Academic Calendars through Summer 2027
Please note: Commencement times and details may not be finalized and are subject to change.
Academic Calendars
| Spring 2025 | Important dates |
|---|---|
| University Holiday, MLK Day | Monday, January 20 |
| Spring Semester Begins | Tuesday, January 21 |
| Spring Break | Monday - Friday, March 17 - 21 |
| Spring Prep Week | Monday - Friday, May 5 - 9 |
| Spring Final Exam Week | Monday - Thursday, May 12 - 15 |
| Graduate College University Commencement Ceremony | Thursday, May 15 |
| Spring Semester Ends | Friday, May 16 |
| Veterinary Medicine University Commencement Ceremony | Friday, May 16 |
| Undergraduate University Commencement Ceremonies | Saturday, May 17 |
| Summer 2025 | Important dates |
|---|---|
| Summer Semester Begins | Monday, May 19 |
| University Holiday, Memorial Day | Monday, May 26 |
| University Holiday, Independence Day | Friday, July 4 |
| Summer Session Ends | Friday, August 8 |
| Fall 2025 | Important dates |
|---|---|
| Fall Semester Begins | Monday, August 25 |
| University Holiday, Labor Day | Monday, September 1 |
| Thanksgiving Break | Monday - Friday, November 24 - 28 |
| University Holidays, Thanksgiving | Thursday and Friday, November 27 and 28 |
| Fall Prep Week | Monday - Friday, December 8 - 12 |
| Fall Final Exam Week | Monday - Thursday, December 15 - 18 |
| Fall Semester Ends | Friday, December 19 |
| Winter 2026 | Important dates |
|---|---|
| Winter Session, Week 1 | Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, December 22, 23, and 24 |
| University Holiday, Christmas | Thursday and Friday, December 25 and 26 |
| Winter Session, Week 2 | Monday - Wednesday, December 29 - 31 and Friday, January 2 |
| University Holiday, New Years Day | Thursday, January 1 |
| Winter Session, Week 3 | Monday - Friday, January 5 - 9 |
| Winter Session, Week 4 | Monday - Friday, January 12 - 16 |
| Final Exams | Friday, January 16 |
| Spring 2026 | Important dates |
|---|---|
| University Holiday, MLK Day | Monday, January 19 |
| Spring Semester Begins | Tuesday, January 20 |
| Spring Break | Monday - Friday, March 16 - 20 |
| Spring Prep Week | Monday - Friday, May 4-8 |
| Spring Final Exam Week | Monday - Thursday, May 11-14 |
| Spring Semester Ends | Friday, May 15 |
| Summer 2026 | Important dates |
|---|---|
| Summer Session Begins | Monday, May 18 |
| University Holiday, Memorial Day | Monday, May 25 |
| University Holiday, Independence Day | Friday, July 3 |
| Summer Session Ends | Friday, August 7 |
| Fall 2026 | Important dates |
|---|---|
| Fall Semester Begins | Monday, August 24 |
| University Holiday, Labor Day | Monday, September 7 |
| Thanksgiving Break | Monday - Friday, November 23 - 27 |
| University Holidays, Thanksgiving | Thursday and Friday, November 26 and 27 |
| Fall Prep Week | Monday - Friday, December 7 - 11 |
| Fall Final Exam Week | Monday - Thursday, December 14 - 17 |
| Fall Semester Ends | Friday, December 18 |
| Winter 2027 | Important dates |
|---|---|
| Winter Session, Week 1 | Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, December 21 - 23 |
| University Holiday, Christmas | Thursday and Friday, December 24 and 25 |
| Winter Session, Week 2 | Monday - Thursday, December 28 - 31 |
| University Holiday, New Years Day | Friday, January 1 |
| Winter Session, Week 3 | Monday - Friday, January 4 - 8 |
| Winter Session, Week 4 | Monday - Friday, January 11 - 15 |
| Final Exams | Friday, January 15 |
| Spring 2027 | Important dates |
|---|---|
| University Holiday, MLK Day | Monday, January 18 |
| Spring Semester Begins | Tuesday, January 19 |
| Spring Break | Monday - Friday, March 15 - 19 |
| Spring Prep Week | Monday - Friday, May 3 - 7 |
| Spring Final Exam Week | Monday - Thursday, May 10 - 13 |
| Spring Semester Ends | Friday, May 14 |
| Summer 2027 | Important dates |
|---|---|
| Summer Session Begins | Monday, May 17 |
| University Holiday, Memorial Day | Monday, May 31 |
| University Holiday, Independence Day | Monday, July 5 |
| Summer Session Ends | Friday, August 6 |
Academic Calendar Archive
| Year | Fall Start | Day | Thanksgiving | Commencement | Spring Start | Day | Days in winter break | Spring Break | Commencement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 17- Aug | M | 11/26-11/27 | 28-Nov | 25 - Jan | M | 42 | none | 8-May |
| 2019-2020 | 26-Aug | M | 11/25-11/29 | 21-Dec | 13-Jan | M | 15 | 3/16-3/20 | 9-May |
| 2018-2019 | 20-Aug | M | 11/19-11/23 | 15-Dec | 14-Jan | M | 20 | 3/18-3/22 | 11-May |
| 2017-2018 | 21-Aug | M | 11/20-11/24 | 16-Dec | 8-Jan | M | 15 | 3/12-3/16 | 5-May |
| 2016-2017 | 22-Aug | M | 11/21-11/25 | 17-Dec | 9-Jan | M | 15 | 3/13-3/17 | 6-May |
| 2015-2016 | 24-Aug | M | 11/23-11/27 | 19-Dec | 11-Jan | M | 15 | 3/14-3/18 | 7-May |
| 2014-2015 | 25-Aug | M | 11/24-11/28 | 20-Dec | 12-Jan | M | 15 | 3/16-3/20 | 9-May |
| 2013-2014 | 26-Aug | M | 11/25-11/29 | 21-Dec | 13-Jan | M | 15 | 3/17-3/21 | 10-May |
| 2012-2013 | 20-Aug | M | 11/19-11/23 | 15-Dec | 14-Jan | M | 20 | 3/18-3/22 | 11-May |
| 2011-2012 | 22-Aug | M | 11/21-11/25 | 17-Dec | 9-Jan | M | 22 | 3/12-3/16 | 5-May |
| 2010-2011 | 23-Aug | M | 11/22-11/26 | 18-Dec | 10-Jan | M | 22 | 3/14-3/18 | 7-May |
| 2009-2010 | 24-Aug | M | 11/23-11/27 | 19-Dec | 11-Jan | M | 22 | 3/15-3/19 | 8-May |
| 2008-2009 | 25-Aug | M | 11/24-11/28 | 20-Dec | 12-Jan. | M | 22 | 3/16-3/20 | 9-May |
| 2007-2008 | 20-Aug | M | 11/19-11/23 | 15-Dec | 14-Jan | M | 29 | 3/17-3/21 | 10-May |
| 2006-2007 | 21-Aug | M | 11/20-11/24 | 16-Dec | 8-Jan | M | 22 | 3/12-3/16 | 5-May |
| 2005-2006 | 22-Aug | M | 11/21-11/25 | 17-Dec | 9-Jan | M | 22 | 3/13-3/17 | 6-May |
| 2004-2005 | 23-Aug | M | 11/22-11/26 | 18-Dec | 10-Jan | M | 22 | 3/14-3/18 | 7-May |
| 2003-2004 | 25-Aug | M | 11/24-11/28 | 20-Dec | 12-Jan | M | 22 | 3/15-3/19 | 8-May |
| 2002-2003 | 26-Aug | M | 11/25-11/29 | 21-Dec | 13-Jan | M | 22 | 3/17-3/21 | 10-May |
| 2001-2002 | 27-Aug | M | 11/19-11/23 | 22-Dec | 14-Jan | M | 22 | 3/18-3/22 | 11-May |
| 2000-2001 | 21-Aug | M | 11/20-11/24 | 16-Dec | 8-Jan | M | 22 | 3/12-3/16 | 5-May |
| 1999-2000 | 23-Aug | M | 11/22-11/26 | 18-Dec | 10-Jan | M | 22 | 3/13-3/17 | 6-May |
| 1998-1999 | 24-Aug | M | 11/23-11/27 | 19-Dec | 11-Jan | M | 22 | 3/15-3/19 | 8-May |
| 1997-1998 | 25-Aug | M | 11/24-11/28 | 20-Dec | 12-Jan | M | 22 | 3/16-3/20 | 9-May |
| 1996-1997 | 26-Aug | M | 11/25-11/29 | 21-Dec | 13-Jan | M | 22 | 3/10-3/14 | 10-May |
| 1995-1996 | 21-Aug | M | 11/20-11/24 | 16-Dec | 16-Jan | T | 30 | 3/11-3/15 | 11-May |
| 1994-1995 | 22-Aug | M | 11/21-11/25 | 17-Dec | 17-Jan | T | 30 | 3/13-3/17 | 13-May |
| 1993-1994 | 23-Aug | M | 11/22-11/26 | 18-Dec | 18-Jan | T | 30 | 3/14-3/19 | 14-May |
| 1992-1993 | 24-Aug | M | 11/23-11/27 | 19-Dec | 18-Jan | M | 29 | 3/8-3/12 | 15-May |
| 1991-1992 | 26-Aug | M | 11/25-11/29 | 21-Dec | 20-Jan | M | 29 | 3/9-3/13 | 16-May |
| 1990-1991 | 27-Aug | M | 11/19-11/23 | 22-Dec | 21-Jan | M | 29 | 3/11-3/15 | 18-May |
| 1989-1990 | 28-Aug | M | 11/20-11/24 | 23-Dec | 22-Jan | M | 29 | 3/12-3/16 | 19-May |
| 1988-1989 | 24-Aug | W | 11/23-11/25 | 17-Dec | 18-Jan | W | 31 | 3/10-3/17 *** | 20-May |
| 1987-1988 | 26-Aug | W | 11/25-11/27 | 19-Dec | 20-Jan | W | 31 | 3/11-3/18 *** | 21-May |
| 1986-1987 | 27-Aug | W | 11/26-11/28 | 20-Dec | 14-Jan | W | 24 | 3/6-3/13 *** | 16-May |
| 1985-1986 | 28-Aug | W | 11/27-11/29 | 21-Dec | 15-Jan | W | 24 | 3/7-3/14 *** | 17-May |
| 1984-1985 | 29-Aug | W | 11/21-11/23 | 22-Dec | 16-Jan | W | 24 | 3/11-3/15 | 18-May |
| 1983-1984 | 24-Aug | W | 11/23-11/25 | 17-Dec | 18-Jan | W | 31 | 3/12-3/16 | 19-May |
| 1982-1983 | 25-Aug | W | 11/24-11/26 | 18-Dec | 19-Jan | W | 31 | 3/21-3/25 | 21-May |
| 1981-1982 | 26-Aug | W | 11/25-11/27 | 19-Dec | 13-Jan | W | 24 | 3/15-3/19 | 15-May |
***Spring Break in 1986, 1987, 1988, and 1989 included a Friday and the following Monday through Friday.
Department Dates Archive
Calendar Principles and Guidelines
- Maintain 15-weeks of instruction, with no fewer than 74 days, plus one week of final exams for the Fall and Spring semesters.
- Schedule a 4-week Winter session.
- Schedule a 12-week Summer session.
- Schedule holidays in accordance with the university's holiday policy and Iowa Code Section 1C.2, Paid holidays.
- Note: When a holiday falls on a Saturday, the Friday preceding will be declared the holiday. When any holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will be declared a holiday.
- Note: This generally results in nine holidays per calendar year; however, when January 1 falls on a Saturday, the New Year’s Day holiday for the new calendar year will be observed on Friday, December 31. This results in the prior calendar year having ten holidays and the new calendar year having nine holidays.
- Note: When a holiday falls on a Saturday, the Friday preceding will be declared the holiday. When any holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will be declared a holiday.
- 3-credit Monday/Wednesday/Friday lecture/recitation classes during Fall and Spring Semesters shall normally meet 50 minutes per class period (i.e., 2,200 total minutes of instruction per semester).
- 3-credit Tuesday/Thursday lecture/recitation classes during fall and spring semesters shall normally meet 75 minutes per class period (i.e., 2,250 total minutes of instruction per semester).
- Balance, as much as possible, M-T-W-R-F classes.
- Maintain a final examination week with a M-F format for fall and spring semesters.
- Start Fall semester on the latest day possible with following constraints observed:
- Have a full week break the week of the Thanksgiving holiday.
- Hold the last day of final exams no later than December 20.
- Hold commencement no later than December 21.
- Maintain 15-weeks of instruction, with no fewer than 74 days, plus one week of final exams for Fall and Spring semester.
- Begin Winter Session on the Monday (if not a holiday) following the end of Fall Semester (i.e., after final exams conclude).
- Schedule a four-week Winter Session.
- Begin classes on the fifth week after the end of Fall Semester (i.e., after finals conclude).
- Note: Generally, classes for Spring Semester would begin on the third Tuesday of the calendar year (i.e., the day after Martin Luther King Day); however, in years when Winter Session ends two weeks prior to Martin Luther King Day, Spring Semester classes will have to begin on the second Monday of the calendar year.
- Schedule Spring Break the week of the eleventh Monday of the calendar year.
- Hold last day of final exams no later than May 17.
- Maintain 15-weeks of instruction, with no fewer than 74 days, plus one week of final exams for Fall and Spring semester.
- Begin Summer Session following the end of Spring Semester (i.e., after final exams conclude).
- Schedule a 12-week Summer Session.
- Schedule at least a two-week break between Summer Session and Fall Semester.
- Principles shall be reviewed by the Registrars of the three universities every five years.
- Note: The next review of the Calendar Principles will take place in Summer 2026.
- When developing the academic calendar for future years, have Human Resources review to ensure compliance with all employee contract provisions.
- Once the academic calendar is approved by the Board Office, it should be shared with area school districts to encourage alignment of breaks (e.g., Spring Break).