Academic Calendar
The Cornell academic year follows a semester system, consisting of a fall and a spring semester, both of which include a final exam week. Each semester must be a minimum of 14 weeks of instruction, yet must combine in fall and spring to a minimum of 30 weeks of instruction. Instructional periods/terms include fall, winter intersession, spring, and summer. In all academic terms, variable-length, short-session courses are available, and meet the same total contact (class) hours as in a standard semester. See the policy on Defining and Assigning Credit Hours for additional information.
The university bylaws define the academic year as the approximately nine-month period beginning two working days before registration in the fall term and ending on the last day of final examinations in the spring term.
The summer period is defined as the period between the last day of one academic year and the first day of the following academic year. Summer courses carry full credit because classes meet the same number of contact hours as in the standard fall or spring semester.
For the current Academic Calendar and other important dates, see University Calendars & Exams on the University Registrar's website.
2026-2027 Academic Calendar
Fall 2026
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| August 24 | Instruction Begins |
| September 7 | Labor Day - No Classes |
| October 10 | Fall Break Begins |
| October 14 | Instruction Resumes |
| November 25 | Thanksgiving Break Begins |
| November 30 | Instruction Resumes |
| December 7 | Last Day of Instruction |
| December 8-10 | Study Period |
| December 11-19 | Scheduled Exams |
| December 20 | December Recognition Ceremony |
| December 31 | Fall Degree Date |
Winter 2026-2027
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 4 | Winter Session Instruction Begins |
| January 18 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day / Holiday / No Classes |
| January 23 | Winter Session Instruction Ends |
Spring 2027
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 25 | Instruction Begins |
| February 13 | February Break Begins |
| February 17 | Instruction Resumes |
| March 27 | Spring Break Begins |
| April 5 | Instruction Resumes |
| May 11 | Last Day of Instruction |
| May 12-14 | Study Period |
| May 15-22 | Scheduled Exams |
| May 28-30 | University Commencement Weekend |
| May 30 | Spring Degree Date |
Some programs, including Johnson MBA Programs, Law School, and College of Veterinary Medicine follow non-standard academic calendars. Review the respective program pages for specifics, those that follow non-standard calendars are posted on program pages. Weill Cornell Medicine - New York City and Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar campuses also have different academic calendars, which can be found on their respective websites. Calendar dates are subject to change.