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:
|
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, August 28, 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 |
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, August 28, 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 |