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 |