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 2024

Date Event
August
30 Summer Degree conferral
September
16 Late registration for Fall 2024 begins 12:00 a.m. CDT; $75 late registration fee applies
23 Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition
24 Fall 2024 quarter begins
30 Last day to add a Fall 2024 course
November
1 Last day to drop a Fall 2024 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 Graduation Application for December graduation
8 Last day to submit incomplete work for Summer 2024
11 Registration for Winter 2025 begins at 8:30 a.m. CST
15 Last day to change a Fall 2024 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP
22 Last day to withdraw from a Fall 2024 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.)
28 Thanksgiving vacation begins; no classes through December 1
December
14 Fall 2024 quarter ends
16 Grades for Fall 2024 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CST
17 Grades for Fall 2024 available through CAESAR
20 Fall degrees conferred
26 Registration for Winter 2025 ends at 11:59 p.m. CST
27 Late registration for Winter 2025 begins; $75 late registration fee applies

Winter Quarter 2025

Date Event
January
5 Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition
6 Winter 2025 quarter begins
10 Last day to add a Winter 2025 course
20 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; no classes in session
February
7 Last day to submit Graduation Application for March graduation
7 Last day to submit incomplete work for Fall 2024
14 Last day to drop a Winter 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 Friday of the nineth week of the term.)
24 Registration for Spring 2025 opens at 8:30 a.m. CDT
28 Last day to change a Winter 2025 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP
March
7 Last day to withdraw from a Winter 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.)
16 Registration for Spring 2025 ends at 11:59 p.m. CDT
17 Late registration for Spring 2025 begins; $75 late registration fee applies
22 Winter 2025 quarter ends; spring break begins
24 Grades for Winter 2025 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CDT
25 Grades for Winter 2025 available through CAESAR
28 Winter degrees conferred

Spring Quarter 2025

Date Event
March
30 Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition
31 Spring 2025 quarter begins
April
4 Last day to add a Spring 2025 course
7 Summer Session 2025 registration opens
11 Last day to submit Graduation Application for June graduation
May
9 Last day to drop a Spring 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)
9 Last day to submit incomplete work for Winter 2025
23 Last day to change a Spring 2025 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP
26 Memorial Day, no classes in session
30 Last day to withdraw from a Spring 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.)
June
14 Spring 2025 quarter ends
17 Grades for Spring 2025 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CDT
18 Grades for Spring 2025 available through CAESAR
20 Spring degrees conferred

Summer Quarter 2025

Date Event
June
22 Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition.
23 Summer Session 2025 begins; late registration for Summer 2025 begins
19 Juneteenth Observed no classes
27 Late registration for Summer 2025 ends
July
4 Independence Day, no classes in session
7 Registration for Fall 2025 opens
18 Last day to submit Graduation Application for August graduation
August
1 Last day to drop a Summer 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 Friday of the nineth week of the term.)
15 Last day to change a Summer 2025 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP
22 Last day to withdraw from a Summer 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.)
30 Summer Session 2025 ends
September
2 Summer Session 2025 grades are due by 3pm
5 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 2024

Date Event
August
30 Summer 2024 degrees awarded.
September
2 Labor Day (no classes)
3 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.
23 Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition.
24 Fall Quarter on-campus and online classes begin.
30 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.
November
1 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.)
8 Application for a Degree due to the SPS Registrar’s Office to receive a December degree.
11 Registration for Winter Quarter opens in CAESAR.
22 Last day to withdraw from a Fall 2024 course with academic penalty (withdrawals will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript.)
27 Thanksgiving break (No sync sessions for online classes).
28 Thanksgiving break (No sync sessions for online classes).
29 Thanksgiving break (No sync sessions for online classes).
30 Thanksgiving break (No sync sessions for online classes).
31 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.
14 Official end of quarter
16 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.
20 Fall 2024 degrees awarded.

Winter Quarter 2025

Date Event
January
5 Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition.
6 Winter Quarter on-campus and online classes begin.
10 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.
20 Martin Luther King Jr. Day; no classes (No sync sessions for online classes).
February
7 Application for a Degree due to the SPS Registrar’s Office to receive a March degree.
14 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. )
24 Registration for Spring Quarter opens in CAESAR.
March
7 Last day to withdraw from a Winter 2025 course with academic penalty (withdrawals will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript.)
14 All thesis requirements and approvals due by 5pm for students completing 590 Thesis to receive a March degree.
17 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.
22 Official end of quarter
24 Winter Quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm.
28 Winter 2025 degrees awarded.

Spring Quarter 2025

Date Event
March
30 Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition
31 Spring Quarter SPS evening on-ground and online classes begin
April
4 End of Spring Quarter registration period in CAESAR. Students may not add a class after this date.
7 Registration for Summer Quarter begins
11 Application for a Degree due to the SPS Registrar’s Office to receive a June degree.
15 Application for program transfer for Summer Quarter due.
Application for Readmission for Summer Quarter due.
Application for admission for Summer Quarter due.
May
9 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.)
16 All thesis requirements and approvals must be complete for students completing 590 Thesis to receive a June degree.
26 Memorial Day; Northwestern University closes (No sync sessions for online classes).
30 Last day to withdraw from a Spring 2025 course with academic penalty (withdrawals will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript.)
June
9 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
17 Spring Quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm.
20 Spring 2025 degrees awarded.

Summer Quarter 2025

Date Event
June
19 Juneteenth Observed (no classes)
22 Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition.
23 Summer Quarter on-campus and online classes begin.
27 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).
7 Registration for Fall 2025 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.
18 Application for a Degree due to the SPS Registrar’s Office to receive an August degree.
August
1 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.)
15 All thesis requirements and approvals due by 5pm for students completing 590 Thesis to receive an August degree.
22 Last day to withdraw from a Summer 2025 course with academic penalty (withdrawals will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript.)
30 Last day of Summer Quarter for on-campus classes and online classes
September
2 Summer quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm.
5 Summer 2025 degrees awarded.