 2027.
43. Summer registration begins for new undergraduate students on Tuesday, April 20, 2027.
44. Summer registration begins for new graduate students, including May Term, on Monday, April 26, 2027.
45. Fall registration begins for new graduate students on Monday, April 26, 2027.
46. The last day of classes is Friday, April 30, 2027.
47. Final grading opens on Monday, May 3, 2027.
48. Final examinations are held from Monday, May 3, 2027, to Thursday, May 6, 2027.
49. Residence halls close on Friday, May 7, 2027.
50. Commencement Weekend is held from Friday, May 7, 2027, to Saturday, May 8, 2027.
51. Final grades are due by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 10, 2027.
52. Final grades are posted on Tuesday, May 11, 2027.
53. The deadline for incomplete grades from Spring 2027 is Friday, October 1, 2027.

For more on the South Alabama academic calendar 2026-2027, visit the University of South Alabama calendar website.