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 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