Calendar
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 2023
- May 15 (Mon.)
Summer term begins - May 29 (Mon.)
Memorial Day (university holiday; classes do not meet) - Jun 19 (Mon.)
Juneteenth observance (university holiday; classes do not meet) - Jul 3 (Mon.)
Independence Day observance (university holiday; classes do not meet) - Jul 4 (Tue.)
Independence Day (university holiday; classes do not meet) - Aug 20 (Sun.)
Summer term ends
Fall 2023 (Non Law School)
- Aug. 28 (Mon.)
Fall term begins - Sept. 4 (Mon.)
Labor Day (university holiday; classes do not meet) - Oct. 6-8 (Fri.-Sun.)
Family Weekend - Oct. 16-17 (Mon.-Tue.)
Fall break (classes do not meet) - Oct. 18 (Wed.)
Midpoint of semester - TBD
Mandatory fire drills - Nov. 22-26 (Wed.-Fri.)
Thanksgiving break (classes do not meet) - Nov. 27 (Mon.)
Classes resume - Dec. 8 (Fri.)
Day free for study - Dec. 11-15 (Mon.-Fri.)
Final evaluation period - Dec. 15 (Fri.)
Fall term ends - Dec. 16 (Sat.)
Commencement
J-Term 2024
- Jan. 3 (Wed.)
J-term begins - Jan. 15 (Mon.)
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (university holiday; classes do not meet) - Jan. 26 (Fri.)
J-term ends
Spring 2024 (Non Law School)
- Jan. 29 (Mon.)
Spring term begins - TBD (Wed.)
Mandatory tornado drill - Mar. 11-15 (Mon.-Fri.)
Spring break (classes do not meet) - Mar. 22 (Fri.)
Midpoint of semester - Apr. 24-27 (Wed.-Sat.)
Drake Relays (Non-Law classes suspended for Drake Relays at 1:50pm on Fri, Apr 26) - Apr. 29 (Mon.)
Classes resume - May 10 (Fri.)
Day free for study - May 13-17 (Mon.-Fri.)
Final evaluation period - May 17 (Fri.)
Spring term ends - May 19 (Sun.)
Commencement