This UMD Academic Calendar 2026-2027 is your go-to source for details on Fall Break, Thanksgiving Recess, Spring Break, and other non-instructional periods.
Staying informed about key dates is vital for success at the University of Maryland.
Utilize this UMD academic schedule to proactively manage your enrollment, plan for graduation, and take advantage of all the opportunities available throughout the academic year at the University of Maryland.
The University of Maryland (UMD) system, including its flagship campus at College Park, primarily operates on a semester system.
This structure divides the academic year into two main, extended periods: the Fall semester and the Spring semester, each typically running for approximately 15-16 weeks of instruction, culminating in a dedicated final exam period.
In addition to these full semesters, UMD offers various summer sessions of shorter durations (e.g., 3-week, 6-week, 8-week, 10-week, 12-week), and a concise winter session (around 3-4 weeks), providing flexible options for accelerated study or fulfilling specific credit requirements.
Table of Contents
UMD Academic Calendar Fall 2026
- The Schedule of Classes becomes available on Friday, February 20, 2026.
- Registration appointments and registration blocks become available on Friday, March 6, 2026.
- Priority registration and graduate student registration begin on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
- Early registration for currently enrolled students takes place from Monday, March 30, 2026, through Thursday, May 7, 2026.
- General registration for returning students takes place from Friday, May 8, 2026, through Sunday, August 30, 2026.
- The last day to cancel registration and receive a 100% refund is Sunday, August 30, 2026.
- UMD Fall 2026 classes start on Monday, August 31, 2026. It is the first day of classes.
- Late registration begins on Monday, August 31, 2026. Students initiating registration on or after this date will be charged a $20 late registration fee.
- The schedule adjustment period takes place from Monday, August 31, 2026, through Monday, September 14, 2026.
- The mandatory waitlist check-in period takes place from Monday, August 31, 2026, through Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
- The last day to drop a course with a 100% refund is Friday, September 4, 2026.
- Labor Day, during which the university is closed, takes place on Monday, September 7, 2026.
- The last day to apply for December 2026 graduation is Monday, September 14, 2026.
- The last day to drop a course with an 80% refund is Monday, September 14, 2026.
- The last day to withdraw from all courses with an 80% refund is Monday, September 14, 2026.
- The last day to withdraw from all courses with a 60% refund is Monday, September 21, 2026.
- The last day to withdraw from all courses with a 40% refund is Monday, September 28, 2026.
- The last day to withdraw from all courses with a 20% refund is Monday, October 5, 2026.
- Mid-term grades for undergraduate students become available on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
- UMD Fall Break 2026 is from Monday, October 12, 2026, through Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
- The last day for undergraduate students to drop a course with a “W” is Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
- Graduate student registration deadlines, including the last day for graduate students to drop a course, change course credit level, and change grading method, take place on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
- UMD Thanksgiving Break 2026 is from Wednesday, November 25, 2026, through Sunday, November 29, 2026.
- Instructors can begin submitting final grades on Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
- The last day of classes is Friday, December 11, 2026.
- The last day to withdraw from all courses with a 0% refund is Friday, December 11, 2026.
- Reading Day takes place on Saturday, December 12, 2026.
- Final exams take place from Monday, December 14, 2026, through Monday, December 21, 2026.
- The degree conferral date for the Fall 2026 semester is Monday, December 21, 2026.
- Winter Break, during which the university is closed, takes place from Friday, December 25, 2026, through Sunday, January 3, 2027.
- Official transcripts with Fall 2026 grades and GPAs become available on Tuesday, January 5, 2027.
- Degree clearances are due on Tuesday, January 19, 2027.
- Official transcripts with December 2026 degrees become available on Wednesday, January 20, 2027.
- Commencement ceremonies for colleges and departments take place from Sunday, May 23, 2027, through Wednesday, May 26, 2027.
- The main commencement ceremony takes place on Monday, May 24, 2027.
UMD Academic Calendar Winter Term 2026-2027
- Classes begin on Monday, January 4, 2027.
- The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday takes place on Monday, January 18, 2027.
- Classes end on Friday, January 22, 2027.
UMD Academic Calendar Spring 2027
- The first day of classes for Spring 2027 semester is Wednesday, January 27, 2027.
- UMD Spring Break 2027 is from Sunday, March 14, 2027, through Sunday, March 21, 2027.
- The last day of classes is Tuesday, May 11, 2027.
- Reading Day takes place on Wednesday, May 12, 2027.
- Final exams take place from Thursday, May 13, 2027, through Thursday, May 20, 2027.
- Commencement for college and department ceremonies takes place from Sunday, May 23, 2027, through Wednesday, May 26, 2027.
- The main commencement ceremony takes place on Monday, May 24, 2027.
UMD Academic Calendar Summer 2026
- Summer Sessions I and I-A begin on Monday, June 1, 2026.
- Session I-A ends on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
- Juneteenth (university closed) is observed on Friday, June 19, 2026.
- Session I-B begins on Monday, June 22, 2026.
- Independence Day (the university closed) is observed on Friday, July 3, 2026.
- Sessions I and I-B end on Friday, July 10, 2026.
- Sessions II and II-C begin on Monday, July 13, 2026.
- Session II-C ends on Friday, July 31, 2026.
- Session II-D begins on Monday, August 3, 2026.
- Sessions II and II-D end on Friday, August 21, 2026.
For more on the UMD Academic Calendar 2026-2027, visit the University of Maryland Calendar Website.
