This page outlines the GWU Academic Calendar 2023-2027 academic year. The Academic Calendar on this page lists all relevant holidays, breaks, class start and end dates, as well as Registration and Bursar dates. It provides a comprehensive schedule of activities for an academic year, including final exam week, breaks, and the end of the semester.
Bear this in mind, the academic calendar helps everyone remember important dates and events. Students, teachers, and staff rely on it to know when things are happening at school. It’s not just for people on campus; it also gives information to parents, former students, and new students who are thinking about coming to the school.
This calendar is important because it shows what life is like at the school and helps people decide if they want to be part of it. So, it’s a very useful tool that makes the school experience better for everyone.

GWU Academic Calendar 2023-2027
Fall SemesterÂ
First Day of Classes | Thursday, August 24, 2023 |
Labor Day (no classes) | Monday, September 4, 2023 |
Fall Break (no classes) | Thursday – Friday, October 12-13, 2023 |
Thanksgiving Break (no classes) | Monday, November 20 – Saturday, November 25, 2023 |
Last Day of Classes | Monday, December 11, 2023 |
Make-up/Reading Day | Tuesday, December 12, 2023 |
Final Exams | Wednesday, December 13 – Tuesday, December 19, 2023 |
Fall Degree Conferral | Friday, January 5, 2024 |
- Make-Up Day: This day is held to allow the university and/or an individual faculty member to offer a make-up class for any unanticipated class cancelations or disruptions related to weather, emergencies, or a change to the class schedule. The Provost Office and/or the instructor will provide an update prior to Thanksgiving break (fall semester) and March 30 (spring semester).
Spring Semester 2024
First Day of Classes | Tuesday, January 16, 2024 |
President’s Day (no classes) | Monday, February 19, 2024 |
Spring Break (no classes) | Monday, March 11 – Saturday, March 16, 2024 |
Last Day of Classes | Monday, April 29, 2024 |
Make-Up Day | Tuesday, April 30, 2024 |
Designated Monday | Wednesday, May 1, 2024 |
Reading Days | Thursday, May 2 – Friday, May 3, 2024 |
Final Exams | Saturday, May 4Â – Friday, May 10, 2024 |
Commencement Weekend | Thursday, May 16 – Sunday, May 19, 2024 |
Spring Degree Conferral | Sunday, May 19, 2024 |
- Designated Monday: Classes traditionally held on Mondays will be held today to make up for the two missed university holiday Mondays.
- Make-Up Day: This day is held to allow the university and/or an individual faculty member to offer a make-up class for any unanticipated class cancelations or disruptions related to weather, emergencies, or a change to the class schedule. The Provost Office and/or the instructor will provide an update prior to Thanksgiving break (fall semester) and March 30 (spring semester).
Summer Semester 2024
Session I begins (6-, 8-, 10- and full term sessions) | Monday, May 20, 2024 |
Memorial Day (no classes) | Monday, May 27, 2024 |
Juneteenth (no classes) | Wednesday, June 19, 2024 |
6-week Session I ends | Saturday, June 29, 2024 |
Session II begins (6 week session) | Monday, July 1, 2024 |
Independence Day observed (no classes) | Thursday, July 4, 2024 |
8-week Session IÂ ends | Saturday, July 13, 2024 |
10-week Session I ends | Saturday, July 27, 2024 |
6-week Session II ends | Saturday, August 10, 2024 |
Full-term Session I ends | Saturday, August 17, 2024 |
Summer Degree Conferral | Saturday, August 31, 2024 |
Law Degree Conferral | Sunday, September 1, 2024 |
Fall 2024
First Day of Classes | Thursday, August 22, 2024 |
Labor Day (no classes) | Monday, September 2, 2024 |
Fall Break (no classes) | Thursday – Friday, October 10-11, 2024 |
Thanksgiving Break (no classes) | Monday, November 25Â – Saturday, November 30, 2024 |
Last Day of Classes | Monday, December 9, 2024 |
Make-up/Reading Day | Tuesday, December 10, 2024 |
Final Exams | Wednesday, December 11Â – Tuesday, December 17, 2024 |
Fall Degree Conferral | Friday, January 10, 2025 |
Spring 2025
First Day of Classes | Monday, January 13, 2025 |
Martin Luther King Day (no classes) | Monday, January 20, 2025 |
Inauguration Day (no classes) | Monday, January 20, 2025 |
President’s Day (no classes) | Monday, February 17, 2025 |
Spring Break (no classes) | Monday, March 10Â – Saturday, March 15, 2025 |
Last Day of Classes | Monday, April 28, 2025 |
Make-Up Day | Tuesday, April 29, 2025 |
Designated Monday | Wednesday, April 30, 2025 |
Reading Days | Thursday, May 1 – Friday, May 2, 2025 |
Final Exams | Saturday, May 3Â – Friday, May 9, 2025 |
Commencement Weekend | Thursday, May 15Â – Sunday, May 18, 2025 |
Spring Degree Conferral | Sunday, May 18, 2025 |
Summer 2025
Session I begins (6-, 8-, 10- and full term sessions) | Monday, May 19, 2025 |
Memorial Day (no classes) | Monday, May 26, 2025 |
Juneteenth (no classes) | Thursday, June 19, 2025 |
6-week Session I ends | Saturday, June 28, 2025 |
Session II begins (6 week session) | Monday, June 30, 2025 |
Independence Day observed (no classes) | Friday, July 4, 2025 |
8-week Session IÂ ends | Saturday, July 12, 2025 |
10-week Session I ends | Saturday, July 26, 2025 |
6-week Session II ends | Saturday, August 9, 2025 |
Full-term Session I ends | Saturday, August 16, 2025 |
Summer Degree Conferral | Saturday, August 31, 2025 |
Law Degree Conferral | Monday, September 1, 2025 |
Fall 2025
First Day of Classes | Thursday, August 21, 2025 |
Labor Day (no classes) | Monday, September 1, 2025 |
Fall Break (no classes) | Thursday – Friday, October 9-10, 2025 |
Thanksgiving Break (no classes) | Monday, November 24Â – Saturday, November 29, 2025 |
Last Day of Classes | Monday, December 8, 2025 |
Make-up/Reading Day | Tuesday, December 9, 2025 |
Final Exams | Wednesday, December 10Â – Thursday, December 16, 2025 |
Fall Degree Conferral | Friday, January 9, 2026 |
Spring 2026
First Day of Classes | Tuesday, January 12, 2026 |
Martin Luther King Day (no classes) | Monday, January 19, 2026 |
President’s Day (no classes) | Monday, February 16, 2026 |
Spring Break (no classes) | Monday, March 9Â – Saturday, March 14, 2026 |
Last Day of Classes | Monday, April 27, 2026 |
Make-Up Day | Tuesday, April 28, 2026 |
Designated Monday | Wednesday, April 29, 2026 |
Reading Days | Thursday, April 30 – Friday, May 1, 2026 |
Final Exams | Saturday, May 2Â – Friday, May 8, 2026 |
Commencement Weekend | Thursday, May 14Â – Sunday, May 17, 2026 |
Spring Degree Conferral | Sunday, May 17, 2026 |
Summer 2026
Session I begins (6-, 8-, 10- and full term sessions) | Monday, May 18, 2026 |
Memorial Day (no classes) | Monday, May 25, 2026 |
Juneteenth (no classes) | Friday, June 19, 2026 |
6-week Session I ends | Saturday, June 27, 2026 |
Session II begins (6 week session) | Monday, June 29, 2026 |
Independence Day observed (no classes) | Friday, July 3, 2026 |
8-week Session IÂ ends | Saturday, July 11, 2026 |
10-week Session I ends | Saturday, July 25, 2026 |
6-week Session II ends | Saturday, August 8, 2026 |
Full-term Session I ends | Saturday, August 15, 2026 |
Summer Degree Conferral | Monday, August 31, 2026 |
Law Degree Conferral | Tuesday, September 1, 2026 |
Fall 2026
First Day of Classes | Thursday, August 20, 2026 |
Labor Day (no classes) | Monday, September 7, 2026 |
Fall Break (no classes) | Thursday – Friday, October 8-9, 2026 |
Thanksgiving Break (no classes) | Monday, November 23Â – Saturday, November 28, 2026 |
Last Day of Classes | Monday, December 7, 2026 |
Make-up/Reading Day | Tuesday, December 8, 2026 |
Final Exams | Wednesday, December 9Â – Tuesday, December 15, 2026 |
Fall Degree Conferral | Friday, January 8, 2027 |
Spring 2027
First Day of Classes | Monday, January 11, 2027 |
Martin Luther King Day (no classes) | Monday, January 18, 2027 |
President’s Day (no classes) | Monday, February 15, 2027 |
Spring Break (no classes) | Monday, March 8Â – Saturday, March 13, 2027 |
Last Day of Classes | Monday, April 26, 2027 |
Make-Up Day | Tuesday, April 27, 2027 |
Designated Monday | Wednesday, April 28, 2027 |
Reading Days | Thursday, April 29 – Friday, April 30, 2027 |
Final Exams | Saturday, May 1Â – Friday, May 7, 2027 |
Commencement Weekend | Thursday, May 13Â – Sunday, May 16, 2027 |
Spring Degree Conferral | Sunday, May 16, 2027 |
Summer 2027
Session I begins (6-, 8-, 10- and full term sessions) | Monday, May 17, 2027 |
Memorial Day (no classes) | Monday, May 31, 2027 |
Juneteenth (no classes) | Friday, June 18, 2027 |
6-week Session I ends | Saturday, June 26, 2027 |
Session II begins (6 week session) | Monday, June 28, 2027 |
Independence Day observed (no classes) | Monday, July 5, 2027 |
8-week Session IÂ ends | Saturday, July 10, 2027 |
10-week Session I ends | Saturday, July 24, 2027 |
6-week Session II ends | Saturday, August 7, 2027 |
Full-term Session I ends | Saturday, August 14, 2027 |
Summer Degree Conferral | Tuesday, August 31, 2027 |
Law Degree Conferral | Wednesday, September 1, 2027 |
Fall 2027
First Day of Classes | Thursday, August 19, 2027 |
Labor Day (no classes) | Monday, September 6, 2027 |
Fall Break (no classes) | Thursday – Friday, October 7-8, 2027 |
Thanksgiving Break (no classes) | Monday, November 22Â – Saturday, November 27, 2027 |
Last Day of Classes | Monday, December 6, 2027 |
Make-up/Reading Day | Tuesday, December 7, 2027 |
Final Exams | Wednesday, December 8Â – Tuesday, December 14, 2027 |
Fall Degree Conferral | Friday, January 7, 2027 |