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 an 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 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). Please visit commencement.rice.edu for more information |
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 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 online via ESTHER for the (full-term) Summer Session 1
Deadline: Last day to adjust variable credit for courses online via ESTHER Deadline: Last day to complete late registration online via ESTHER Deadline: Last day to drop courses online via ESTHER with a 100% refund of tuition for the (full-term) Summer Session 1 |
| Friday, May 22, 2026 | Deadline: Last day to drop courses online via ESTHER with an 80% refund of tuition for the (full-term) Summer Session 1 |
| Monday, May 25, 2026 | MEMORIAL DAY (HOLIDAY - NO SCHEDULED CLASSES) |
| Friday, May 29, 2026 | Deadline: Last day to drop courses online via ESTHER with a 70% refund of tuition for the (full-term) Summer Session 1 |
| Friday, June 5, 2026 | Deadline: Last day to drop courses online via ESTHER with a 60% refund of tuition for the (full-term) Summer Session 1 |
| Friday, June 12, 2026 | Deadline: Last day to drop courses online via ESTHER with a 50% refund of tuition for the (full-term) Summer Session 1 |
| Thursday, June 19, 2026 | JUNETEENTH (DAY OF OBSERVANCE - NO SCHEDULED CLASSES) |
| Friday, June 19, 2026 | Deadline: Last day to drop courses online via ESTHER for the (full-term) Summer Session 1
Deadline: Last day to drop courses online via ESTHER with a 40% refund of tuition for the (full-term) Summer Session 1 |
| Friday, July 3, 2026 | INDEPENDENCE DAY (HOLIDAY - NO SCHEDULED CLASSES) |
| Friday, July 10, 2026 | Deadline: Last day to designate a course as "Pass/Fail" for the (full-term) Summer Session 1 by paper 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 previous Summer semester |
Full Summer Session: May 4 - August 14, 2026 (15 weeks)
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Friday, December 19, 2025 | Summer Registration: Registration for Summer 2026 begins for currently enrolled degree-seeking Rice undergraduate and graduate students 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 online via ESTHER with a 100% refund of tuition for the Full Summer Session |
| Friday, May 22, 2026 | Deadline: Last day to drop courses online via ESTHER with an 80% refund of tuition for the Full Summer Session |
| Monday, May 25, 2026 | MEMORIAL DAY (HOLIDAY - NO SCHEDULED CLASSES) |
| Friday, May 29, 2026 | Deadline: Last day to drop courses online via ESTHER with a 70% refund of tuition for the Full Summer Session |
| Friday, June 5, 2026 | Deadline: Last day to drop courses online via ESTHER with a 60% refund of tuition for the Full Summer Session |
| Friday, June 12, 2026 | Deadline: Last day to drop courses online via ESTHER with a 50% refund of tuition for the Full Summer Session |
| Friday, June 19, 2026 | JUNETEENTH (DAY OF OBSERVANCE - NO SCHEDULED CLASSES) |
| Friday, June 19, 2026 |
Deadline: Last day to drop courses online via ESTHER for the Full Summer Session Deadline: Last day to drop courses online via ESTHER with a 40% refund of tuition for the Full Summer Session |
| Friday, July 3, 2026 | INDEPENDENCE DAY (HOLIDAY - NO SCHEDULED CLASSES) |
| Friday, July 10, 2026 | Deadline: Last day to designate a course as "Pass/Fail" for Full Summer Session by paper 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 online via ESTHER for the Full Summer Session |
| 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 previous Summer semester |