SPS Academic and Holiday Calendar
Application deadlines for the bachelor's degree program and the SPS academic calendar, including quarter dates and registration deadlines, are detailed below.
Students seeking information about the refund schedule for the School of Professional Studies should view the Refund Schedule at the Northwestern Student Finance website, as well as the Withdrawal Calculator.
Application Deadlines
- Fall quarter: August 1
- Winter quarter: November 1
- Spring quarter: February 1
- Summer quarter: May 1
View admission procedures and policies.
Academic Quarter Dates
2026-27
- Fall quarter: September 23 – December 12, 2026
- Winter quarter: January 4 – March 20, 2027
- Spring quarter: March 29 - June 11, 2027
- Summer quarter: June 21 - August 28, 2027
SPS Academic and Holiday Calendar
2026-27
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| Monday, July 13, 2026 | Registration for Fall 2026 opens at 8:30 a.m. CDT | |
| Friday, July 1, 2026 | Last day to drop a Summer 2028 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 ninth week of the term.) | |
| AUGUST 2026 | ||
| Friday, August 14, 2026 | Last day to change a Summer 2026 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP | |
| Friday, August 21, 2026 | 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 Friday of the ninth week of the term.) | |
| Sunday, August 30, 2026 | Summer Session 2026 ends | |
| SEPTEMBER 2026 | ||
| Friday, September 4, 2026 | Summer 2026 degrees conferred | |
| Tuesday, September 8, 2026 | Late registration for Fall 2026 begins 12:00 a.m. CDT; $75 late registration fee applies | |
| Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | Students who drop a Fall 2026 course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition | |
| Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | Fall 2028 quarter begins | |
| Tuesday, September 29, 2026 | Last day to add a Fall 2026 course and change sections in CAESAR | |
| OCTOBER 2026 | ||
| Friday, October 23, 2026 | Last day to submit Graduation Application for December graduation | |
| Friday, October 30, 2028 | Last day to drop a Fall 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 ninth week of the term.) | |
| NOVEMBER 2026 | ||
| Friday, November 6, 2026 | Last day to submit incomplete work for Summer 2026 | |
| Friday, November 13, 2026 | Last day to change a Fall 2026 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP | |
| Monday, November 16, 2026 | Registration for Winter 2027 begins at 8:30 a.m. CST | |
| Friday, November 20, 2026 | Last day to withdraw from a Fall 2026 course with academic penalty (Withdrawals will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript. Requests for withdrawal can be initiated until Friday of the ninth week of the term.) | |
| Wednesday, November 25, 2026 | Thanksgiving break begins at 6:00 p.m. CST and continues through Sunday, November 29 | |
| Thursday, November 27 - Sunday, November 29, 2026 | Northwestern University offices closed for Thanksgiving break | |
| Monday, November 30, 2026 | Fall 2026 classes resume | |
| DECEMBER 2026 | ||
| Saturday, December 12, 2026 | Fall 2026 quarter ends | |
| Monday, December 14, 2026 | Grades for Fall 2026 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CST | |
| Tuesday, December 15, 2026 | Grades for Fall 2026 available through CAESAR | |
| Friday, December 18, 2026 | Fall 2026 degrees conferred | |
| Sunday, December 20, 2026 | Registration for Winter 2027 ends at 11:59 p.m. CST | |
| Monday, December 21, 2026 | Late registration for Winter 2027 begins; $75 late registration fee applies | |
| Thursday, December 24, 2026 | Winter Recess Starts - University Closed Through January 1, 2027 | |
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| JANUARY 2027 | ||
| Sunday, January 3, 2027 | Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition | |
| Monday, January 4, 2027 | Winter 2027 quarter begins | |
| Friday, January 8, 2027 | Last day to add a Winter 2027 course and change sections in CAESAR | |
| Monday, January 18, 2027 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; no classes in session, University closed | |
| Friday, January 22, 2027 | Last day to submit Graduation Application for March graduation | |
| FEBRUARY 2027 | ||
| Friday, February 5, 2027 | Last day to submit incomplete work for Fall 2026 | |
| Friday, February 12, 2027 | Last day to drop a Winter 2027 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 ninth week of the term.) | |
| Monday, February 22, 2027 | Registration for Spring 2027 opens at 8:30 a.m. CDT | |
| Friday, February 26, 2027 | Last day to change a Winter 2027 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP | |
| Friday, February 26, 2027 | Last day to submit Graduation Application for June graduation | |
| MARCH 2027 |
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| Friday, March 5, 2027 | Last day to withdraw from a Winter 2027 course with academic penalty (Withdrawals will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript. Requests for withdrawal can be initiated until Friday of the ninth week of the term.) | |
| Sunday, March 14, 2027 | Registration for Spring 2027 ends at 11:59 p.m. CDT | |
| Monday, March 15, 2027 | Late registration for Spring 2027 begins; $75 late registration fee applies | |
| Saturday, March 20, 2027 | Winter 2027 quarter ends; spring break begins | |
| Monday, March 22, 2027 | Grades for Winter 2027 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CDT | |
| Tuesday, March 23, 2027 | Grades for Winter 2027 available through CAESAR | |
| Friday, March 26, 2027 | Winter 2027 degrees conferred | |
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| MARCH 2027 | ||
| Sunday, March 28, 2027 | Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition | |
| Monday, March 29, 2027 | Spring 2027 quarter begins | |
| APRIL 2027 | ||
| Friday, April 2, 2027 | Last day to add a Spring 2027 course and change sections in CAESAR | |
| Monday, April 5, 2027 | Registration for Summer Session 2027 registration begins | |
| MAY 2027 | ||
| Friday, May 7, 2027 | Last day to submit incomplete work for Winter 2027 | |
| Friday, May 7, 2027 | Last day to drop a Spring 2027 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 ninth week of the term.) | |
| Friday, May 21, 2027 | Last day to change a Spring 2027 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP | |
| Monday, May 24, 2027 | Memorial Day; no classes in session, University closed | |
| Friday, May 28, 2027 | Last day to withdraw from a Spring 2027 course with academic penalty (Withdrawals will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript. Requests for withdrawal can be initiated until Friday of the ninth week of the term.) | |
| JUNE 2027 | ||
| Saturday, June 12, 2027 | Spring 2027 quarter ends | |
| Tuesday, June 15, 2027 | Grades for Spring 2027 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CDT | |
| Wednesday, June 16, 2027 | Grades for Spring 2027 available through CAESAR | |
| Friday, June 18, 2027 | Spring 2027 degrees conferred | |
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| JUNE 2027 | ||
| Friday, June 18, 2027 | Juneteenth Day; no classes in session, University closed | |
| Sunday, June 20, 2027 | Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition | |
| Monday, June 21, 2027 | Summer Session 2027 begins; late registration for Summer 2027 begins | |
| Friday, June 25, 2027 | Late registration for Summer 2027 ends | |
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JULY 2027
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Monday, July 5, 2027
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Independence Day observed; no classes in session, University closed | |
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Monday, July 12, 2027
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Registration for Fall 2027 begins at 8:30 a.m. CDT | |
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Friday, July 16, 2027
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Last day to submit Graduation Application for August graduation | |
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Friday, July 30, 2027
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Last day to drop a Summer 2027 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 ninth week of the term.) | |
| AUGUST 2027 | ||
| Friday, August 13, 2027 | Last day to change a Summer 2027 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP | |
| Friday, August 20. 2027 | Last day to withdraw from a Summer 2027 course with academic penalty (Withdrawals will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript. Requests for withdrawal can be initiated until Friday of the ninth week of the term.) | |
| Saturday, August 28, 2027 | Summer Session 2027 ends | |
| Monday, August 30, 2027 | Grades for Summer 2027 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CDT | |
| SEPTEMBER 2027 | ||
| Friday, September 3, 2027 | Summer 2027 degrees conferred | |
| Tuesday, September 21, 2027 | Fall 2027 quarter begins | |