Fall 2026 Academic Calendar

Calendar Date

Intersession

Full Term

Session I (8W1)

Session II (8W2)

Class Dates

August 10 - 21

August 24 - December 11

August 24 - October 12

October 13 - December 3

Last day to add/drop without academic/ financial penalty

Last day to receive 100% refund (No tuition credit issued after this date)

Last day to add classes without instructor permission

August 11

August 31

August 26

October 19

All drops will result in grade of W within these dates

August 12 - 20

Sept. 1 - Nov. 27

October 20 - November 27

Last day to withdraw from the University with grade of W

August 20

Nov. 27

Nov 27

Last day to add a course with instructor permission

August 18

Final exam

August 21

Oct. 8 (TTH classes)

Dec. 2 (MW classes)

Undergraduate Admissions Deadlines  

TBA

Priority deadline for fall 2025 freshman and transfer admission - Please see Office of Admissions for more information.

Priority deadline for fall readmission - Please see Office of Admissions for more information.

Advisement dates 

Academic dates 

Last day to file an undergraduate application for degree for fall 2026 commencement at the $50 fee.

Graduate Students, please visit the grad student deadlines page at https://usm.edu/graduate-school/internalportal/graduate-school-deadlines.php

First day to submit an undergraduate Fall 2026 Late Degree Application at the $75 late application fee.

Graduate Students, please visit the grad student deadlines page at https://usm.edu/graduate-school/internalportal/graduate-school-deadlines.php

Fall Intersession classes (Students may enroll for a maximum of 4 intersession hours)

Last day to add/drop without academic/ financial penalty

Last day to receive 100% refund (No tuition credit issued after this date)

Last day to add classes without instructor permission

Last day to add an Intersession course with instructor permission

Final orientation and registration for new undergraduate students

Intersession classes meet

Deadline to complete the process to clear an academic hold, including probation, probation continued, and suspension by 4:00 pm. -- Please see Academic Standards for more information.

Last day of Fall Intersession classes and final exams

All suspension clearances must be cleared by 4:00 p.m.

Full term and Session I classes begin

Late registration and add/drop begin ($50.00 late registration fee)

Last day to add/drop Session I (8W1) classes without academic/ financial penalty

Last day to receive 100% refund on Session I (8W1) classes (No tuition credit issued after this date)

Last day to add Session I (8W1) classes without instructor permission

Saturday classes begin

Last day to add/drop full term classes without academic/ financial penalty

Last day to receive 100% refund on full term classes (No tuition credit issued after this date)

Last day to add full term classes without instructor permission

Last day to submit an undergraduate Fall 2026 Late Degree Application at the $75 late application fee.

Graduate Students, please visit the grad student deadlines page at https://usm.edu/graduate-school/internalportal/graduate-school-deadlines.php

First day to submit an undergraduate Fall 2026 Very Late Degree Application at the $125 late application fee.

Graduate Students, please visit the grad student deadlines page at https://usm.edu/graduate-school/internalportal/graduate-school-deadlines.php

Saturday - Monday, Sept. 5 -7

LABOR DAY HOLIDAY (day and night classes do not meet) 

(No class meetings/activities/tests/quizzes/exams may be given regardless of mode of instruction.)

Last day to add a Session I (8W1) course with instructor permission

Last day to withdraw from Session I (8W1) classes with grade of W

Last day of and final examinations for Session I (8W1) TTH classes

Last day of and final examinations for Session I (8W1) MW classes

Session II (8W2) TTH classes begin

Session II (8W2) MW classes begin

Thursday - Sunday, Oct. 15-18

Fall Break

*Saturday courses will meet.

(No class meetings/activities/tests/quizzes/exams may be given regardless of mode of instruction, except for Saturday courses.)

Last day to add/drop Session II (8W2) classes without academic/ financial penalty

Last day to receive 100% refund on Session II (8W2) classes (No tuition credit issued after this date)

Last day to add Session II (8W2) classes without instructor permission

Last day to add a full term course with instructor permission

Last day to submit an undergraduate Fall 2026 Very Late Degree Application at the $125 late application fee.

Last day for Summer 2026 graduates and Fall 2026 degree candidates to reserve seat free of charge for December commencement ceremony.

Graduate Students, please visit the grad student deadlines page at https://usm.edu/graduate-school/internalportal/graduate-school-deadlines.php

Last day to file application for undergraduate degree for spring 2027 commencement at the $50 application fee.

Last day to file applications for graduate degree for spring 2027 commencement without a late fee. **There is a $50 late application fee added for applications submitted from November 2 - November 30. No applications will be accepted after November 30.

First day to submit an undergraduate Fall 2026 Rush Degree Application at the $175 late application fee.

First day for Summer 2026 graduates and Fall 2026 degree candidates to reserve seat for December commencement ceremony at $100 fee.

Graduate Students, please visit the grad student deadlines page at https://usm.edu/graduate-school/internalportal/graduate-school-deadlines.php

First day to submit an undergraduate Spring 2027 Late Degree Application at the $75 late application fee.

Graduate Students, please visit the grad student deadlines page at https://usm.edu/graduate-school/internalportal/graduate-school-deadlines.php

Last day to add a Session II (8W2) course with instructor permission

Last day for Summer 2026 graduates and Fall 2026 degree candidates to reserve seat for December commencement ceremony at $100 fee.

Wednesday - Sunday, Nov. 25–29

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS

(No class meetings/activities/tests/quizzes/exams may be given regardless of mode of instruction.)

Friday, Nov. 27

Last day to drop full term classes with a grade of W.

Last day to drop from Session II (8W2) courses with grade of W

Last day to withdraw from the University with grade of W

Saturday, Nov. 28

Last day to submit an undergraduate Fall 2026 Rush Degree Application at the $175 late application fee.

Graduate Students, please visit the grad student deadlines page at https://usm.edu/graduate-school/internalportal/graduate-school-deadlines.php

Sunday, Nov. 29

First day to submit an undergraduate Fall 2026 Extreme Degree Application at the $275 late application fee.

Graduate Students, please visit the grad student deadlines page at https://usm.edu/graduate-school/internalportal/graduate-school-deadlines.php

Monday, Nov. 30

Monday night examinations

Tuesday, Dec. 1

Tuesday night examinations

Wednesday, Dec. 2

Wednesday night examinations

Last day and final examinations of MW Session II (8W2) classes

Last day to reserve seat for Fall commencement

Thursday, Dec. 3

Thursday night examinations

Last day and final examinations of TTH Session II (8W2) classes

Friday, Dec. 4

Reading Day

Final examinations for all 1-day a week Friday block and lab courses (Exam Schedule)

Last day to submit an undergraduate Fall 2026 Extreme Degree Application at the $275 late application fee

Graduate Students, please visit the grad student deadlines page at https://usm.edu/graduate-school/internalportal/graduate-school-deadlines.php

Saturday, Dec 5

Saturday final exams

Monday - Thursday, Dec. 7-10

Full-term final exams

Commencement - Reed Green Coliseum
(All Doctoral, Specialist, and Master's Students)

5:00 p.m.

Commencement - Reed Green Coliseum

9:00 a.m. (Undergraduate candidates; College of Business & Economic Development and the College of Education & Human Sciences)

2:00 p.m. (Undergraduate candidates; College of Arts & Sciences and the 
College of Nursing & Health Professions)

Last day to submit an undergraduate Spring 2027 Late Degree Application at the $75 late application fee.

Graduate Students, please visit the grad student deadlines page at https://usm.edu/graduate-school/internalportal/graduate-school-deadlines.php