| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 08/01/2025 | Fri | Payment due for fall classes |
| 08/16/2025 - 08/24/2025 | Sat - Sun | Welcome Week |
| 08/25/2025 | Mon | Fall standard classes begin; Fall 8 Week Session 1 classes begin |
| 08/31/2025 | Sun | Last day to add a Fall 8 Week Session 1 class |
| 08/31/2025 | Sun | Last day to drop a Fall 8 Week Session 1 class for a 100% refund and without a “W” recorded |
| 09/01/2025 | Mon |
Fall 8 Week Session 1 withdrawal period begins (withdraw recorded on record; 50% refund) |
| 09/01/2025 | Mon | Labor Day; no classes; university closed |
| 09/04/2025 | Thu |
Last day to withdraw from a Fall 8 Week Session 1 class for 50% refund |
| 09/08/2025 | Mon | Last day to add a fall standard class, internship, Independent Reading or Research, or Community Service-Learning project |
| 09/08/2025 | Mon | Last day to drop a fall standard class for a 100% refund and without a "W" recorded |
| 09/08/2025 | Mon |
Last day to withdraw from a Fall 8 Week Session 1 class for a 25% refund (No refunds after this date) |
| 09/09/2025 | Tue | Withdrawal period for Fall standard classes begins (withdraw recorded on record; 50% refund) |
| 09/15/2025 | Mon | Last day to withdraw from a fall standard class for a 50% refund |
| 09/22/2025 | Mon | Last day to withdraw from a fall standard class for a 25% refund (no refunds after this date) |
| 09/29/2025 | Mon |
Last day to withdraw from a Fall 8 Week Session 1 class or change a grade option |
| 09/29/2025 | Mon | Schedule of Classes for Spring published |
| 10/03/2025 - 10/05/2025 | Fri - Sun | Family Weekend |
| 10/10/2025 | Fri |
Fall Break; no classes, university offices open |
| 10/19/2025 | Sun |
Fall 8 Week Session 1 classes end |
| 10/20/2025 | Mon |
Fall 8 Week Session 2 classes begin |
| 10/20/2025 | Mon | Spring priority registration for graduate students begins |
| 10/20/2025 | Mon | Winter Intersession registration begins |
| 10/23/2025 | Thu | Spring priority registration for undergraduate students begins |
| 10/26/2025 | Sun |
Last day to add a Fall 8 Week Session 2 class |
| 10/26/2025 | Sun | Last day to drop a Fall 8 Week Session 2 class for a 100% refund and without a “W” recorded |
| 10/27/2025 | Mon | Fall 8 Week Session 2 withdrawal period begins (withdraw recorded on record; 50% refund) |
| 10/30/2025 | Thu |
Last day to withdraw from a Fall 8 Week Session 2 class for 50% refund |
| 10/31/2025 | Fri | Last day to apply for fall graduation |
| 10/31/2025 | Fri | Last day to withdraw from a fall standard class or change a grade option |
| 11/03/2025 | Mon |
Last day to withdraw from a Fall 8 Week Session 2 class for a 25% refund (No refunds after this date) |
| 11/07/2025 | Fri | Theses and dissertations due in deans’ offices for fall degree candidates |
| 11/24/2025 | Mon |
Last day to withdraw from a Fall 8 Week Session 2 class or change a grade option |
| 11/25/2025 | Tue | Tuesday standard classes cancelled; Friday classes meet. |
| 11/26/2025 - 11/30/2025 | Wed -Sun | Thanksgiving holiday; no classes; university offices closed Thursday and Friday |
| 12/05/2025 | Fri | Fall standard classes end |
| 12/05/2025 | Fri | Theses and Dissertations Due in Registrar's Office for Fall Degree Candidate |
| 12/06/2025 - 12/07/2025 | Sat - Sun | Fall Study Days; no classes |
| 12/08/2025 - 12/13/2025 | Mon - Sat | Fall final examinations |
| 12/13/2025 | Sat |
Fall 8 Week Session 2 classes end |
| 12/14/2025 | Sun | Fall Commencement Ceremony for August and December Graduates |
| 12/16/2025 | Tue | Fall Final Grades Deadline |
| 12/23/2025 | Tue | Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on December Diplomas; no events associated with this date) |
| 12/24/2025 - 01/02/2026 | Wed - Fri | Winter break; university offices closed |
Academic Calendar 2025-2026 Dates are subject to change
The academic calendar is divided into fall and spring semesters of approximately 15 weeks each and summer sessions of varying length. The last week of the fall and spring semesters is set aside for final examinations. The academic calendar for the Washington College of Law (WCL) of American University varies from this general schedule. For the full WCL academic calendar, please go to: http://www.wcl.american.edu/registrar/
The holidays and vacations observed by the university are noted below. Spring break is the week following the spring semester midterm. Classes continue until 10:40 p.m. the evening before a holiday or vacation period.
Note: The refund, add/drop/withdrawal, grade change, and final grades schedule applies to all courses with a standard schedule during a regular semester (fall/spring). Refunds, adds/drops/withdrawals, and grade changes for courses on nonstandard schedules (including MBA modules), as well as all summer session courses, are calculated proportionately, based on the percentage of the course completed. Final grades are always due 72 hours after the official end date of the course. For more information, please go to: www.american.edu/finance/studentaccounts/Refunds-for-Course-Drops-andWithdrawals.cfm. For Summer Registration and Refund Dates please go to: https://www.american.edu/summer/calendar.cfm
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 12/14/2025 | Sun | Winter Intersession classes begin |
| 01/11/2026 | Sun | Winter Intersession classes end |
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| TBD | TBD | Payment Due |
| 01/08/2026 - 01/11/2026 | Thu - Sun | Winter Welcome |
| 01/12/2026 | Mon |
Spring standard classes begin; Spring 8 Week Session 1 classes begin |
| 01/18/2026 | Sun |
Last day to drop a Spring 8 Week Session 1 class for a 100% refund and without a "W" recorded |
| 01/19/2026 | Mon | Withdrawal period for Spring 8 Week Session 1 begins (withdraw recorded on record; 50% refund) |
| 01/19/2026 | Mon | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; no classes, university offices closed |
| 01/22/2026 | Thu |
Last Day to Withdraw from Spring 8 Week Session 1 classes for 50% refund |
| 01/26/2026 | Mon |
Last Day to Withdraw from Spring 8 Week Session 1 classes for 25% refund |
| 01/26/2026 | Mon | Last day to add a spring standard class, internship, Independent Reading or Research, or Community Service-Learning project |
| 01/26/2026 | Mon | Last day to drop a spring standard class for a 100% refund and without a "W" recorded |
| 01/27/2026 | Tue | Withdrawal period for Spring standard classes begins (withdraw recorded on record; 50% refund) |
| 02/01/2026 | Sun | Last day to apply for Spring Graduation |
| 02/02/2026 | Mon | Last Day to Withdraw from Spring standard classes for 50% refund |
| 02/09/2026 | Mon | Last Day to Withdraw from Spring standard classes for 25% refund |
| 02/16/2026 | Mon |
Last Day to Withdraw from Spring 8 Week Session 1 classes or change a grade option |
| 03/02/2026 | Mon | Schedule of Classes for Summer and Fall published |
| 03/08/2026 | Sun | Spring 8 Week Session 1 classes end |
| 03/08/2026 - 03/15/2026 | Sun - Sun | Spring break; no classes, university offices open Monday through Friday |
| 03/16/2026 | Mon | Spring 8 Week Session 2 classes begin |
| 03/20/2026 | Fri | Last day to withdraw from a spring standard class or change a grade option |
| 03/22/2026 | Sun |
Last day to drop a Spring 8 Week Session 2 class for a 100% refund and without a "W" recorded |
| 03/23/2026 | Mon | Withdrawal period for Spring 8 Week Session 2 classes begins (withdraw recorded on record; 50% refund) |
| 03/23/2026 | Mon | Summer registration begins |
| 03/23/2026 | Mon | Fall priority registration for graduate students begins |
| 03/26/2026 | Thu | Last Day to Withdraw from Spring 8 Week Session 2 classes for 50% refund |
| 03/26/2026 | Thu | Fall priority registration for undergraduate students begins |
| 03/27/2026 | Fri | Theses and dissertations due in deans’ offices for spring degree candidates |
| 03/30/2026 | Mon |
Last Day to Withdraw from Spring 8 Week Session 2 classes for 25% refund |
| 04/20/2026 | Mon |
Last Day to Withdraw from Spring 8 Week Session 2 classes or change a grade option |
| 04/27/2026 | Mon | Spring standard classes end |
| 04/27/2026 | Mon | Theses and dissertations due in Registrar's Office for spring degree candidates |
| 04/28/2026 - 04/29/2026 | Tue - Wed | Spring Study Days; no classes |
| 04/30/2026 - 05/06/2026 | Thu - Wed | Spring final examinations |
| 05/06/2026 | Wed |
Spring 8 Week Session 2 classes end |
| 05/01/2026 | Fri | Payment due for summer classes |
| 05/08/2026 - 05/10/2026 | Fri - Sun | Commencement Weekend Activities (WCL excluded) |
| 05/09/2026 | Sat | Spring Final Grades Deadline |
| 05/10/2026 | Sun | Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on May Diplomas; no events associated with this date) |
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 05/01/2026 | Fri | Payment due for summer classes |
| 05/11/2026 | Mon | Summer standard classes begin; 7-week (A) and Online Learning I (E) sessions begin |
| 05/11/2026 | Mon | Summer 8 Week Session classes begin |
| 05/18/2026 | Mon | First 6-week (B) and 3-week (C) sessions begin |
| 05/24/2026 | Sun | Last day to add a summer standard class, internship, Independent Reading or Research, or Community Service-Learning project |
| 05/25/2026 | Mon | Memorial Day; no classes, university offices closed |
| 06/01/2026 | Mon | Last day to apply for Summer Graduation |
| 06/06/2026 | Sat | 3-week (C) session ends |
| 06/19/2026 | Fri | Juneteenth; no classes, university offices closed |
| 06/27/2026 | Sat | 7-week (A), first 6-week (B), and Online Learning I (E) sessions end |
| 06/29/2026 | Mon | Second 6-week (D) and Online Learning II (F) session begin |
| 07/03/2026 | Fri | Independence Day; no classes, university offices closed |
| 07/05/2026 | Sun | Summer 8 Week Session classes end |
| 07/12/2026 | Sun |
Last day to withdraw from a Summer standard class or change a grade option |
| 07/17/2026 | Fri | Theses and dissertations due in deans' offices for summer degree candidates |
| 08/01/2026 | Sat | Payment due for fall classes |
| 08/06/2026 | Thu | Theses and dissertations due in Registrar's Office for summer degree candidates |
| 08/08/2026 | Sat | Second 6-week (D) session ends |
| 08/15/2026 | Sat | Summer standard classes end; Online Learning II (F) session ends |
| 08/30/2026 | Sun | Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on August diplomas; no event associated with this date) |