The academic calendar of Washington University in St. Louis is designed to provide an optimal amount of classroom instruction and examination within a manageable time frame, facilitating our educational mission to promote learning among both students and faculty.
Beginning in the Fall 2016 semester, our Fall Break became a four-day weekend with no classes on a Saturday through Tuesday in mid-October. This decision was made by the Academic Calendar Committee, approved by the Provost and announced to the university community in April of 2014. This calendar change brought our Fall semester’s instruction days in line with Spring, in that both now include a full calendar week without classes (the new Fall Break and the Thanksgiving Holidays in the Fall, and Spring Break in the Spring) plus one additional Monday without classes (Labor Day in the Fall and the MLK Holiday in the Spring).
Plan ahead and enjoy!
Please note * indicates no classes.
2016-2017
2017-2018
2018-2019
2019-2020
2020-2021
First day of classes
Aug 29
Aug 28
Aug 27
Aug 26
Aug 24
Labor Day*
Sep 5
Sep 4
Sep 3
Sep 2
Sep 7
Fall Break*
Oct 15-18
Oct 14-17
Oct 13-16
Oct 12-15
Oct 10-13
Thanksgiving Break*
Nov 23-27
Nov 22-26
Nov 21-25
Nov 27-Dec 1
Nov 25-29
Last day of classes
Dec 9
Dec 8
Dec 7
Dec 6
Dec 4
Reading and Exams
Dec 12-21
Dec 11-20
Dec 10-19
Dec 9-18
Dec 7-16
First day of classes
Jan 17
Jan 16
Jan 14
Jan 13
Jan 19
Martin Luther King Day*
Jan 16
Jan 15
Jan 21
Jan 20
Jan 18
Spring Break*
Mar 12-18
Mar 11-17
Mar 10-16
Mar 8-14
Mar 14-20
Last day of classes
Apr 28
Apr 27
Apr 26
Apr 24
Apr 30
Reading and Exams
May 1-10
Apr 30 -May 9
Apr 29 -May 8
Apr 27-May 6
May 3-12
Commencement
May 19
May 18
May 17
May 15
May 21
First Session begins
May 22
May 21
May 20
May 18
May 24
Memorial Day*
May 29
May 28
May 27
May 25
May 31
Independence Day*
Jul 4
Jul 4
Jul 4
Jul 3
Jul 5
Last Session ends
Aug 17
Aug 16
Aug 15
Aug 13
Aug 19
