Except for the Law School, which follows its own calendar structure, Drake University's academic year is comprised of a summer term, a 15-week (excluding final evaluations) fall semester, a three-week January term, and a 15-week (excluding final evaluations) spring semester. Drake University's Drake Online graduate program courses are delivered in six-week blocks over Drake's traditional fall, spring, and summer terms.

Summer 2024

• May 20 (Mon.)
  Summer term begins
• May 27 (Mon.)
  Memorial Day (university holiday; classes do not meet)
• Jun 19 (Mon.)
  Juneteenth observance (university holiday; classes do not meet)
• Jul 4 (Thurs.)
  Independence Day (university holiday; classes do not meet)
• Aug 25 (Sun.)
  Summer term ends

Fall 2024 (Non Law School)

• Aug. 26 (Mon.)
  Fall term begins
• Sept. 2 (Mon.)
  Labor Day (university holiday; classes do not meet)
• Sept. 27-29 (Fri.-Sun.)
  Family Weekend
• Oct. 14-15 (Mon.-Tue.)
  Fall break (classes do not meet)
• Oct. 16 (Wed.)
  Midpoint of semester
• TBD
  Mandatory fire drills
• Nov. 27-Dec. 1 (Wed.-Sun.)
  Thanksgiving break (classes do not meet)
• Dec. 2 (Mon.)
  Classes resume
• Dec. 6 (Fri.)
  Day free for study
• Dec. 9-13 (Mon.-Fri.)
  Final evaluation period
• Dec. 13 (Fri.)
  Fall term ends
• Dec. 14 (Sat.)
  Commencement

J-Term 2025

• Jan. 6 (Mon.)
  J-term begins
• Jan. 20 (Mon.)
  Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (university holiday; classes do not meet)
• Jan. 24 (Fri.)
  J-term ends

Spring 2025 (Non Law School)

• Jan. 27 (Mon.)
  Spring term begins
• TBD (Wed.)
  Mandatory tornado drill
• Mar. 14 (Fri.)
  Midpoint of semester
• Mar. 17-21 (Mon.-Fri.)
  Spring break (classes do not meet)
• Apr. 23-26 (Wed.-Sat.)
  Drake Relays (Non-Law classes suspended for Drake Relays at 1:50pm on Fri, Apr 25)
• Apr. 28 (Mon.)
  Classes resume
• May 9 (Fri.)
  Day free for study
• May 12-16 (Mon.-Fri.)
  Final evaluation period
• May 16 (Fri.)
  Spring term ends
• May 17 (Sat.)
  Commencement