Carnegie Mellon University’s fall 2026 semester starts Monday, August 24, 2026, and ends with final exams from December 7 to December 14. Spring 2027 classes begin Tuesday, January 19, 2027, spring break runs March 8–12, 2027, and commencement is Sunday, May 16, 2027.
The CMU Academic Calendar 2026-27 below comes straight from the university’s official PDF, last updated July 1, 2026. We counted the class days, measured every break, and flagged the deadlines that cost students money or grades.
Key Takeaways
- CMU fall 2026 classes run Monday, August 24, 2026 through Friday, December 4, 2026: 65 class days.
- CMU fall break is Monday, October 12 through Friday, October 16, 2026. With both weekends, that is 9 days off.
- CMU Thanksgiving break runs Wednesday, November 25 through Friday, November 27, 2026. Democracy Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026, has no day classes.
- CMU fall 2026 final exams run Monday, December 7 through Monday, December 14, 2026, with reading days on December 9 and December 12.
- CMU spring 2027 classes run Tuesday, January 19 through Friday, April 30, 2027: 67 class days.
- CMU spring break 2027 is Monday, March 8 through Friday, March 12, 2027. Spring Carnival follows on April 15–17.
- CMU commencement is Sunday, May 16, 2027. Summer 2027 classes start the next day, Monday, May 17.
CMU Academic Calendar 2026-27 at a Glance
| Event | Date(s) | Day(s) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | |||
| First-year move-in | Not yet published by CMU in the academic calendar | — | Not yet published |
| First-Year Orientation | August 16–22, 2026 | Sunday–Saturday | Official |
| Convocation | August 20, 2026 | Thursday | Official |
| First day of classes | August 24, 2026 | Monday | Official |
| Mini-1 add, audit & tuition adjustment drop deadline | August 28, 2026 | Friday | Official |
| Semester add, audit & tuition adjustment drop deadline | September 4, 2026 | Friday | Official |
| Labor Day (university closed) | September 7, 2026 | Monday | Official |
| Semester drop deadline (W grade after this date) | October 5, 2026 | Monday | Official |
| Fall break (no classes) | October 12–16, 2026 | Monday–Friday | Official |
| Democracy Day (no classes; evening classes after 5 pm meet) | November 3, 2026 | Tuesday | Official |
| Semester pass/no pass & W grade deadline | November 9, 2026 | Monday | Official |
| Thanksgiving break | November 25–27, 2026 | Wednesday–Friday | Official |
| Last day of classes | December 4, 2026 | Friday | Official |
| Final exams | December 7–8, 10–11 and 13, 2026 | Mon–Tue, Thu–Fri, Sun | Official |
| Reading days | December 9 and 12, 2026 | Wednesday, Saturday | Official |
| Make-up final exams | December 14, 2026 | Monday | Official |
| Fall grades due (4 pm) | December 16, 2026 | Wednesday | Official |
| Winter break | |||
| University closed | December 24–25, 2026 | Thursday–Friday | Official |
| University closed | December 31, 2026 – January 1, 2027 | Thursday–Friday | Official |
| Winter session | Not yet published by CMU in the academic calendar | — | Not yet published |
| Spring 2027 | |||
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day (university closed) | January 18, 2027 | Monday | Official |
| First day of classes | January 19, 2027 | Tuesday | Official |
| Semester add, audit & tuition adjustment drop deadline | February 1, 2027 | Monday | Official |
| Semester drop deadline (W grade after this date) | March 1, 2027 | Monday | Official |
| Spring break (no classes) | March 8–12, 2027 | Monday–Friday | Official |
| Semester pass/no pass & W grade deadline | April 5, 2027 | Monday | Official |
| Easter / spring holiday | None listed in the calendar | — | Official |
| Spring Carnival | April 15–17, 2027 | Thursday–Saturday | Official |
| Last day of classes | April 30, 2027 | Friday | Official |
| Final exams | May 3–4, 6–7 and 10, 2027 | Mon–Tue, Thu–Fri, Mon | Official |
| Reading days | May 5 and May 8–9, 2027 | Wednesday, Saturday–Sunday | Official |
| Make-up final exams | May 11, 2027 | Tuesday | Official |
| Commencement | May 16, 2027 | Sunday | Official |
| Summer 2027 | |||
| Summer semester & Mini-5 classes begin | May 17, 2027 | Monday | Official |
| Memorial Day (university closed) | May 31, 2027 | Monday | Official |
| Juneteenth observed (university closed) | June 18, 2027 | Friday | Official |
| Last day of Mini-5 classes | June 24, 2027 | Thursday | Official |
| Mini-5 final exams | June 25, 2027 | Friday | Official |
| Mini-6 classes begin | June 28, 2027 | Monday | Official |
| Independence Day observed (university closed) | July 5, 2027 | Monday | Official |
| Last day of summer classes | August 5, 2027 | Thursday | Official |
| Summer semester & Mini-6 final exams | August 6, 2027 | Friday | Official |
| Summer grades due (4 pm) | August 10, 2027 | Tuesday | Official |
Source: Carnegie Mellon University 2026-2027 Academic Calendar (PDF), last updated July 1, 2026, checked November 8, 2026. Always confirm with Carnegie Mellon University before booking travel.
Heinz College, Tepper MBA, Computational Finance and doctoral course sections follow separate calendars, so check with your program if you are in one of them.
CMU Fall 2026 Semester: Move-In, Fall Break and Finals Week
CMU’s fall 2026 semester starts Monday, August 24, 2026, and has 65 class days. Each weekday meets exactly 13 times, so no Monday or Friday section loses ground to a holiday.
First-Year Orientation runs Sunday, August 16 through Saturday, August 22, 2026, with Convocation on Thursday, August 20. CMU’s academic calendar does not list a move-in day for 2026. Housing sets that date, so families should check with CMU Housing before booking a hotel.
You get seven straight weeks of class before CMU’s fall break, Monday, October 12 through Friday, October 16, 2026. Mini-1 courses end Friday, October 9, with Mini-1 exams on Saturday, October 10. Mini-2 starts Monday, October 19.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026 is Democracy Day at CMU. Day classes are cancelled, but evening classes after 5 pm still meet.
CMU fall 2026 finals week runs Monday, December 7 through Monday, December 14, 2026. One common mistake: Wednesday, December 9 is a reading day, not a holiday. Exams pick up again Thursday morning, and there is a Sunday exam slot on December 13.
CMU Spring 2027 Semester: Start Date, Spring Break and Spring Carnival
CMU’s spring 2027 semester starts Tuesday, January 19, 2027, the day after the university closes for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It has 67 class days, two more than fall.
The first stretch runs just under seven weeks. Mini-3 classes end Friday, March 5, with Mini-3 exams on Saturday, March 6. CMU spring break 2027 then runs Monday, March 8 through Friday, March 12, 2027. Mini-4 starts Monday, March 15.
Spring Carnival runs Thursday, April 15 through Saturday, April 17, 2027. CMU’s official count gives Thursdays and Fridays 13 class days each, against 14 for Tuesdays and Wednesdays. That gap matches no regular classes on Thursday, April 15 and Friday, April 16.
The last day of CMU spring classes is Friday, April 30, 2027. Spring finals run Monday, May 3 through Tuesday, May 11, 2027, with reading days on May 5 and May 8–9. Commencement is Sunday, May 16, 2027, five days after the last make-up exam.
CMU Summer 2027 Sessions
CMU’s summer 2027 semester runs Monday, May 17 through Thursday, August 5, 2027, with 55 class days. It splits into two mini sessions.
Mini-5 runs Monday, May 17 through Thursday, June 24, 2027 (27 class days), with final exams Friday, June 25. Mini-6 runs Monday, June 28 through Thursday, August 5, 2027 (28 class days), with final exams Friday, August 6.
The university closes three times in summer: Memorial Day, Monday, May 31; Juneteenth (observed), Friday, June 18; and Independence Day (observed), Monday, July 5, 2027. Summer final exam times are scheduled by CMU’s Registrar’s Office, so wait for that schedule before planning August travel. Summer grades are due Tuesday, August 10, 2027.
| Term | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Total class days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 65 |
| Mini-1 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 34 |
| Mini-2 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 31 |
| Spring 2027 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 67 |
| Mini-3 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 34 |
| Mini-4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 33 |
| Summer 2027 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 55 |
| Mini-5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 27 |
| Mini-6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 28 |
Class-day counts are CMU’s own, from the official calendar PDF.
CMU Breaks and Holidays 2026-27 at a Glance
CMU’s two longest breaks during the semesters are fall break and spring break, each 9 days once you count the weekends. Winter break is the big one: up to 35 days.
| Break | Dates | Weekdays off | Days free (counting weekends) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | Monday, September 7, 2026 | 1 | 3 (Sat, Sep 5 – Mon, Sep 7) |
| Fall break | Monday, October 12 – Friday, October 16, 2026 | 5 | 9 (Sat, Oct 10 – Sun, Oct 18); 8 if you have a Mini-1 exam on Oct 10 |
| Democracy Day | Tuesday, November 3, 2026 | 1 (day classes only) | 1 |
| Thanksgiving break | Wednesday, November 25 – Friday, November 27, 2026 | 3 | 5 (Wed, Nov 25 – Sun, Nov 29) |
| Winter break | After your last final through Monday, January 18, 2027 | — | Up to 35 (Tue, Dec 15, 2026 – Mon, Jan 18, 2027) |
| Spring break | Monday, March 8 – Friday, March 12, 2027 | 5 | 9 (Sat, Mar 6 – Sun, Mar 14); 8 if you have a Mini-3 exam on Mar 6 |
| Spring Carnival | Thursday, April 15 – Saturday, April 17, 2027 | 2 | 4 (Thu, Apr 15 – Sun, Apr 18) |
MLK Day (Monday, January 18, 2027) falls inside winter break, so it adds no extra day off once spring classes start.
CMU Academic Calendar Fall 2026-27 Printable PDF
CMU publishes the full 2026-2027 calendar as a one-file PDF you can print or save to your phone: download the official CMU 2026-2027 Academic Calendar PDF.
The PDF covers fall 2026, spring 2027 and summer 2027, including every mini-session deadline. It was last updated July 1, 2026. If you print it, write that date on the copy, so you know to check for a newer version later in the year. CMU’s academic calendar page also offers iCal and Google Calendar versions.
How Does CMU’s 2026-27 Calendar Compare With Pitt and Penn State?
| Event | Carnegie Mellon (CMU) | University of Pittsburgh | Penn State (regular session) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall classes begin | Monday, August 24, 2026 | Monday, August 24, 2026 | Monday, August 24, 2026 |
| Thanksgiving break | Wed, Nov 25 – Fri, Nov 27 | Sun, Nov 22 – Sun, Nov 29 | Sun, Nov 22 – Sat, Nov 28 |
| Fall final exams | Dec 7–14, 2026 | Dec 7–11, 2026 | Dec 14–18, 2026 |
| Spring classes begin | Tuesday, January 19, 2027 | Monday, January 11, 2027 | Monday, January 11, 2027 |
| Spring break | Mon, Mar 8 – Fri, Mar 12 | Sun, Mar 7 – Sun, Mar 14 | Sun, Mar 7 – Sat, Mar 13 |
| Last spring class day | Friday, April 30, 2027 | Friday, April 23, 2027 | Friday, April 30, 2027 |
| Commencement | Sunday, May 16, 2027 | Sunday, May 2, 2027 | May 7–9, 2027 (varies by campus) |
All three schools start fall classes on Monday, August 24, 2026. The big difference is spring: CMU starts eight days later than Pitt and Penn State, on January 19, 2027, so CMU students get the longest winter break of the three.
Thanksgiving is shorter at CMU. Pitt and Penn State give a full week off, while CMU holds classes Monday and Tuesday, November 23–24. Spring break lines up almost exactly at all three schools, which helps families with kids at more than one Pennsylvania campus. CMU’s commencement on May 16 comes two weeks after Pitt’s. Compare the full dates on our University of Pittsburgh academic calendar 2026-27 page.
See also: OSU Academic Calendar 2026-2027: Ohio State Autumn, Spring and Summer Dates
Planning Tips for CMU Students and Parents
- Confirm move-in before booking. Orientation starts Sunday, August 16, 2026, but CMU’s academic calendar has no move-in date. Get it from CMU Housing first, then book. Book early for that weekend.
- Plan Convocation travel. Convocation is Thursday, August 20, 2026. Parents who stay for it should book through Sunday, August 23, the day before classes start.
- Fly home Tuesday night for Thanksgiving. CMU classes meet through Tuesday, November 24, 2026. Wednesday, November 25 is a no-class day, so a Tuesday evening or Wednesday flight works. Sunday, November 29 is the hardest return day, so look at Saturday, November 28 as well.
- Don’t book December flights early. Fall finals can fall on any day from Monday, December 7 through the Sunday, December 13 exam slot, with make-ups Monday, December 14. Wait for the Registrar’s final exam schedule. Tuesday, December 15 is the safe default.
- Watch the money deadlines. The fall tuition adjustment drop deadline is Friday, September 4, 2026. In spring it is Monday, February 1, 2027. Drop after these and you stay enrolled without a tuition adjustment.
- Mark the withdrawal cutoffs. The fall pass/no pass and W grade deadline is Monday, November 9, 2026. In spring it is Monday, April 5, 2027. After those dates, withdrawing from an undergraduate or master’s section is no longer an option.
- Set registration reminders. Spring 2027 registration opens November 16–20, 2026, by class year. Fall 2027 registration opens April 19–23, 2027.
- Line up younger kids’ breaks. CMU spring break, March 8–12, 2027, may or may not overlap with your K-12 district’s break. Check the Pittsburgh Public Schools calendar 2026-27 or your own district on our school calendars by state page before you book a family trip.
FAQs
When does CMU spring break 2027 start?
CMU spring break 2027 starts Monday, March 8, 2027 and runs through Friday, March 12, 2027. There are no classes that week. Counting the weekends on both sides, students have 9 days off, from Saturday, March 6 to Sunday, March 14. Mini-4 classes begin Monday, March 15, 2027.
When are CMU finals in fall 2026?
CMU fall 2026 final exams run Monday, December 7 through Monday, December 14, 2026. Exams fall on December 7–8, 10–11 and Sunday, December 13. December 9 and December 12 are reading days, and Monday, December 14 is for make-up exams. Fall grades are due Wednesday, December 16, 2026.
When is CMU move-in day 2026?
CMU’s official 2026-2027 academic calendar does not list a move-in day. It does list First-Year Orientation from Sunday, August 16 through Saturday, August 22, 2026, and the first day of classes on Monday, August 24, 2026. Check CMU Housing for your exact move-in date and time slot.
When does CMU’s fall 2026 semester start?
CMU’s fall 2026 semester starts Monday, August 24, 2026. The last day of fall classes is Friday, December 4, 2026, for a total of 65 class days. First-Year Orientation runs the week before, August 16–22, with Convocation on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
Is CMU closed on Labor Day 2026?
Yes. Carnegie Mellon University is closed on Labor Day, Monday, September 7, 2026. There are no classes that day. It falls three days after the semester add, audit and tuition adjustment drop deadline on Friday, September 4, 2026, so finish any schedule changes before the long weekend.
Does CMU have classes on Election Day 2026?
No day classes. Tuesday, November 3, 2026 is Democracy Day at CMU, and the calendar marks it as no classes. Evening classes that start after 5 pm still meet. The university itself is not listed as closed that day, only regular daytime classes are cancelled.
When is CMU commencement 2027?
CMU commencement is Sunday, May 16, 2027. It comes five days after the last spring make-up exam on Tuesday, May 11, 2027. Graduating students’ grades are due Wednesday, May 12. Summer 2027 classes start the next day, Monday, May 17, 2027.
Where can I get the CMU academic calendar 2026-27 printable PDF?
You can download the official CMU 2026-2027 Academic Calendar PDF from Carnegie Mellon’s HUB website at cmu.edu/hub/calendar. The current version was last updated July 1, 2026. It covers fall 2026, spring 2027 and summer 2027, including all mini-session deadlines. CMU also offers iCal and Google Calendar versions.
We are not affiliated with Carnegie Mellon University. Dates come from the official CMU 2026-2027 academic calendar and can change; always confirm with the registrar.
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