Academic Calendar

The University reserves the right to make changes to this calendar. A detailed current calendar can be found at: https://sps.northwestern.edu/student-services/important-dates.php

Fall Quarter 2025

Date Event
September
5 Summer Degree conferral
8 Late registration for Fall 2025 begins 12:00 a.m. CDT; $75 late registration fee applies
15 Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition
16 Fall 2025 quarter begins
22 Last day to add a Fall 2025 course
October
17 Last day to submit Graduation Application for December graduation
24 Last day to drop a Fall 2025 course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript. Requests for withdrawal can be initiated until the Friday of the nineth week of the term.)
31 Last day to submit incomplete work for Summer 2025
November
7 Last day to change a Fall 2025 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP
10 Registration for Winter 2026 begins at 8:30 a.m. CST
14 Last day to withdraw from a Fall 2025 course with academic penalty (withdrawals will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript. Requests for withdrawal can be initiated until the Friday of the nineth week of the term.)
24 Thanksgiving vacation begins; no classes through December 1
December
13 Fall 2025 quarter ends
15 Grades for Fall 2025 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CST
16 Grades for Fall 2025 available through CAESAR
19 Fall degrees conferred
22 Registration for Winter 2026 ends at 11:59 p.m. CST
23 Late registration for Winter 2026 begins; $75 late registration fee applies

Winter Quarter 2026

Date Event
January
4 Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition
5 Winter 2026 quarter begins
9 Last day to add a Winter 2026 course
19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; no classes in session
23 Last day to submit Graduation Application for March graduation
February
6 Last day to submit Graduation Application for June graduation
6 Last day to submit incomplete work for Fall 2025
13 Last day to drop a Winter 2026 course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript. Requests for withdrawal can be initiated until Friday of the nineth week of the term.)
23 Registration for Spring 2026 opens at 8:30 a.m. CDT
27 Last day to change a Winter 2026 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP
March
6 Last day to withdraw from a Winter 2026 course with academic penalty (withdrawals will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript. Requests for withdrawal can be initiated until the Friday of the nineth week.)
15 Registration for Spring 2026 ends at 11:59 p.m. CDT
16 Late registration for Spring 2026 begins; $75 late registration fee applies
21 Winter 2026 quarter ends; spring break begins
23 Grades for Winter 2026 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CDT
24 Grades for Winter 2026 available through CAESAR
27 Winter degrees conferred

Spring Quarter 2026

Date Event
March
29 Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition
30 Spring 2026 quarter begins
April
3 Last day to add a Spring 2026 course
6 Summer Session 2026 registration opens
May
8 Last day to drop a Spring 2026 course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript. Requests for withdrawal can be initiated until the Friday of the nineth week of the term)
8 Last day to submit incomplete work for Winter 2026
22 Last day to change a Spring 2026 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP
25 Memorial Day, no classes in session
29 Last day to withdraw from a Spring 2026 course with academic penalty (withdrawals will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript. Requests for withdrawal can be initiated until the Friday of the nineth week.)
June
13 Spring 2026 quarter ends
15 Grades for Spring 2026 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CDT
16 Grades for Spring 2026 available through CAESAR
19 Spring degrees conferred

Summer Quarter 2026

Date Event
June
19 Juneteenth Observed no classes
21 Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition.
22 Summer Session 2026 begins; late registration for Summer 2026 begins *Tentative
26 Late registration for Summer 2026 ends
July
4 Independence Day, no classes in session
6 Registration for Fall 2026 opens
10 Last day to submit Graduation Application for August graduation
31 Last day to drop a Summer 2026 course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript. Requests for withdrawal can be initiated until Friday of the nineth week of the term.)
August
14 Last day to change a Summer 2026 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP
21 Last day to withdraw from a Summer 2026 course with academic penalty (withdrawals will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript. Requests for withdrawal can be initiated until the Friday of the nineth week of the term.)
September
5 Summer Session 2026 ends
7 Summer Session 2026 grades are due by 3pm
11 Summer degrees conferred

The University reserves the right to make changes to this calendar. A detailed current calendar can be found at: https://sps.northwestern.edu/student-services/important-dates.php

Fall Quarter 2025

Date Event
September
1 Labor Day (no classes)
2 Deadline to submit the Intent to Register form (for 499, 579, 580) and Thesis Registration form (for 589 and 590) and all other special registration requests for Fall Quarter registration by 5pm. Deadline to submit the Application for Tuition Remission for MFA courses.
5 Summer 2025 degrees awarded.
15 Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition.
16 Fall Quarter on-campus and online classes begin.
22 End of Fall Quarter registration period in CAESAR. Students may not add a class after this date.
October
15 Application for readmission for Winter Quarter due. Application for admission for Winter Quarter due.
17 Application for a Degree due to the SPS Registrar’s Office to receive a December degree.
24 Last day to drop a Fall course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript. Requests for withdrawal can be initiated until the Friday of the nineth week of the term.)
November
10 Registration for Winter Quarter opens in CAESAR.
14 Last day to withdraw from a Fall 2025 course with academic penalty (withdrawals will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript.)
24 Thanksgiving break (No sync sessions for online classes).
25 Thanksgiving break (No sync sessions for online classes).
26 Thanksgiving break (No sync sessions for online classes).
27 Thanksgiving break (No sync sessions for online classes).
28 Thanksgiving break (No sync sessions for online classes).
December
6 All thesis requirements and approvals due by 5pm for students completing 590 Thesis to receive a December degree.
13 Official end of quarter
15 Fall quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm.
Deadline to submit the Intent to Register (for 499, 579, 580) and Thesis Registration form (for 589 and 590) form and all other special registration requests for winter quarter registration by 5pm. Deadline to submit the Application for Tuition Remission for MFA courses.
19 Fall 2025 degrees awarded.

Winter Quarter 2026

Date Event
January
4 Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition.
5 Winter Quarter on-campus and online classes begin.
9 End of Winter Quarter registration period in CAESAR. Students may not add a class after this date.
15 Application for readmission for Spring Quarter due. Application for admission for Spring Quarter due.
19 Martin Luther King Jr. Day; no classes (No sync sessions for online classes).
23 Application for a Degree due to the SPS Registrar’s Office to receive a March degree.
February
6 Application for a Degree due to the SPS Registrar’s Office to receive a June degree.
13 Last day to drop a Winter course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript. Requests for withdrawal can be initiated until the Friday of the nineth week of the term. )
23 Registration for Spring Quarter opens in CAESAR.
March
6 Last day to withdraw from a Winter 2026 course with academic penalty (withdrawals will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript.)
13 All thesis requirements and approvals due by 5pm for students completing 590 Thesis to receive a March degree.
16 Deadline to submit the Intent to Register (for 499, 579, 580) and Thesis Registration form (for 589 and 590) form and all other special registration requests for Spring Quarter registration by 5pm. Deadline to submit the Application for Tuition Remission for MFA courses.
21 Official end of quarter
23 Winter Quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm.
27 Winter 2026 degrees awarded.

Spring Quarter 2026

Date Event
March
29 Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition
30 Spring Quarter SPS evening on-ground and online classes begin
April
3 End of Spring Quarter registration period in CAESAR. Students may not add a class after this date.
6 Registration for Summer Quarter begins
15 Application for program transfer for Summer Quarter due.
Application for Readmission for Summer Quarter due.
Application for admission for Summer Quarter due.
May
8 Last day to drop a spring course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript. Requests for withdrawal can be initiated until the Friday of the nineth week of the term.)
15 All thesis requirements and approvals must be complete for students completing 590 Thesis to receive a June degree.
25 Memorial Day; Northwestern University closes (No sync sessions for online classes).
29 Last day to withdraw from a Spring 2026 course with academic penalty (withdrawals will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript.)
June
8 Deadline to submit the Intent to Register (for 499, 579, 580) and Thesis Registration form (for 589 and 590) form and all other special registration requests for Summer Quarter by 5pm. Deadline to submit Graduate Change of Registration form for non-SPS (WCAS) courses. Deadline to submit the Application for Tuition Remission for MFA courses.
13 Official end of quarter
14 School of Professional Studies Convocation Ceremony
15 Commencement for all Northwestern graduates
16 Spring Quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm.
19 Spring 2026 degrees awarded.

Summer Quarter 2026

Date Event
June
19 Juneteenth Observed (no classes)
21 Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition.
22 Summer Quarter on-campus and online classes begin. *Tentative
26 End of Summer Quarter registration period in CAESAR. Students may not add a class after this date.
July
4 Independence Day; Northwestern University closes (no sync sessions for online classes).
6 Registration for Fall 2026 quarter opens in CAESAR.
Application for program transfer for Fall Quarter due. Application for Readmission for Fall Quarter due. Application for admission for Fall Quarter due.
10 Application for a Degree due to the SPS Registrar’s Office to receive an August degree.
31 Last day to drop a summer course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript. Requests for withdrawal can be initiated until the Friday of the nineth week of the term.)
August
14 All thesis requirements and approvals due by 5pm for students completing 590 Thesis to receive an August degree.
21 Last day to withdraw from a Summer 2026 course with academic penalty (withdrawals will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript.)
September
5 Last day of Summer Quarter for on-campus classes and online classes
7 Summer quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm.
11 Summer 2026 degrees awarded.