Lake Forest College academic calendar operates on a two-semester structure consisting of 15-week terms, with Spring Semester 2026 beginning Monday, January 12, 2026, and Fall Semester 2026 starting Wednesday, August 27, 2026.
The institution, located 30 miles north of Chicago on 107 wooded acres near Lake Michigan, follows a standardized scheduling format that includes 14 weeks of instruction plus a 5-day final examination period.
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Understanding the Lake Forest College Academic Calendar Structure
The Lake Forest College academic calendar divides each year into distinct semesters that span different calendar years.
Spring Semester 2026 belongs to the 2025-2026 academic year, while Fall Semester 2026 initiates the 2026-2027 academic year.
This structure requires students to reference two separate calendar documents when planning for activities throughout 2026.
Students typically enroll in four course credits per semester, equivalent to 16 semester hours. All courses extend for the full 15-week duration, providing comprehensive coverage of subject material without compressed timelines.
Lake Forest Academic Calendar Spring Semester 2026
Spring Semester 2026 encompasses critical dates from mid-January through mid-May, with structured periods for registration, breaks, and examinations.
January 2026 Key Dates
Monday, January 12, 2026, marks the first day of classes for the Spring Semester. Students must arrive on campus prepared to begin coursework immediately following the winter break period.
The add/drop period extends from Monday, January 12, through Tuesday, January 20, 2026, requiring instructor authorization for course additions during this 9-day window. Tuesday, January 20, 2026, serves as the final opportunity to modify schedules without academic penalty.
Monday, January 19, 2026, observes Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with no scheduled classes, providing students a mid-week break during the first full week of instruction.
Spring Break and Mid-Semester Dates
Spring break occurs from Monday, March 9, through Friday, March 13, 2026, suspending all classes for five consecutive days. Classes resume Monday, March 16, 2026, with full attendance expected.
Registration for Fall 2026 courses begins in mid-March through a tiered system:
- Wednesday, March 18, 2026: Period 1 for students with 18 or more credits
- Tuesday, March 24, 2026: Period 2 for students with 10 or more credits
- Thursday, March 26, 2026: Period 3 for students with fewer than 10 credits
Friday, April 3, 2026, represents the final deadline to register for Pass/No Pass grading options, allowing students nearly three months to assess course performance before committing to alternative grading structures.
April and May 2026 Final Period
Tuesday, April 7, 2026, hosts the annual Student Symposium, resulting in cancelled classes institution-wide. This event showcases undergraduate research and creative projects across all academic divisions.
Tuesday, April 28, 2026, designates the last day of regular instruction and the final opportunity to withdraw from courses with a “W” grade notation. This deadline occurs 106 days after the semester begins.
Wednesday, April 29, 2026, functions as a reading day, providing students with uninterrupted study time before examinations commence.
Final examinations span six days across two periods:
- Thursday, April 30 through Friday, May 1, 2026: Initial examination period
- Saturday, May 2 through Sunday, May 3, 2026: Reading days for continued preparation
- Monday, May 4 through Wednesday, May 6, 2026: Concluding examination period
Wednesday, May 6, 2026, marks the official end of the Spring 2026 examination period and the completion of the 2025-2026 academic year.
Saturday, May 9, 2026, celebrates Commencement ceremonies for graduating students.
Lake Forest Academic Calendar Summer 2026 Session Dates
Lake Forest College offers three distinct summer terms—May Term, June Term, and July Term—each spanning four weeks with intensive single-course enrollment options.
May Term 2026
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, May 12, 2026 | Classes begin |
| Thursday, May 14, 2026 | Last day to add or drop a class |
| Friday, May 22, 2026 | Last day for Pass/No Pass registration |
| Monday, May 25, 2026 | Memorial Day (no classes) |
| Tuesday, May 26, 2026 | Classes resume |
| Thursday, June 4, 2026 | Last day of classes/Last day to drop with “W” grade |
| Friday, June 5, 2026 | Final exams/End of session |
June Term 2026
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Monday, June 8, 2026 | Classes begin |
| Wednesday, June 10, 2026 | Last day to add or drop a class |
| Thursday, June 18, 2026 | Last day for Pass/No Pass registration |
| Friday, June 19, 2026 | Juneteenth (no classes) |
| Wednesday, July 1, 2026 | Last day of classes/Last day to drop with “W” grade |
| Thursday, July 2, 2026 | Final exams/End of session |
July Term 2026
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Monday, July 6, 2026 | Classes begin |
| Wednesday, July 8, 2026 | Last day to add or drop a class |
| Thursday, July 16, 2026 | Last day for Pass/No Pass registration |
| Wednesday, July 29, 2026 | Last day of classes/Last day to drop with “W” grade |
| Thursday, July 30, 2026 | Final exams/End of session |
Lake Forest Academic Calendar Fall Semester 2026
Fall Semester 2026 initiates the 2026-2027 academic year with classes beginning in late August and extending through mid-December.
August and September 2026 Dates
Wednesday, August 27, 2026, begins the Fall 2026 semester, starting mid-week rather than on the traditional Monday schedule. Students should complete housing check-in procedures before this date.
Friday, September 4, 2026, serves as the final day to add or drop courses, providing a shorter adjustment period compared to the Spring Semester (8 days versus 9 days).
Monday, September 7, 2026, observes Labor Day with no scheduled classes.
Fall Break and Registration Period
Thursday, October 15, through Friday, October 16, 2026, constitutes Fall Break, offering a two-day mid-semester respite. Classes resume Monday, October 19, 2026.
Friday, October 30, 2026, requires submission of Intent to Graduate forms for all students planning to complete degree requirements in Fall 2026, Spring 2027, or Summer 2027.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026, recognizes Election Day as a holiday with cancelled classes, acknowledging civic participation responsibilities.
Friday, November 13, 2026, marks the deadline for Pass/No Pass registration, occurring 78 days into the semester.
Spring 2027 registration begins in November 2026:
- Monday, November 9 through Friday, November 13, 2026: First-year student registration
- Tuesday, November 17, 2026, through Thursday, January 15, 2027: Registration for all students
November and December 2026 Completion
Thanksgiving break spans Wednesday, November 25, through Friday, November 27, 2026, providing a three-day holiday period. Classes resume Monday, November 30, 2026.
Friday, December 11, 2026, designates the last day of instruction and the final withdrawal deadline with “W” grade notation.
Saturday, December 12, through Sunday, December 13, 2026, function as reading days for examination preparation.
Final examinations occur Monday, December 14 through Friday, December 18, 2026, with Friday, December 18, 2026 marking the official end of the Fall Semester and conclusion of the fall portion of the 2026-2027 academic year.
Important Academic Deadlines for Lake Forest College Calendar 2026
Add/Drop Deadlines
The institution enforces strict add/drop deadlines that differ between semesters:
- Spring 2026: Tuesday, January 20, 2026 (9 days after start)
- Fall 2026: Friday, September 4, 2026 (8 days after start)
Summer terms provide only 2-3 days for schedule adjustments due to compressed timelines.
Pass/No Pass Registration Deadlines
Students must elect Pass/No Pass grading options by designated dates:
- Spring 2026: Friday, April 3, 2026
- Fall 2026: Friday, November 13, 2026
- May Term: Friday, May 22, 2026
- June Term: Thursday, June 18, 2026
- July Term: Thursday, July 16, 2026
Course Withdrawal Deadlines
The final day to drop courses with a “W” grade notation coincides with the last day of classes each term, providing students maximum flexibility to assess performance before committing to final grades.
Lake Forest College Registration Periods for Future Semesters
Lake Forest College implements a credit-based registration priority system for Fall 2026 course selection during Spring 2026:
| Registration Period | Eligibility | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Period 1 | 18 or more credits | Wednesday, March 18, 2026 |
| Period 2 | 10 or more credits | Tuesday, March 24, 2026 |
| Period 3 | Fewer than 10 credits | Thursday, March 26, 2026 |
This tiered approach rewards academic progress with earlier course selection opportunities, ensuring upperclass students secure seats in required major courses before underclass students register.
Academic Calendar Differences: Lake Forest College vs. Similar Institutions
Lake Forest College maintains a traditional semester system distinct from peer institutions operating on quarter or trimester calendars. The 15-week semester structure (14 weeks of instruction + 5 days of finals) provides more extended course engagement compared to 10-week quarter systems used at some liberal arts colleges.
The college distinguishes itself from Lake Forest Academy (a private K-12 institution also located in Lake Forest, Illinois) and Lake Forest High School (the public district high school). Prospective students searching for calendar information must verify they are accessing materials from Lake Forest College specifically, not these similarly named entities.
Lake Forest College Location and Campus Context
Lake Forest College occupies 555 North Sheridan Road, Lake Forest, Illinois 60045, situated on 107 wooded acres positioned 0.5 miles from the Lake Michigan shoreline. The campus location, 30 miles north of Chicago, provides students access to metropolitan internship opportunities while maintaining a suburban residential college environment.
The institution serves approximately 1,800 students representing 43 states and 114 countries, classified as a National Liberal Arts College ranking #75 in U.S. News assessments. The college offers 34 majors and 49 minors across five academic divisions encompassing humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
Academic Structure and Course Load Expectations
Students typically enroll in four course credits per semester under the Lake Forest College academic calendar system, equivalent to 16 semester hours at institutions using credit hour measurements.
This course load represents full-time enrollment status and allows students to complete approximately 32 credits toward the bachelor’s degree requirements over eight semesters.
All courses extend for the complete 15-week semester duration without mid-term course changes, providing comprehensive subject coverage. Summer terms compress this timeline to four-week intensive periods, during which students may enroll in only a single course due to accelerated pacing.
Study Abroad Integration with Academic Calendar
Lake Forest College operates 250+ study abroad programs in 70 countries, coordinated through the Global Engagement Office. Students planning international study experiences must align departure and return dates with the academic calendar to avoid conflicts with registration periods, final examinations, or course completion requirements.
The Spring 2026 break period from Monday, March 9, through Friday, March 13, 2026, provides opportunities for short-term international experiences or service learning projects. Full-semester abroad participants typically depart after completing Fall 2025 finals in December and return before Spring 2026 classes begin Monday, January 12, 2026.
Lake Forest College Important Observances and No-Class Days
The Lake Forest College calendar recognizes the following holidays with cancelled classes:
Spring 2026:
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Monday, January 19, 2026
- Student Symposium: Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Summer 2026:
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 25, 2026
- Juneteenth: Friday, June 19, 2026
Fall 2026:
- Labor Day: Monday, September 7, 2026
- Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
These observances reduce the total instructional days from the base 70 days (14 weeks × 5 days) to approximately 65-67 actual class meeting days per semester, depending on course scheduling patterns.
Office of the Registrar Contact Information
The Office of the Registrar maintains responsibility for publishing and updating the Lake Forest College academic calendar. The office operates from North Hall, Room 100, accessible via telephone at 847-735-5025.
Students requiring clarification on calendar dates, deadline extensions, or academic policy interpretations should contact the Registrar’s office directly. Official calendar documents are available in PDF format through the institutional website at lakeforest.edu/academic-resources and catalog.lakeforest.edu.
Lake Forest College Academic Year Classification System
Lake Forest College follows standard higher education practice by naming academic years according to their spring semester completion date. The 2025-2026 academic year encompasses Fall 2025 (August-December 2025) and Spring 2026 (January-May 2026), concluding with Commencement Saturday, May 9, 2026.
Similarly, the 2026-2027 academic year includes Fall 2026 (August-December 2026) and Spring 2027 (January-May 2027). This naming convention can create confusion for students searching for “2026” calendar dates, who may need to reference two separate academic year documents.
Reading Days Purpose and Scheduling
The academic calendar incorporates designated reading days between the conclusion of regular classes and the beginning of final examinations. These days serve as uninterrupted study periods without scheduled coursework, meetings, or institutional events.
Spring 2026: Wednesday, April 29, 2026, plus Saturday, May 2, through Sunday, May 3, 2026 (3 total days)
Fall 2026: Saturday, December 12 through Sunday, December 13, 2026 (2 total days)
Reading days provide students time to review accumulated course materials, prepare comprehensive examination responses, and complete final projects without competing time demands from ongoing classes.
Lake Forest College Final Examination Schedule Structure
The Lake Forest College academic calendar allocates five consecutive weekdays for final examinations each semester. The Registrar’s office publishes specific examination times and locations approximately four weeks before the examination period begins.
Final examinations typically occur in 2-hour or 3-hour blocks scheduled according to the course’s regular meeting pattern during the semester. Classes meeting multiple times per week generally receive examination times corresponding to their earliest weekly meeting slot.
Students with three or more final examinations scheduled on a single calendar day may request rescheduling accommodations through the Office of the Registrar, subject to faculty availability and institutional policy guidelines.
Lake Forest College Tuition Payment Deadlines and Calendar Coordination
Financial obligations at Lake Forest College align with the academic calendar structure. Tuition payment deadlines typically occur 1-2 weeks before the semester start date, requiring financial clearance before students can attend classes or access residence halls.
For the 2025-2026 academic year, full-time undergraduate tuition totals approximately $50,000-$55,000 per year, with additional fees for housing, meal plans, and student services. The Financial Aid Office coordinates payment plans and scholarship disbursements according to semester billing cycles.
Intent to Graduate Submission Requirements
Students planning to complete degree requirements must submit Intent to Graduate forms by Friday, October 30, 2026, for degrees conferred in Fall 2026, Spring 2027, or Summer 2027. This deadline occurs during the Fall 2026 semester, regardless of the student’s actual graduation term.
The early submission requirement allows the Registrar’s office to conduct degree audits, verify completion of major and general education requirements, and order diplomas and ceremonial materials. Students missing this deadline may experience delays in degree conferral or exclusion from Commencement ceremonies.
Multi-Year Calendar Planning
Unlike some peer institutions publishing five-year calendar projections, Lake Forest College typically releases academic calendars 12-18 months in advance. As of January 2026, the institution has published complete calendars for the 2025-2026 academic year (including Spring 2026) and the 2026-2027 academic year (including Fall 2026).
Students planning study abroad experiences, internships, or summer employment should monitor the Registrar’s website for publication of the 2027-2028 academic calendar, expected in spring 2026. Long-term academic planning requires coordinating these institutional calendars with program-specific deadlines for major declarations, internship applications, and graduate school preparations.
Calendar Format Availability
The Office of the Registrar provides the Lake Forest College academic calendar in multiple formats:
- Online HTML tables on institutional website
- Downloadable PDF documents for printing
- Integration with student information systems for enrolled students
The institution currently does not offer iCalendar (.ics) or Google Calendar integration formats, requiring students to manually enter important dates into personal calendar applications. Students seeking automated calendar synchronization should manually input critical deadlines from official PDF documents.
Comparison with Similar College Calendars
When evaluating the Lake Forest College academic calendar against peer liberal arts institutions, several distinctions emerge:
- Calendar Type: Traditional semester system (15 weeks) vs. quarter systems (10 weeks) or 4-1-4 calendars (two 14-week semesters plus January term)
- Summer Structure: Three separate 4-week terms vs. a single 8-week session or no summer programming
- Break Duration: Fall break (2 days) is shorter than peer institutions offering 4-5 day October breaks
- Registration Timing: Spring semester registration occurring in November (2+ months advance) vs. December registration at some institutions
These structural differences affect course intensity, credit accumulation pace, and break period availability for internships or travel.
International Student Calendar Considerations
Lake Forest College enrolls students from 114 countries, creating calendar coordination challenges for visa processing, international travel, and cultural holiday observances. International students should note:
- Classes begin Monday, January 12, 2026, for the Spring Semester, requiring arrival several days earlier for orientation and housing check-in
- Fall Semester starts Wednesday, August 27, 2026, typically requiring arrival by mid-August for international student orientation
- Thanksgiving break (November 25-27, 2026) and winter break (December 18, 2026-January 2027) provide limited time for international travel home
The Global Engagement Office coordinates international student support services and maintains information on visa requirements, work authorization timelines, and re-entry procedures for students traveling during break periods.
Athletic Calendar Integration
Student-athletes at Lake Forest College must coordinate competition schedules with the academic calendar. The institution competes in NCAA Division III athletics as a member of the Midwest Conference, with competition seasons spanning both academic and break periods.
Fall sports (soccer, volleyball, cross country, football) begin practices in August before classes start on Wednesday, August 27, 2026. Winter sports (basketball, swimming, wrestling) compete throughout January-February during Spring 2026. Spring sports (baseball, softball, tennis, track) extend through April and early May, potentially conflicting with final examination preparation.
Student-athletes receive no academic accommodations for athletic commitments but may request examination rescheduling for NCAA championship competitions or conference tournament participation.
Lake Forest College Academic Support Services Calendar
The Lake Forest College academic calendar coordinates with support services, including tutoring, writing center, career development, and academic advising. These offices typically operate on modified schedules during:
- Reading days (limited appointments for examination preparation support)
- Break periods (reduced hours or closure during Spring Break, Thanksgiving, Winter Break)
- Summer terms (separate scheduling for students enrolled in May, June, and July terms)
Students should verify support services availability during critical periods when seeking assistance with major papers, examination preparation, or internship applications, coinciding with registration deadlines.
The Lake Forest College academic calendar 2026 encompasses two distinct semesters—Spring 2026 (January 12-May 6) and Fall 2026 (August 27-December 18)—plus three summer terms.
Students must reference both the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 academic year calendars when planning activities throughout 2026. Critical deadlines include add/drop periods (January 20 and September 4), Pass/No Pass registration (April 3 and November 13), and withdrawal deadlines (April 28 and December 11).
The Registrar’s office maintains authoritative calendar information at lakeforest.edu/academic-resources, with PDF formats available for student download and planning purposes.
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