Important Dates and Academic Calendar
Application deadlines for online undergraduate certificate programs 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
Quarter Dates
2024-25
- Fall quarter: September 24 – December 14, 2024
- Winter quarter: January 6 – March 22, 2025
- Spring quarter: March 31 - June 14, 2025
- Summer quarter: June 23 - August 31, 2025
2025-26
- Fall quarter: 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
2024-25
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| Monday, July 15, 2024 |
Registration for Fall 2024 opens at 8:30 a.m. CDT | |
| AUGUST 2024 |
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| Sunday, August 25, 2024 | Summer Session 2024 ends | |
| Friday, August 30, 2024 | Summer degrees conferred | |
| SEPTEMBER 2024 |
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| Monday, September 16, 2024 | Late registration for Fall 2024 begins 12:00 a.m. CDT; $75 late registration fee applies | |
| Monday, September 23, 2024 | Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition | |
| Tuesday, September 24, 2024 | Fall 2024 quarter begins | |
| Monday, September 30, 2024 | Last day to add a Fall 2024 course and change sections in CAESAR | |
| NOVEMBER 2024 |
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| Friday, November 1, 2024 | 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 Friday of the ninth week of the term.) | |
| Friday, November 8, 2024 | Last day to submit incomplete work for Summer 2024 | |
| Friday, November 8, 2024 | Last day to submit Graduation Application for December graduation | |
| Monday, November 11, 2024 | Registration for Winter 2025 begins at 8:30 a.m. CST | |
| Friday, November 15, 2024 | Last day to change a Fall 2024 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP | |
| Friday, November 22, 2024 | 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 Friday of the ninth week of the term.) | |
| Wednesday, November 27, 2024 | Thanksgiving break begins at 6:00 p.m. and continues through December 1. | |
| DECEMBER 2024 |
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| Monday, December 2, 2024 | Fall 2024 classes resume | |
| Saturday, December 14, 2024 | Fall 2024 quarter ends | |
| Monday, December 16, 2024 | Grades for Fall 2024 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CST | |
| Tuesday, December 17, 2024 | Grades for Fall 2024 available through CAESAR | |
| Friday, December 20, 2024 | Fall degrees conferred | |
| Tuesday, December 26, 2024 | Registration for Winter 2025 ends at 11:59 p.m. CST | |
| Wednesday, December 27, 2024 | Late registration for Winter 2025 begins; $75 late registration fee applies | |
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| JANUARY 2025 |
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| Sunday, January 5, 2025 | Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition | |
| Monday, January 6, 2025 | Winter 2025 quarter begins | |
| Friday, January 10, 2025 | Last day to add a Winter 2025 course and change sections in CAESAR | |
| Monday, January 20, 2025 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; no classes in session | |
| FEBRUARY 2025 |
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| Friday, February 7, 2025 | Last day to submit Graduation Application for March graduation | |
| Friday, February 7, 2025 | Last day to submit incomplete work for Fall 2024 | |
| Friday, February 14, 2025 | 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 ninth week of the term.) | |
| Monday, February 24, 2025 | Registration for Spring 2025 opens at 8:30 a.m. CDT | |
| Friday, February 28, 2025 | Last day to change a Winter 2025 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP | |
| MARCH 2025 |
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| Friday, March 7, 2025 | 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 Friday of the ninth week of the term.) | |
| Sunday, March 16, 2025 | Registration for Spring 2025 ends at 11:59 p.m. CDT | |
| Monday, March 17, 2025 | Late registration for Spring 2025 begins; $75 late registration fee applies | |
| Friday, March 21, 2025 | Last day to submit Graduation Application for June graduation | |
| Saturday, March 22, 2025 | Winter 2025 quarter ends; spring break begins | |
| Monday, March 24, 2025 | Grades for Winter 2025 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CDT | |
| Tuesday, March 25, 2025 | Grades for Winter 2025 available through CAESAR | |
| Friday, March 28, 2025 | Winter degrees conferred | |
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| MARCH 2025 |
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| Sunday, March 30, 2025 | Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition | |
| Monday, March 31, 2025 | Spring 2025 quarter begins | |
| APRIL 2025 |
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| Friday, April 4, 2025 | Last day to add a Spring 2025 course and change sections in CAESAR | |
| Monday, April 7, 2025 | Summer Session 2025 registration opens | |
| MAY 2025 |
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| Friday, May 9, 2025 | Last day to submit incomplete work for Winter 2025 | |
| Friday, May 9, 2025 | 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 Friday of the ninth week of the term.) | |
| Friday, May 23, 2025 | Last day to change a Spring 2025 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP | |
| Monday, May 26, 2025 | Memorial Day; no classes in session | |
| Friday, May 30, 2025 | 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 Friday of the ninth week of the term.) | |
| JUNE 2025 |
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| Saturday, June 14, 2025 | Spring 2025 quarter ends | |
| Tuesday, June 17, 2025 | Grades for Spring 2025 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CDT | |
| Wednesday, June 18, 2025 | Grades for Spring 2025 available through CAESAR | |
| Thursday, June 19, 2025 | Juneteenth observed; no classes in session, University closed | |
| Friday, June 20, 2025 | Spring degrees conferred | |
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| JUNE 2025 |
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| Sunday, June 22, 2025 | Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition | |
| Monday, June 23, 2025 | Summer Session 2025 begins; late registration for Summer 2025 begins | |
| Friday, June 27, 2025 | Late registration for Summer 2025 ends | |
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JULY 2025
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Independence Day; no classes in session | |
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Friday, July 4, 2025
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Independence Day; no classes in session | |
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Monday, July 7, 2025
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Registration for Fall 2025 opens at 8:30 a.m. CDT | |
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Friday, July 18, 2025
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Last day to submit Graduation Application for August graduation | |
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AUGUST 2025
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Friday, August 1, 2025
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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.) | |
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Friday, August 15, 2025
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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.) | |
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Saturday, August 30, 2025
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Summer Session 2025 ends | |
| SEPTEMBER 2025 |
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| Tuesday, September 2, 2025 | Grades for Summer 2025 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CDT | |
| Friday, September 5, 2025 | Summer degrees conferred | |
| Tuesday, September 16, 2025 | Fall 2025 quarter begins | |