Academic Calendar
Fall Quadmester 2026

All dates and deadlines (noted below) are for quadmester full-term courses. PLEASE NOTE: Part of Term Courses have different dates and deadlines that are posted on the Part of Term Courses web page.

Date Event
Monday, August 31, 2026 Registration: Registration Officially Opens
Friday, September 4, 2026 Deadline: Last day to register for the upcoming Quadmester without a $75 Late Registration Fee
Friday, September 25, 2026 Graduation Deadline: Last day for graduate-level students to submit an online Application for Degree for December (Fall) degree conferral with the Office of the Registrar via ESTHER
Monday, October 5, 2026 START OF TERM
FIRST DAY OF CLASSES
Monday, October 5, 2026 Registration: Start of Late Registration; Late Registration Fee increases to $125
Sunday, October 11, 2026 Deadline: Last day to withdraw from the university with a 100% refund of tuition
Monday, October 12, 2026 Deadline: Last day to complete Late Registration
Deadline: Last day to add courses online via ESTHER
Sunday, October 18, 2026 Deadline: Last day to withdraw from the university with an 80% refund of tuition
Monday, October 19, 2026 Deadline: Last day to drop courses online via ESTHER
Sunday, October 25, 2026 Deadline: Last day to withdraw from the university with a 60% refund of tuition
Friday, October 30, 2026 Deadline: Last day for instructors to submit final grades to resolve “Incomplete” (INC) grades for courses taken in previous term
Sunday, November 1, 2026 Deadline: Last day to withdraw from the university with a 40% refund of tuition
Sunday, November 8, 2026 Deadline: Last day to withdraw from the university with a 20% refund of tuition
Thursday, November 26, 2026 THANKSGIVING DAY (HOLIDAY)
(Live Class Sessions will be Rescheduled)
Tuesday, December 8, 2026 GRADUATION: December Commencement Ceremony (for Summer and Fall 2026 degree recipients) For information, please visit commencement.rice.edu
Sunday, December 13, 2026 LAST DAY OF CLASSES
Monday, December 14, 2026 Final Examination Period Begins
Sunday, December 20, 2026 Final Examination Period Ends
Monday, December 21, 2026 ILE (Intensive Learning Experience) Begins
Sunday, December 27, 2026 ILE (Intensive Learning Experience) Ends
Sunday, December 27, 2026 END OF TERM
Monday, January 4, 2027 Deadline: Last day for instructors to submit Fall quadmester final grades for all students online via ESTHER