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 2026

• May 18 (Mon.)
  Summer term begins
• May 25 (Mon.)
  Memorial Day (university holiday; classes do not meet)
• Jun 19 (Fri.)
  Juneteenth observance (university holiday; classes do not meet)
• Jul 3 (Fri.)
  Independence Day (university holiday; classes do not meet)
• Aug 23 (Sun.)
  Summer term ends

Fall 2026 (Non Law School)

• Aug. 24 (Mon.)
  Fall term begins
• Sept. 7 (Mon.)
  Labor Day (university holiday; classes do not meet)
• Oct. 2-4 (Fri.-Sun.)
  Family Weekend
• Oct. 12-13 (Mon.-Tue.)
  Fall break (classes do not meet)
• Oct. 14 (Wed.)
  Midpoint of semester
• TBD
  Mandatory fire drills
• Nov. 25-29 (Wed.-Sun.)
  Thanksgiving break (classes do not meet)
• Nov. 30 (Mon.)
  Classes resume
• Dec. 4 (Fri.)
  Day free for study
• Dec. 7-11 (Mon.-Fri.)
  Final evaluation period
• Dec. 11 (Fri.)
  Fall term ends

J-Term 2027

• Jan. 4 (Mon.)
  J-term begins
• Jan. 18 (Mon.)
  Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (university holiday; classes do not meet)
• Jan. 22 (Fri.)
  J-term ends

Spring 2027 (Non Law School)

• Jan. 25 (Mon.)
  Spring term begins
• TBD (Wed.)
  Mandatory tornado drill
• Mar. 12 (Fri.)
  Midpoint of semester
• Mar. 15-19 (Mon.-Fri.)
  Spring break (classes do not meet)
• Apr. 21-24 (Wed.-Sat.)
  Drake Relays (Non-Law classes suspended for Drake Relays at 1:50pm on Fri, Apr 23)
• Apr. 26 (Mon.)
  Classes resume
• May 7 (Fri.)
  Day free for study
• May 10-14 (Mon.-Fri.)
  Final evaluation period
• May 14 (Fri.)
  Spring term ends
• May 15 (Sat.)
  Commencement