Important Dates and Academic Calendar
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.
Quarter Dates
2025-26
- Fall quarterr: September 16 – December 13, 2025
- Winter quarter: January 5 – March 21, 2026
- Spring quarter: March 30 - June 13, 2026
- Summer quarter: June 22* - August 30, 2026
*tentative
SPS Academic and Holiday Calendar
2025-26
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| Monday, July 7, 2025 |
Registration for Fall 2025 opens at 8:30 a.m. CDT | |
| AUGUST 2025 | ||
| Friday, August 1, 2025 | 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 ninth week of the term.) | |
| Friday, August 15, 2025 | Last day to change a Summer 2025 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP | |
| Friday, August 22, 2025 | 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 Friday of the ninth week of the term.) | |
| Saturday, August 30, 2025 | Summer Session 2025 ends | |
| SEPTEMBER 2025 | ||
| Friday, September 5, 2025 | Summer 2025 degrees conferred | |
| Monday, September 8, 2025 | Late registration for Fall 2025 begins 12:00 a.m. CDT; $75 late registration fee applies | |
| Monday, September 15, 2025 | Students who drop a Fall 2025 course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition | |
| Tuesday, September 16, 2025 | Fall 2025 quarter begins | |
| Monday, September 22, 2025 | Last day to add a Fall 2025 course and change sections in CAESAR | |
| OCTOBER 2025 | ||
| Friday, October 17, 2025 | Last day to submit Graduation Application for December graduation | |
| Friday, October 24, 2025 | 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 Friday of the ninth week of the term.) | |
| Friday, October 31, 2025 | Last day to submit incomplete work for Summer 2025 | |
| NOVEMBER 2025 | ||
| Friday, November 7, 2025 | Last day to change a Fall 2025 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP | |
| Monday, November 10, 2025 | Registration for Winter 2026 begins at 8:30 a.m. CST | |
| Friday, November 14, 2025 | 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 Friday of the ninth week of the term.) | |
| Monday, November 24, 2025 | Thanksgiving break begins at 6:00 p.m. CST and continues through Sunday, November 30 | |
| Thursday, November 27 - Sunday, November 30, 2025 | Northwestern University offices closed for Thanksgiving break | |
| DECEMBER 2025 | ||
| Monday, December 1, 2025 | Fall 2025 classes resume | |
| Saturday, December 6, 2025 | Fall 2025 classes end | |
| Saturday, December 13, 2025 | Fall 2025 quarter ends | |
| Monday, December 15, 2025 | Grades for Fall 2025 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CST | |
| Tuesday, December 16, 2025 | Grades for Fall 2025 available through CAESAR | |
| Friday, December 19, 2025 | Fall 2025 degrees conferred | |
| Tuesday, December 26, 2025 | Registration for Winter 2026 ends at 11:59 p.m. CST | |
| Wednesday, December 24, 2025 | Winter Recess Starts - University Closed Through January 1, 2026 | |
| Wednesday, December 27, 2025 | Late registration for Winter 2026 begins; $75 late registration fee applies | |
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| JANUARY 2026 | ||
| Sunday, January 4, 2026 | Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition | |
| Monday, January 5, 2026 | Winter 2026 quarter begins | |
| Friday, January 9, 2026 | Last day to add a Winter 2026 course and change sections in CAESAR | |
| Monday, January 19, 2026 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; no classes in session, University closed | |
| Friday, January 23, 2026 | Last day to submit Graduation Application for March graduation | |
| FEBRUARY 2026 | ||
| Friday, February 6, 2026 | Last day to submit incomplete work for Fall 2025 | |
| Friday, February 13, 2026 | Last day to submit Graduation Application for June graduation | |
| Friday, February 13, 2026 | 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 ninth week of the term.) | |
| Monday, February 23, 2026 | Registration for Spring 2026 opens at 8:30 a.m. CDT | |
| Friday, February 27, 2026 | Last day to change a Winter 2026 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP | |
| MARCH 2026 |
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| Friday, March 6, 2026 | 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 Friday of the ninth week of the term.) | |
| Sunday, March 15, 2026 | Registration for Spring 2026 ends at 11:59 p.m. CDT | |
| Monday, March 16, 2026 | Late registration for Spring 2026 begins; $75 late registration fee applies | |
| Saturday, March 21, 2026 | Winter 2026 quarter ends; spring break begins | |
| Monday, March 23, 2026 | Grades for Winter 2026 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CDT | |
| Tuesday, March 24, 2026 | Grades for Winter 2026 available through CAESAR | |
| Friday, March 27, 2026 | Winter 2026 degrees conferred | |
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| MARCH 2026 | ||
| Sunday, March 29, 2026 | Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition | |
| Monday, March 30, 2026 | Spring 2026 quarter begins | |
| APRIL 2026 | ||
| Friday, April 3, 2026 | Last day to add a Spring 2026 course and change sections in CAESAR | |
| Monday, April 6, 2026 | Summer Session 2026 registration opens | |
| MAY 2026 | ||
| Friday, May 8, 2026 | Last day to submit incomplete work for Winter 2026 | |
| Friday, May 8, 2026 | 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 Friday of the ninth week of the term.) | |
| Friday, May 22, 2026 | Last day to change a Spring 2026 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP | |
| Monday, May 25, 2026 | Memorial Day; no classes in session, University closed | |
| Friday, May 29, 2026 | 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 Friday of the ninth week of the term.) | |
| JUNE 2026 | ||
| Saturday, June 13, 2026 | Spring 2026 quarter ends | |
| Tuesday, June 16, 2026 | Grades for Spring 2026 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CDT | |
| Wednesday, June 17, 2026 | Grades for Spring 2026 available through CAESAR | |
| Friday, June 19, 2026 | Juneteenth; University closed | |
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| JUNE 2026 | ||
| Sunday, June 21, 2026 | Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition | |
| Monday, June 22, 2026 | Summer Session 2026 begins*; late registration for Summer 2026 begins (*tentative) | |
| Monday, June 22, 2026 | Spring degrees conferred | |
| Friday, June 26, 2026 | Late registration for Summer 2026 ends* (*tentative) | |
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JULY 2026
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Friday, July 3, 2026
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Independence Day observed; no classes in session, University closed | |
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Friday, July 10, 2026
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Last day to submit Graduation Application for August graduation | |
| SEPTEMBER 2026 | ||
| Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | Fall 2026 quarter begins | |