UNCW Academic Calendar 2025‑2026: Important Dates

The UNCW Academic Calendar 2025‑2026 brings together every crucial date from application and enrollment deadlines, tuition payment due dates, and course add/drop windows to campus holidays and final exam schedules.

The University of North Carolina Wilmington operates on two main semesters plus flexible summer sessions:

• Fall Semester: 14 instructional weeks
• Spring Semester: Spans 14 instructional weeks.
• Summer Sessions:
  • Session 1 May – June.
  • Session 2 June – July.

Each term’s add/drop deadline, withdrawal cutoff, and grade‐submission date are clearly listed in the calendar, making it your go‑to guide for registering, budgeting, and planning your UNCW academic year.

UNCW Academic Calendar Fall 2025

1. The Fall 2025 semester begins on Monday, August 11, 2025.
2. Freshman Orientation and Advising occur on Monday, August 18, 2025.
3. Convocation takes place on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.
4. The first day of classes is Wednesday, August 20, 2025.
5. The last day to add/drop classes is Wednesday, August 27, 2025.
6. No classes are held on Monday, September 1, 2025 (Labor Day, University Holiday).
7. Census Day for Fall 2025 is on Wednesday, September 3, 2025.
8. The residency change deadline for Fall 2025 is Thursday, October 4, 2025. Residency status changes must have an RDS effective date on or before this date to apply for this semester; changes after this date will take effect for the next academic term.
9. UNCW Fall Break 2025 (no classes) occurs from Thursday, October 9, 2025, to Saturday, October 11, 2025.
10. The last day for undergraduate students to withdraw from a course with a “W” grade is Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
11. The last day for graduate students to withdraw from a course with a “W” grade is Friday, November 10, 2025.
12. No classes are held on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 (University remains open).
13. UNCW Thanksgiving Break 2025 (no classes) occurs from Wednesday, November 26, 2025, to Saturday, November 29, 2025.
14. SWAP Day: Thursday classes meet on Tuesday, December 2, 2025.
15. SWAP Day: Friday classes meet on Wednesday, December 3, 2025.
16. The last day of Fall 2025 classes is Wednesday, December 3, 2025.
17. Reading Day is held on Thursday, December 4, 2025.
18. Final examinations occur from Friday, December 5, 2025, to Thursday, December 11, 2025.
19. Commencement ceremonies are held on Friday, December 12, 2025, and Saturday, December 13, 2025.
20. The Fall 2025 semester ends on Monday, December 15, 2025, with grades due by 2:00 p.m. on that date.

UNCW Academic Calendar Spring 2026

1. The Spring 2026 semester begins on Monday, January 5, 2026.
2. The first day of classes is Monday, January 12, 2026.
3. No classes are held on Monday, January 19, 2026 (MLK Day Holiday).
4. The last day to add/drop classes is Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
5. Census Day for Spring 2026 is on Monday, January 26, 2026.
6. UNCW Spring Break 2026 (no classes) occurs from Monday, March 2, 2026, to Sunday, March 8, 2026.
7. The last day for undergraduate students to withdraw from a course with a “W” grade is Friday, March 18, 2026.
8. No classes are held on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 (University open).
9. No classes are held on Thursday, April 2, 2026, and Friday, April 3, 2026 (Easter Holiday).
10. The last day for graduate students to withdraw from a course with a “W” grade is Monday, April 9, 2026.
11. SWAP Day: Thursday classes meet on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
12. SWAP Day: Friday classes meet on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
13. The last day of Spring 2026 classes is Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
14. Reading Day is held on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
15. Final examinations occur from Friday, May 1, 2026, to Thursday, May 7, 2026.
16. Commencement ceremonies are held on Friday, May 8, 2026, and Saturday, May 9, 2026.
17. The Spring 2026 semester ends on Tuesday, May 11, 2026, with grades due by 2:00 p.m. on that date.

For more on the UNCW Academic Calendar 2025-2026, visit the University of North Carolina Wilmington Calendar website.