Academic Calendar
Summer Semester 2026

Summer Degree Conferral

Date Event
Thursday, July 2, 2026 Graduation Deadline: Last day for undergraduate-level students to submit an online Application for Degree for August (Summer) degree conferral with the Office of the Registrar via ESTHER
Graduation Deadline: Last day for graduate-level students to submit an online Application for Degree for August (Summer) degree conferral with the Office of the Registrar via ESTHER
Graduation Deadline: Last day for graduate-level August (Summer) degree candidates to file the following applicable forms in the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (see GPS Forms page) for August (Summer) degree conferral:
  • Thesis Master's Candidacy Petition Form
  • Non-Thesis Master's Petition for Certification Form
  • Candidacy Master's Degree Form
  • Doctoral Candidacy Petition Form
Wednesday, July 29, 2026 Graduation Deadline: Last day for Rice faculty Official Certifiers to review, submit petitions, and certify undergraduate and graduate-level August (Summer) degree candidates via Degree Works
Friday, August 14, 2026 Graduation Deadline: Last day for graduate-level students to submit thesis in the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for August (Summer) degree conferral by 12:00 noon
Graduation Deadline: Last day for instructors to submit final grades to resolve "Incomplete" (INC) grades for courses taken in the previous Spring semester (for Summer degree candidates)
Monday, August 31, 2026 GRADUATION: Degrees Awarded for August (Summer) degree recipients
{with a degree conferral date of August 31, 2026}
Tuesday, December 8, 2026 GRADUATION: December Commencement Ceremony (for Summer and Fall 2026 degree recipients). For information, please visit commencement.rice.edu

Summer Sessions

Unless otherwise noted, dates and information apply to both Rice undergraduate and graduate students. Students are charged per credit hour; LPAP billed @ 1 hour. Early matriculants are charged an additional Health Services Fee.

Summer Session 1: May 4 - August 14, 2026 (15 weeks, Full Term Non-Research Courses)

Date Event
Friday, December 19, 2025 Summer Registration: Registration for Summer 2026 begins for currently enrolled degree-seeking Rice undergraduate and graduate students online via ESTHER
Applications: Visiting student application process opens for Summer 2026
Monday, May 4, 2026 FIRST DAY OF CLASSES - START OF THE SUMMER SESSION 1
SUMMER SEMESTER (15-WEEKS)
Monday, May 4, 2026 Summer Registration Continues: Late Registration continues for undergraduate and graduate students online via ESTHER
Friday, May 15, 2026 Deadline: Last day to add courses for the (full-term) Summer Session 1 online via ESTHER
Deadline: Last day to adjust variable credit for courses for the (full-term) Summer Session 1 online via ESTHER
Deadline: Last day to complete late registration for the (full-term) Summer Session 1 online via ESTHER
Deadline: Last day to drop courses with a 100% refund of tuition for the (full-term) Summer Session 1 online via ESTHER
Friday, May 22, 2026 Deadline: Last day to drop courses with a 80% refund of tuition for the (full-term) Summer Session 1 online via ESTHER
Monday, May 25, 2026 MEMORIAL DAY (HOLIDAY - NO SCHEDULED CLASSES)
Friday, May 29, 2026 Deadline: Last day to drop courses with a 70% refund of tuition for the (full-term) Summer Session 1 online via ESTHER
Friday, June 5, 2026 Deadline: Last day to drop courses with a 60% refund of tuition for the (full-term) Summer Session 1 online via ESTHER
Friday, June 12, 2026 Deadline: Last day to drop courses with a 50% refund of tuition for the (full-term) Summer Session 1 online via ESTHER
Friday, June 19, 2026 JUNETEENTH (DAY OF OBSERVANCE - NO SCHEDULED CLASSES)
Friday, June 19, 2026 Deadline: Last day to drop courses for the (full-term) Summer Session 1 online via ESTHER

Deadline: Last day to drop courses with a 40% refund of tuition for the (full-term) Summer Session 1 online via ESTHER

Deadline: Last day to designate as "Audit" a course for which one is currently registered for credit in the (full-term) Summer Session I (via Special Registration Form - Instructor Permission Required)
Friday, July 3, 2026 INDEPENDENCE DAY (HOLIDAY - NO SCHEDULED CLASSES)
Friday, July 10, 2026 Deadline: Last day to designate as "Pass/Fail" a course for which one is currently registered for the (full-term) Summer Session I (via Special Registration Form) at the Office of the Registrar (Rice degree-seeking students only)
Friday, August 14, 2026 LAST DAY OF CLASSES - SUMMER SESSION 1
END OF SUMMER SESSION 1
Friday, August 21, 2026 Deadline: Last day for instructors to submit Summer semester final grades for all students online via ESTHER by 5:00 p.m.
Friday, September 4, 2026 Deadline: Last day for instructors to submit final grades to resolve "Other" (OT) and "Incomplete" (INC) grades for courses taken in the previous Summer semester

Full Summer Session: May 4 - August 14, 2026 (15 weeks)

Date Event
Friday, December 19, 2025 Summer Registration: Summer Registration: Registration for Summer 2026 begins for currently enrolled degree-seeking Rice undergraduate and graduate students online via ESTHER
Applications: Visiting student application process opens for Summer 2026
Monday, May 4, 2026 FIRST DAY OF CLASSES - START OF THE SUMMER SESSION 1
SUMMER SEMESTER (15-WEEKS)
Monday, May 4, 2026

Summer Registration Continues: Late Registration continues for undergraduate and graduate students online via ESTHER
Friday, May 15, 2026 Deadline: Last day to drop courses with a 100% refund of tuition for the Full Summer Session online via ESTHER
Friday, May 22, 2026 Deadline: Last day to drop courses with a 80% refund of tuition for the Full Summer Session online via ESTHER
Monday, May 25, 2026 MEMORIAL DAY (HOLIDAY - NO SCHEDULED CLASSES)
Friday, May 29, 2026 Deadline: Last day to drop courses with a 70% refund of tuition for the Full Summer Session online via ESTHER
Friday, June 5, 2026 Deadline: Last day to drop courses with a 60% refund of tuition for the Full Summer Session online via ESTHER
Friday, June 12, 2026 Deadline: Last day to drop courses with a 50% refund of tuition for the Full Summer Session online via ESTHER
Friday, June 19, 2026 JUNETEENTH (DAY OF OBSERVANCE - NO SCHEDULED CLASSES)
Friday, June 19, 2026

Deadline: Last day to drop courses for the Full Summer Session online via ESTHER

Deadline: Last day to drop courses with a 40% refund of tuition for the Full Summer Session online via ESTHER
Friday, July 3, 2026 INDEPENDENCE DAY (HOLIDAY - NO SCHEDULED CLASSES)
Friday, July 10, 2026 Deadline: Last day to designate as "Pass/Fail" a course for which one is currently registered for the Full Summer Session (via Special Registration Form) at the Office of the Registrar (Rice degree-seeking students only)
Friday, August 14, 2026

LAST DAY OF CLASSES - FULL SUMMER SESSION
END OF FULL SUMMER SEMESTER
Friday, August 14, 2026 Deadline: Last day to add courses for the Full Summer Session online via ESTHER
Friday, August 21, 2026 Deadline: Last day for instructors to submit Summer semester final grades for all students online via ESTHER by 5:00 p.m.
Friday, September 4, 2026 Deadline: Last day for instructors to submit final grades to resolve "Other" (OT) and "Incomplete" (INC) grades for courses taken in the previous Summer semester