Penn State University Academic Calendar 2026-2027
Every important Penn State date for 2026-2027 in one place — semester starts, finals, spring break, commencement, and every registration deadline across regular and 7-week sessions.
Penn State University operates on a semester system with multiple session formats — a full regular semester, two compressed 7-week sessions per semester, and a summer term with a Maymester, two 6-week sessions, and a full regular summer session. All dates on this page are drawn from the official Penn State 2026-2027 academic calendar issued by the Office of the University Registrar. Where dates vary across Penn State’s 19 Commonwealth Campuses and University Park, that is noted directly.
Key Dates at a Glance
Fall Classes Begin
Aug 24, 2026
Monday · All Fall Sessions
Thanksgiving Break
Nov 22–28, 2026
No classes all week
Fall Classes End
Dec 11, 2026
Friday · Regular Session
Fall Final Exams
Dec 14–18, 2026
Study days: Dec 12–13
Fall Commencement
Dec 20, 2026
Sunday · Varies by campus
Spring Classes Begin
Jan 11, 2027
Monday · All Spring Sessions
Spring Break
Mar 7–13, 2027
No classes all week
Spring Classes End
Apr 30, 2027
Friday · Regular Session
Spring Final Exams
May 3–7, 2027
Study days: May 1–2
Spring Commencement
May 7–9, 2027
Fri–Sun · Varies by campus
Fall 2026 Academic Calendar
Penn State’s fall semester runs August 24 through December 11 for regular session students. Two compressed 7-week sessions run within that window — the first ending October 9, the second ending December 11 alongside the regular session.
Regular Session
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Aug 17 – Sep 15 | Intent to Graduate — Activation Period |
| Fri, Aug 21 | Leave of Absence — Deadline |
| Sun, Aug 23 | Registration — Deadline |
| Mon, Aug 24 | Classes Begin |
| Sat, Aug 29 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Regular Drop — Deadline |
| Sun, Aug 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Regular Add — Deadline |
| Sun, Aug 30 | Late Drop Begins |
| Mon, Aug 31 | Late Registration Begins |
| Mon, Sep 7 | Labor Day — No Classes |
| Sep 28 – Oct 25 | Final Exam Conflict — Filing Period |
| Fri, Nov 13 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Late Registration Deadline |
| Fri, Nov 13 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Late Add Deadline |
| Fri, Nov 13 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Late Drop Deadline |
| Fri, Nov 13 | Declare Concurrent Majors/Minors/Certificates — Deadline (Graduating Students) |
| Sun, Nov 22 – Sat, Nov 28 | Thanksgiving Holiday — No Classes |
| Fri, Dec 11 at 5:00 p.m. ET | Withdrawal — Deadline |
| Fri, Dec 11 | Classes End |
| Sat, Dec 12 – Sun, Dec 13 | Study Days |
| Mon, Dec 14 – Fri, Dec 18 | Final Exams |
| Sun, Dec 20 | Commencement (varies by campus) |
First 7-Week Session
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Aug 17 – Sep 15 | Intent to Graduate — Activation Period |
| Fri, Aug 21 | Leave of Absence — Deadline |
| Sun, Aug 23 | Registration — Deadline |
| Mon, Aug 24 | Classes Begin |
| Wed, Aug 26 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Regular Drop — Deadline |
| Thu, Aug 27 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Regular Add — Deadline |
| Thu, Aug 27 | Late Drop Begins |
| Fri, Aug 28 | Late Registration Begins |
| Mon, Sep 7 | Labor Day — No Classes |
| Tue, Sep 29 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Late Registration / Add / Drop — Deadline |
| Fri, Oct 9 at 5:00 p.m. ET | Withdrawal — Deadline |
| Fri, Oct 9 | Classes End |
| Sun, Dec 20 | Commencement (varies by campus) |
Second 7-Week Session
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Aug 17 – Sep 15 | Intent to Graduate — Activation Period |
| Fri, Aug 21 | Leave of Absence — Deadline |
| Sun, Oct 18 | Registration — Deadline |
| Mon, Oct 19 | Classes Begin |
| Wed, Oct 21 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Regular Drop — Deadline |
| Thu, Oct 22 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Regular Add — Deadline |
| Thu, Oct 22 | Late Drop Begins |
| Fri, Oct 23 | Late Registration Begins |
| Sep 28 – Oct 25 | Final Exam Conflict — Filing Period |
| Sun, Nov 22 – Sat, Nov 28 | Thanksgiving Holiday — No Classes |
| Wed, Nov 25 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Late Registration / Add / Drop — Deadline |
| Fri, Dec 11 at 5:00 p.m. ET | Withdrawal — Deadline |
| Fri, Dec 11 | Classes End |
| Sat, Dec 12 – Sun, Dec 13 | Study Days |
| Mon, Dec 14 – Fri, Dec 18 | Final Exams |
| Sun, Dec 20 | Commencement (varies by campus) |
Spring 2027 Academic Calendar
Spring semester begins January 11 and runs through April 30 for regular session students. Spring break falls the week of March 7–13. The first 7-week session ends February 26; the second begins March 15 after spring break and ends April 30 alongside the regular session.
Regular Session
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Jan 2 – Jan 25 | Intent to Graduate — Activation Period |
| Fri, Jan 8 | Leave of Absence — Deadline |
| Sun, Jan 10 | Registration — Deadline |
| Mon, Jan 11 | Classes Begin |
| Sat, Jan 16 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Regular Drop — Deadline |
| Sun, Jan 17 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Regular Add — Deadline |
| Sun, Jan 17 | Late Drop Begins |
| Mon, Jan 18 | Late Registration Begins |
| Mon, Jan 18 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day — No Classes |
| Feb 15 – Mar 7 | Final Exam Conflict — Filing Period |
| Sun, Mar 7 – Sat, Mar 13 | Spring Break — No Classes |
| Fri, Apr 9 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Late Registration Deadline |
| Fri, Apr 9 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Late Add Deadline |
| Fri, Apr 9 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Late Drop Deadline |
| Fri, Apr 9 | Declare Concurrent Majors/Minors/Certificates — Deadline (Graduating Students) |
| Fri, Apr 30 at 5:00 p.m. ET | Withdrawal — Deadline |
| Fri, Apr 30 | Classes End |
| Sat, May 1 – Sun, May 2 | Study Days |
| Mon, May 3 – Fri, May 7 | Final Exams |
| Fri, May 7 – Sun, May 9 | Commencement (varies by campus) |
First 7-Week Session
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Jan 2 – Jan 25 | Intent to Graduate — Activation Period |
| Fri, Jan 8 | Leave of Absence — Deadline |
| Sun, Jan 10 | Registration — Deadline |
| Mon, Jan 11 | Classes Begin |
| Wed, Jan 13 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Regular Drop — Deadline |
| Thu, Jan 14 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Regular Add — Deadline |
| Thu, Jan 14 | Late Drop Begins |
| Fri, Jan 15 | Late Registration Begins |
| Mon, Jan 18 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day — No Classes |
| Tue, Feb 16 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Late Registration / Add / Drop — Deadline |
| Fri, Feb 26 at 5:00 p.m. ET | Withdrawal — Deadline |
| Fri, Feb 26 | Classes End |
| Fri, May 7 – Sun, May 9 | Commencement (varies by campus) |
Second 7-Week Session
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Jan 2 – Jan 25 | Intent to Graduate — Activation Period |
| Fri, Jan 8 | Leave of Absence — Deadline |
| Feb 15 – Mar 7 | Final Exam Conflict — Filing Period |
| Sun, Mar 7 – Sat, Mar 13 | Spring Break — No Classes |
| Sun, Mar 14 | Registration — Deadline |
| Mon, Mar 15 | Classes Begin |
| Wed, Mar 17 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Regular Drop — Deadline |
| Thu, Mar 18 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Regular Add — Deadline |
| Thu, Mar 18 | Late Drop Begins |
| Fri, Mar 19 | Late Registration Begins |
| Wed, Apr 21 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Late Registration / Add / Drop — Deadline |
| Fri, Apr 30 at 5:00 p.m. ET | Withdrawal — Deadline |
| Fri, Apr 30 | Classes End |
| Sat, May 1 – Sun, May 2 | Study Days (varies by campus) |
| Mon, May 3 – Fri, May 7 | Final Exams (varies by campus) |
| Fri, May 7 – Sun, May 9 | Commencement (varies by campus) |
Summer 2027 Academic Calendar
Penn State’s summer term offers four formats: a compressed Maymester (roughly 4 weeks), two 6-week sessions, and a full regular session running May through August. All four share a single commencement date of August 14, 2027. The Intent to Graduate activation window for all summer sessions runs May 10 – June 18.
Maymester
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sun, May 9 | Registration — Deadline |
| Mon, May 10 | Classes Begin |
| May 10 – Jun 18 | Intent to Graduate — Activation Period |
| Tue, May 11 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Regular Drop — Deadline |
| Wed, May 12 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Regular Add — Deadline |
| Wed, May 12 | Late Drop Begins |
| Thu, May 13 | Late Registration Begins |
| Mon, May 31 | Memorial Day — No Classes |
| Tue, Jun 1 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Late Registration / Add / Drop — Deadline |
| Mon, Jun 7 at 5:00 p.m. ET | Withdrawal — Deadline |
| Mon, Jun 7 | Classes End |
| Tue, Jun 8 | Study Day |
| Wed, Jun 9 | Final Exams |
| Mon, Aug 2 | Declare Concurrent Majors/Minors/Certificates — Deadline (Graduating Students) |
| Sat, Aug 14 | Commencement |
First 6-Week Session
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sun, May 16 | Registration — Deadline |
| May 10 – Jun 18 | Intent to Graduate — Activation Period |
| Mon, May 17 | Classes Begin |
| Wed, May 19 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Regular Drop — Deadline |
| Thu, May 20 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Regular Add — Deadline |
| Thu, May 20 | Late Drop Begins |
| Fri, May 21 | Late Registration Begins |
| Mon, May 31 | Memorial Day — No Classes |
| Wed, Jun 16 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Late Registration / Add / Drop — Deadline |
| Fri, Jun 18 | Juneteenth — No Classes |
| Fri, Jun 25 at 5:00 p.m. ET | Withdrawal — Deadline |
| Fri, Jun 25 | Classes End |
| Sat, Jun 26 – Sun, Jun 27 | Study Days |
| Mon, Jun 28 | Final Exams |
| Mon, Aug 2 | Declare Concurrent Majors/Minors/Certificates — Deadline (Graduating Students) |
| Sat, Aug 14 | Commencement |
Second 6-Week Session
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Tue, Jun 29 | Registration — Deadline |
| May 10 – Jun 18 | Intent to Graduate — Activation Period |
| Wed, Jun 30 | Classes Begin |
| Fri, Jul 2 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Regular Drop — Deadline |
| Sat, Jul 3 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Regular Add — Deadline |
| Sat, Jul 3 | Late Drop Begins |
| Sun, Jul 4 | Late Registration Begins |
| Mon, Jul 5 | Independence Day — No Classes |
| Mon, Aug 2 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Late Registration / Add / Drop — Deadline |
| Mon, Aug 2 | Declare Concurrent Majors/Minors/Certificates — Deadline (Graduating Students) |
| Wed, Aug 11 at 5:00 p.m. ET | Withdrawal — Deadline |
| Wed, Aug 11 | Classes End |
| Thu, Aug 12 | Study Day |
| Fri, Aug 13 | Final Exams |
| Sat, Aug 14 | Commencement |
Regular Session
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sun, May 16 | Registration — Deadline |
| May 10 – Jun 18 | Intent to Graduate — Activation Period |
| Mon, May 17 | Classes Begin |
| Fri, May 21 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Regular Drop — Deadline |
| Sat, May 22 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Regular Add — Deadline |
| Sat, May 22 | Late Drop Begins |
| Sun, May 23 | Late Registration Begins |
| Mon, May 31 | Memorial Day — No Classes |
| Fri, Jun 18 | Juneteenth — No Classes |
| Mon, Jul 5 | Independence Day — No Classes |
| Fri, Jul 23 at 11:59 p.m. ET | Late Registration / Add / Drop — Deadline |
| Mon, Aug 2 | Declare Concurrent Majors/Minors/Certificates — Deadline (Graduating Students) |
| Wed, Aug 11 at 5:00 p.m. ET | Withdrawal — Deadline |
| Wed, Aug 11 | Classes End |
| Thu, Aug 12 | Study Day |
| Fri, Aug 13 | Final Exams |
| Sat, Aug 14 | Commencement |
Deadlines Penn State Students Commonly Miss
The calendar contains several deadline types that are easy to overlook — especially for students taking 7-week or summer sessions for the first time. These are the ones with the most consequences.
Intent to Graduate is not automatic. Students who plan to graduate must activate their application within the activation window listed for their term. Missing this does not just delay paperwork — it means you cannot graduate in that term even if you have completed every requirement. The activation period opens well before the semester begins, so this is worth checking early.
Regular Drop versus Late Drop is a transcript question. The Regular Drop window (typically the first few days of a session) allows you to drop a course with no record of enrollment on your transcript. Once Late Drop begins, any course you drop receives a W grade — which appears on your permanent academic record. Graduate schools and employers can see W grades. The Regular Drop deadline is the more consequential of the two.
Withdrawal is your last option — and it leaves a mark. The Withdrawal deadline, set at the final day of classes, is the last point at which a student can exit a course with a W grade instead of an F. After this deadline, stopping attendance results in a failing grade. Understanding the difference between a Late Drop (course removed, W grade) and a Withdrawal (same W grade, but filed at the very end of the semester) is important for students managing academic difficulty.
Concurrent Majors, Minors, and Certificates won’t appear on your diploma if you miss the deadline. For graduating students, this deadline is separate from the Intent to Graduate activation and requires its own action. If you added a minor late in your undergraduate career, confirm it is declared before this date — it is a common oversight at Penn State.
7-Week Session deadlines fall much earlier than regular session deadlines. Students who take both regular and 7-week courses simultaneously sometimes apply the wrong deadline to the wrong course. The two sessions have independent drop, add, and withdrawal deadlines, often weeks apart.
About Penn State’s Academic Structure
Penn State University was founded in 1855 as the Farmers’ High School of Pennsylvania and is today classified as an R1 doctoral university — the highest research activity classification awarded by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. It is a member of the Association of American Universities, a group of 71 leading research universities in North America.
Penn State’s University Park campus in State College, Pennsylvania is the flagship, but the university operates 19 Commonwealth Campuses distributed across the state, which is why many calendar entries note that specific dates — including commencement — “may vary among campuses.” Students enrolled at a Commonwealth Campus should confirm exact dates with their campus registrar rather than assuming University Park dates apply universally.
The 7-week session format is not unique to Penn State but is particularly well developed in its calendar. These sessions allow students to complete a full course in half the usual time, which can be useful for accelerating degree progress, clearing a prerequisite before the next full semester, or managing a lighter load while working. The trade-off is a faster pace that leaves less room for adjustment if the material proves difficult.
Penn State manages registration through LionPATH, the university’s student information system. Registration deadlines, add/drop windows, and graduation applications are all managed there. The academic calendar dates on this page are subject to change without notice — the Office of the University Registrar maintains the authoritative current version, and students should confirm any time-sensitive deadline before acting on it.