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.
2019-2020*
2020-2021
2021-2022
2022-2023
2023-2024
First day of classes
Aug 26
Aug 24
Aug 30
Aug 29
Aug 28
Labor Day*
Sep 2
Sep 7
Sep 6
Sep 5
Sep 4
Fall Break*
Oct 12-15
Oct 10-13
Oct 9-12
Oct 8-11
Oct 7-10
Thanksgiving Break*
Nov 27 – Dec 1
Nov 25-29
Nov 24-28
Nov 23-27
Nov 22-26
Last day of classes
Dec 6
Dec 4
Dec 10
Dec 9
Dec 8
Reading and Exams
Dec 9-18
Dec 7-16
Dec 13-22
Dec 12-21
Dec 11-20
Martin Luther King Day*
Jan 20
Jan 18
Jan 17
Jan 16
Jan 15
First day of classes
Jan 13
Jan 19
Jan 18
Jan 17
Jan 16
Spring Break*
Mar 8-14
Mar 14-20
Mar 13-19
Mar 12-18
Mar 10-16
Last day of classes
Apr 24
Apr 30
Apr 29
Apr 28
Apr 26
Reading and Exams
Apr 27 – May 6
May 3-12
May 2-11
May 1-10
Apr 29 – May 8
Commencement
May 15
May 21
May 20
May 19
May 17
First Session begins
May 18
May 24
May 23
May 22
May 20
Memorial Day*
May 25
May 31
May 30
May 29
May 27
Independence Day*
Jul 3
Jul 5
Jul 4
Jul 4
Jul 4
Last Session ends
Aug 13
Aug 19
Aug 18
Aug 17
Aug 15
