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 2025

• May 19 (Mon.)
  Summer term begins
• May 26 (Mon.)
  Memorial Day (university holiday; classes do not meet)
• Jun 19 (Thurs.)
  Juneteenth observance (university holiday; classes do not meet)
• Jul 4 (Fri.)
  Independence Day (university holiday; classes do not meet)
• Aug 24 (Sun.)
  Summer term ends

Fall 2025 (Non Law School)

• Aug. 25 (Mon.)
  Fall term begins
• Sept. 1 (Mon.)
  Labor Day (university holiday; classes do not meet)
• Oct. 3-5 (Fri.-Sun.)
  Family Weekend
• Oct. 13-14 (Mon.-Tue.)
  Fall break (classes do not meet)
• Oct. 15 (Wed.)
  Midpoint of semester
• TBD
  Mandatory fire drills
• Nov. 26-30 (Wed.-Sun.)
  Thanksgiving break (classes do not meet)
• Dec. 1 (Mon.)
  Classes resume
• Dec. 5 (Fri.)
  Day free for study
• Dec. 8-12 (Mon.-Fri.)
  Final evaluation period
• Dec. 12 (Fri.)
  Fall term ends

J-Term 2026

• Jan. 5 (Mon.)
  J-term begins
• Jan. 19 (Mon.)
  Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (university holiday; classes do not meet)
• Jan. 23 (Fri.)
  J-term ends

Spring 2026 (Non Law School)

• Jan. 26 (Mon.)
  Spring term begins
• TBD (Wed.)
  Mandatory tornado drill
• Mar. 13 (Fri.)
  Midpoint of semester
• Mar. 16-20 (Mon.-Fri.)
  Spring break (classes do not meet)
• Apr. 22-25 (Wed.-Sat.)
  Drake Relays (Non-Law classes suspended for Drake Relays at 1:50pm on Fri, Apr 24)
• Apr. 27 (Mon.)
  Classes resume
• May 8 (Fri.)
  Day free for study
• May 11-15 (Mon.-Fri.)
  Final evaluation period
• May 15 (Fri.)
  Spring term ends
• May 17 (Sun.)
  Commencement