Fall Semester 2026

Friday July 3

Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive degree plan in DPSS if graduating in December 2026.

Monday August 10

First day to apply for degrees to be awarded in December 2026.

Friday August 21

Last day to register for Fall semester classes. Refer to the Student Business Services website for more information on billing due dates.

Monday August 24

First day of Fall semester classes.

Friday August 28

• Last day to CLEAR for August 2026 graduation. (Applies ONLY to those students not clearing final degree evaluation on day of final degree audit.)
• Last day for adding/dropping courses for the Fall semester by 5:00 p.m.

Friday September 4

Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive a completed MDD petition in DPSS from master’s students to change degree level (e.g. master’s to doctoral). ALL level changes must be processed before the 12th Class Day in order to be effective for Fall 2026.

Wednesday September 9

Last day for the Registrar’s office to approve a certificate added by the student’s department for the Fall semester. Certificates are not added by the Graduate and Professional School.

Friday September 25

LAST DAY TO APPLY FOR DEGREES TO BE AWARDED IN DECEMBER BY 5:00PM without a late fee. A diploma fee of $47.50 must be paid either at registration or at the Fiscal Office (GSC). Complete the application for degree form via the Howdy Portal. A LATE CHARGE OF $50.00 WILL BE ASSESSED TO STUDENTS WHO APPLY FOR GRADUATION AFTER 09-25-2026.

Monday September 28

Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive a completed MDD petition in DPSS from master’s students to change a degree within the same level (e.g. master’s to master’s) and graduate in
December 2026.

Monday October 26

• Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive completed coursework petitions in DPSS to change degree plan coursework from master’s students in programs without a final examination
  requirement.
• Last day or 10 working days prior to the examination, whichever comes first for the Graduate and Professional School to receive completed “Final Exam Request” in ARCS.
• Last day for the Graduate and Professional School to receive completed “Request for Exemption from
  Final Examination” in ARCS.

Wednesday November 4

Last day to apply for graduation in Howdy (online). A paper application will need to be submitted after this date.

Monday November 9

Last day to take final examination.

Monday November 16

Last day for all students to drop courses for the Fall semester with no penalty (Q-drop). Last day to officially withdraw from the University for the Fall semester.

Thursday December 3 

Last day to apply for graduation.

Friday July 3

Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive degree plan in DPSS if graduating in December 2026.

Monday July 2o

Electronic Thesis/Dissertation System re-opens for December 2026 degree candidates.

Monday August 10

• First day to apply for degrees to be awarded in December 2026.
• First day students can clear Thesis and Dissertation Services for December 2026 graduation.

Friday August 21

Last day to register for Fall semester classes. Refer to the Student Business Services website for tuition and fee due dates.

Monday August 24

First day of Fall semester classes.

Friday August 28

• Last day to CLEAR for December 2026 graduation. (Applies ONLY to those students who do not clear final degree evaluation on day of final degree audit.)
• Last day for adding/dropping courses the first term and 10-week semester by 5:00 p.m.
• Last day to clear Thesis and Dissertation Services to avoid registration in Summer 2026 semester.

Friday September 4

Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive a completed MDD petition in DPSS from master’s students to change degree level (e.g. master’s to doctoral). ALL level changes must be processed before the 12th Class Day in order to be effective for Fall 2026.

Wednesday September 9

Last day for the Registrar’s office to approve a certificate added by the student’s department for the Fall semester. Certificates are not added by the Graduate and Professional School.

Monday September 14

Last day for the Graduate and Professional School to receive Thesis Research Proposal Form in ARCS for December degree candidates.

Friday September 25

LAST DAY TO APPLY FOR DEGREES TO BE AWARDED IN DECEMBER BY 5:00PM without a late fee. A diploma fee of $47.50 must be paid either at registration or at the Fiscal Office (GSC). Complete the application for degree form via the Howdy Portal. A LATE CHARGE OF $50.00 WILL BE ASSESSED TO STUDENTS WHO APPLY FOR GRADUATION AFTER 09-25-2026.

Monday September 28

Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive a completed MDD petition in DPSS from master’s students to change a degree within the same level (e.g. master’s to master’s) and graduate in
December 2026.

Friday October 2

• Last day or 10 working days prior to the examination, whichever comes first for the Graduate and Professional School to receive completed “Final Exam Request” in ARCS .
• Last day for the Graduate and Professional School to receive completed “Request for Exemption from
  Final Examination” in ARCS.

Friday October 16

Last day to take final examination

Friday October 30

Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive the completed/approved Written Thesis Approval form in ARCS . The PDF file of thesis must be uploaded via the web to Electronic Thesis/Dissertation System †by 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday November 4

Last day to apply for graduation in Howdy (online). A paper application will need to be submitted after this date.

Monday November 16

Last day for all students to drop courses for the Fall semester with no penalty (Q-drop). Last day to officially withdraw from the University for the Fall semester.

Thursday December 3

Last day to apply for graduation.

Note: Preliminary examination results must be received and approved by the Graduate and Professional School prior to submitting the “Final Exam” in ARCS.

Friday July 3

Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive degree plan in DPSS if graduating in December 2026.

Monday July 20

Electronic Thesis/Dissertation System re-opens for December 2026 degree candidates.

Monday August 10

• First day to apply for degrees to be awarded in December 2026.
• First day students are able to clear Thesis and Dissertation Services for December 2026 graduation.

Friday August 21

Last day to register for Fall semester classes. Refer to the Student Business Services website for more information on billing due dates.

Monday August 24

First day of Fall semester classes.

Friday August 28

• Last day to CLEAR for August 2026 graduation. (Applies ONLY to those students not clearing final degree evaluation on day of final degree audit.)
• Last day for adding/dropping courses for the Fall semester by 5:00 p.m.
• Last day to clear Thesis and Dissertation Services to avoid registration in Fall 2026 semester.

Friday September 4

Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive a completed MDD petition in DPSS from doctoral students to change degree level (e.g. doctoral to masters) and graduate in December 2026. ALL level changes must be processed before the 12th Class Day in order to be effective for Fall 2026.

Wednesday September 9

Last day for the Registrar’s office to approve a certificate added by the student’s department for the Fall semester. Certificates are not added by the Graduate and Professional School

Friday September 25

LAST DAY TO APPLY FOR DEGREES TO BE AWARDED IN DECEMBER BY 5:00PM without a late fee. A diploma fee of $47.50 must be paid either at registration or at the Fiscal Office (GSC). Complete the
application for degree form via the Howdy Portal. A LATE CHARGE OF $50.00 WILL BE ASSESSED TO STUDENTS WHO APPLY FOR GRADUATION AFTER 09-25-2026

Monday September 28

Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive a completed MDD petition in DPSS from master’s students to change a degree within the same level (e.g. master’s to master’s) and graduate in
December 2026

Friday October 2

Last day or 10 working days prior to the examination, whichever comes first for the Graduate and Professional School to receive completed “Final Exam Request” in ARCS.

Friday October 16

Last day to take final examination.

Friday October 30

Last day for Graduate and Professional School to receive the completed/approved Written Dissertation/Record of Study Approval form in ARCS. The PDF file of the dissertation must be uploaded via the web to Electronic Thesis/Dissertation System †by 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday November 4

Last day to apply for graduation in Howdy (online). A paper application will need to be submitted after this date.

Monday November 16

Last day for all students to drop courses for the Fall semester with no penalty (Q-drop). Last day to officially withdraw from the University for the Fall semester.

Thursday December 3

Last day to apply for graduation.

CLEARANCE FOR DECEMBER 2026 DEGREE CANDIDATES

December 10 

Academic Degree Evaluations conducted the Thursday before Graduation Ceremony. Academic Degree Evaluation results available once reports run

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES

December 11-12 

Master’s and Doctoral Commencement, additional information available on the Graduation Website.

ADDITIONAL DEADLINES FOR DEGREES TO BE CONFERRED IN DECEMBER 2026

JANUARY 22, 2027 

Last day to CLEAR for December 2026 graduation. (Applies ONLY to those students not clearing final degree evaluation on day of final degree audit.For relevant forms and processes, see Degree Completion.