The Ithaca College academic calendar for 2026 spans two academic years: Spring 2026 (January 19–May 17, 2026) within the 2025-2026 academic year, and Fall 2026 (August 24–December 15, 2026) within the 2026-2027 academic year.
Ithaca College, located on South Hill in Ithaca, New York, serves approximately 6,500 students across five academic schools: Business, Communications, Health Sciences, Humanities and Sciences, and Music.
The Office of the Registrar publishes the official academic calendar, which includes semester dates, registration periods, final exam schedules, and academic deadlines.
Table of Contents
Ithaca College Academic Calendar Spring 2026
Spring 2026 classes begin on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 8:00 a.m., one day later than the traditional Monday start. This Tuesday start date accommodates the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday on Monday, January 19, 2026. According to Ithaca College policy, spring terms beginning on Tuesday eliminate the traditional April break.
Spring 2026 Key Academic Dates
| Event | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Classes Begin | Tuesday, January 20, 2026 | 8:00 a.m. |
| Add/Drop Deadline (Semester & Block I) | Monday, January 26, 2026 | End of day |
| Block I Courses End | Friday, March 13, 2026 | End of day |
| Spring Break | Saturday, March 14–Sunday, March 22, 2026 | No classes |
| Block II Begins | Monday, March 23, 2026 | 8:00 a.m. |
| Whalen Symposium (No Classes) | Tuesday, April 7, 2026 | All day |
| Last Day of Classes | Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | End of day |
| Final Exams Begin | Thursday, May 7, 2026 | 7:30 a.m. |
| Final Exams End | Tuesday, May 12, 2026 | 10:00 p.m. |
| Commencement | Sunday, May 17, 2026 | TBD |
Spring 2026 Block Structure
Ithaca College divides the spring semester into two 7-week blocks alongside full-semester courses. Block I runs from Tuesday, January 20, 2026, through Friday, March 13, 2026. Block II operates from Monday, March 23, 2026, through Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
Students must add or drop Block I courses by Monday, January 26, 2026. The withdrawal deadline for Block I courses falls on Friday, February 20, 2026. Block II courses have separate deadlines: add/drop by Sunday, March 29, 2026, and withdrawal by Friday, April 17, 2026.
Spring 2026 Registration and Academic Deadlines
Summer 2026 registration opens Monday, April 6, 2026. Fall 2026 registration begins Tuesday, April 7, 2026, the same day as the Whalen Symposium, when regular classes do not meet.
Mid-term grades for semester-long courses are due Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Final grades for the spring semester and Block II courses must be submitted by Monday, May 18, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
The S/D/F grading option request and revocation deadline for semester courses is Friday, April 3, 2026. Students withdrawing from semester courses must do so by Friday, April 3, 2026, to receive a “W” grade.
Spring 2026 Religious and Cultural Observances
Ithaca College recognizes multiple religious and cultural observances during Spring 2026:
- Lunar New Year: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
- Holi: Wednesday, March 4, 2026
- Spring Equinox: Friday, March 20, 2026
- Eid al-Fitr: Friday, March 20, 2026
- Passover: Wednesday, April 1–Thursday, April 9, 2026
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3, 2026
- Easter: Sunday, April 5, 2026
Fall 2026 Semester Schedule
Fall 2026 classes start on Monday, August 24, 2026, at 8:00 a.m., beginning the 2026-2027 academic year. The fall semester concludes with final exams ending Tuesday, December 15, 2026, at 10:00 p.m.
Fall 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Classes Begin | Monday, August 24, 2026 | 8:00 a.m. |
| Add/Drop Deadline (Semester & Block I) | Sunday, August 30, 2026 | End of day |
| Labor Day (No Classes) | Monday, September 7, 2026 | All day |
| Yom Kippur (No Classes) | Monday, September 21, 2026 | All day |
| Block I Courses End | Friday, October 16, 2026 | End of day |
| Block II Begins | Monday, October 19, 2026 | 8:00 a.m. |
| Fall Break | Monday, October 26–Tuesday, October 27, 2026 | No classes |
| Thanksgiving Break | Wednesday, November 25–Sunday, November 29, 2026 | No classes |
| Last Day of Classes | Tuesday, December 8, 2026 | End of day |
| Reading Day | Wednesday, December 9, 2026 | No classes |
| Final Exams Begin | Thursday, December 10, 2026 | 7:30 a.m. |
| Final Exams End | Tuesday, December 15, 2026 | 10:00 p.m. |
Fall 2026 Block System
Block I operates from Monday, August 24, 2026, through Friday, October 16, 2026. Students must complete add/drop transactions for Block I courses by Sunday, August 30, 2026. The withdrawal deadline for Block I courses is Friday, September 25, 2026.
Block II runs from Monday, October 19, 2026, through Tuesday, December 8, 2026. The add/drop deadline for Block II courses is Sunday, October 25, 2026. Students may withdraw from Block II courses until Friday, November 20, 2026.
Fall 2026 Registration Periods
Winter 2027 registration begins Monday, November 2, 2026. Spring 2027 registration opens Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
The December 2026 graduation application deadline is Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Students planning to graduate in December 2026 must submit their degree application through the online system by this date.
Fall 2026 Cultural and Religious Observances
Notable observances during Fall 2026 include:
- Yom Kippur: Monday, September 21, 2026 (no classes)
- Diwali: Sunday, November 8, 2026
- Winter Solstice: Monday, December 21, 2026
- Christmas: Friday, December 25, 2026
- Kwanzaa: Saturday, December 26, 2026–Friday, January 1, 2027
Ithaca College Academic Calendar Final Exam Schedule Spring 2026
Final exams for Spring 2026 occur from Thursday, May 7, 2026, through Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Exam times are assigned based on the class meeting pattern during the regular semester.
Spring 2026 Final Exam Time Blocks
| Time Block | Days Available |
|---|---|
| 7:30 a.m.–10:00 a.m. | Thursday, Friday, Monday, Tuesday |
| 10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | Thursday, Friday, Monday, Tuesday |
| 1:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m. | Thursday, Friday, Monday, Tuesday |
| 4:30 p.m.–7:00 p.m. | Thursday, Friday, Monday, Tuesday |
| 7:30 p.m.–10:00 p.m. | Thursday, Friday, Monday, Tuesday |
MWF Class Final Exam Schedule
Classes meeting Monday, Wednesday, and Friday follow this exam schedule:
- MWF through 8:35 a.m.: Thursday, May 7, 2026, 7:30 a.m.–10:00 a.m.
- MWF 9:00 a.m.: Thursday, May 7, 2026, 10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
- MWF 10:00 a.m.: Friday, May 8, 2026, 10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
- MWF 11:00 a.m.: Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
- MWF 12:00 p.m.: Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 1:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
- MWF 2:00 p.m.: Friday, May 8, 2026, 4:30 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
- MWF 3:00 p.m.: Thursday, May 7, 2026, 7:30 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
- MWF 4:00 p.m.: Friday, May 8, 2026, 7:30 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
- MWF 6:00 p.m.: Monday, May 11, 2026, 4:30 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
- MWF 7:00 p.m. or 7:30 p.m.: Monday, May 11, 2026, 7:30 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
TR Class Final Exam Schedule
Classes meeting on Tuesday and Thursday use these exam times:
- TR through 8:35 a.m.: Monday, May 11, 2026, 7:30 a.m.–10:00 a.m.
- TR 9:00 a.m.: Friday, May 8, 2026, 7:30 a.m.–10:00 a.m.
- TR 10:00 a.m.: Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 7:30 a.m.–10:00 a.m.
- TR 1:00 p.m.: Thursday, May 7, 2026, 1:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
- TR 2:00 p.m.: Monday, May 11, 2026, 1:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
- TR 3:00 p.m.: Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 4:30 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
- TR 4:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m.: Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 7:30 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
Special Exam Times
Classes not conforming to standard meeting patterns require special exam scheduling. Students should contact the Office of the Registrar at sfegely@ithaca.edu for exam time assignments. Special exam times are available:
- Thursday, May 7, 2026: 4:30 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
- Friday, May 8, 2026: 1:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
- Monday, May 11, 2026: 10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
The final exam schedule was last updated January 6, 2026. Students should use their class’s main meeting pattern rather than any fourth-hour meeting time when determining exam schedules.
Winter and Summer 2026 Sessions
Winter 2025-2026 Session
Winter session classes begin Wednesday, December 18, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. The add/drop deadline falls on Friday, December 19, 2025. Winter session concludes Friday, January 16, 2026, with final exams and classes ending on the same day. Final grades for the winter session are due Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
Students may request or revoke the S/D/F grading option until Tuesday, December 30, 2025. The withdrawal deadline for winter session courses is Tuesday, December 30, 2025.
Summer 2026 Session I
Summer Session I begins Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The add/drop deadline is Wednesday, May 27, 2026. Classes end with final exams on Friday, July 3, 2026. Final grades are due Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
The S/D/F option and withdrawal deadline for Summer Session I is Friday, June 26, 2026. Juneteenth falls on Friday, June 19, 2026, and no classes meet on this day.
Eid al-Adha occurs on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, coinciding with the add/drop deadline for Summer Session I.
Summer 2026 Session II
Summer Session II starts Monday, July 6, 2026. Students must complete add/drop transactions by Tuesday, July 7, 2026. The session concludes on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, with final exams. Final grades are due Monday, August 17, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
The deadline to request or revoke S/D/F grading and to withdraw from Summer Session II courses is Wednesday, August 5, 2026.
Ithaca College Academic Policies and Procedures
Add/Drop Period
The add/drop period at Ithaca College allows students to adjust their course schedules without academic penalty. Semester-long courses have an add/drop period extending through the first week of classes. Block courses follow a proportionally shorter add/drop timeline due to their compressed 7-week format.
Students adding courses after the published deadline must obtain instructor permission and complete paperwork through the Office of the Registrar.
Withdrawal Deadlines
Students withdrawing from courses receive a “W” grade on their transcript if they withdraw by the published deadline. For semester courses in Spring 2026, the withdrawal deadline is Friday, April 3, 2026. For Fall 2026 semester courses, students must withdraw by Friday, October 30, 2026.
Withdrawals after these deadlines require documentation of extenuating circumstances and approval from the appropriate academic dean.
S/D/F Grading Option
The Satisfactory/D/Fail grading option allows students to take courses outside their major on an alternative grading basis. The S/D/F request and revocation deadline typically falls approximately two-thirds through the semester or block.
For Spring 2026 semester courses, the S/D/F deadline is Friday, April 3, 2026. For Fall 2026 semester courses, the deadline is Friday, October 30, 2026.
Grade Submission Deadlines
Faculty members submit final grades through the online grading system. Block I grades are due 5 business days after the block ends. Semester and Block II grades are due 6 days after final exams conclude.
Mid-term grades for semester courses provide students with feedback on their academic progress at the semester midpoint. Mid-term grades do not appear on transcripts but are accessible through the student portal.
Ithaca College Location and Campus Information
Ithaca College occupies 640 acres on South Hill in Ithaca, New York 14850. The campus overlooks Cayuga Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes region. Cornell University sits on an adjacent hill, making Ithaca one of the few cities in the United States with two major colleges.
The main campus address is 953 Danby Road, Ithaca, NY 14850. The college’s main phone number is (607) 274-3011.
Academic Schools at Ithaca College
Ithaca College operates five academic schools:
- School of Business: Offers undergraduate programs in accounting, finance, management, and marketing
- Roy H. Park School of Communications: Houses programs in journalism, television-radio, film, photography, communication management, and media arts
- School of Health Sciences and Human Performance: Includes programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, exercise science, and health sciences
- School of Humanities and Sciences: Contains departments in natural sciences, mathematics, social sciences, and humanities
- School of Music: Provides conservatory-level training in performance, music education, composition, and music business
The Roy H. Park School of Communications operates a Los Angeles program with a separate academic calendar aligned with the entertainment industry’s production schedule.
Contact Information for Academic Calendar Questions
Students with questions about the academic calendar should contact the Office of the Registrar:
Office of the Registrar Ithaca College 953 Danby Road Ithaca, NY 14850 Phone: (607) 274-3000
For final exam scheduling questions, contact Stu Fegely at sfegely@ithaca.edu.
The Office of the Registrar publishes official PDF versions of academic calendars on the Ithaca College website. Students can download and print calendar PDFs for offline reference.
Comparison of Spring 2026 and Fall 2026 Academic Terms
| Component | Spring 2026 | Fall 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Year | 2025-2026 | 2026-2027 |
| Start Date | Tuesday, January 20, 2026 | Monday, August 24, 2026 |
| First Day of Week | Tuesday (MLK Day shift) | Monday (standard) |
| Block I Duration | 7 weeks | 7 weeks |
| Major Break | Spring Break (9 days) | Thanksgiving Break (5 days) |
| Reading Day | None | Wednesday, December 9, 2026 |
| Final Exam Period | 4 days | 4 days |
| Semester Length | 16 weeks | 16 weeks |
| Registration Opens For | Summer/Fall 2026 | Winter/Spring 2027 |
Academic Calendar Variations by Program
Most Ithaca College programs follow the standard academic calendar published by the Office of the Registrar. The Roy H. Park School of Communications Los Angeles program operates on a modified calendar aligned with television and film production schedules.
Physical therapy doctoral students follow a year-round calendar with clinical placements extending through traditional break periods. Occupational therapy and speech-language pathology programs maintain modified calendars to accommodate clinical education requirements.
Graduate programs in business administration may offer accelerated formats with courses beginning at multiple points throughout the calendar year.
Planning Tools and Resources
Students planning their academic schedules should reference:
- Course Catalog: Lists all available courses with prerequisites, credit hours, and descriptions
- Registration System: Allows students to view course availability and create tentative schedules
- Academic Advisors: Provide guidance on course sequencing and degree requirements
- Degree Audit System: Tracks progress toward degree completion
- Finals Schedule Calculator: Helps students identify potential exam conflicts before registration
The academic calendar PDF download provides a comprehensive view of all important dates for the academic year. Students should save this document for offline reference, particularly before registration periods and withdrawal deadlines.
2026 Academic Year Statistics
Ithaca College enrollment for the 2026 academic year includes approximately 6,500 students distributed across undergraduate and graduate programs. The student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1 enables small class sizes and individualized attention.
The college offers 100+ degree programs across five schools. The average class size is 16 students, with 73% of classes containing fewer than 20 students.
Ithaca College’s location in New York’s Finger Lakes region places students 250 miles northwest of New York City and 225 miles west of Boston. The Tompkins County Regional Airport provides service to major hubs, with Syracuse Hancock International Airport 60 miles north offering additional flight options.
The academic calendar structure allows students to complete 30-32 credit hours annually through a combination of semester-long and block courses. Block courses enable intensive study of single subjects, while semester courses provide extended engagement with course material.
This comprehensive guide to the Ithaca College academic calendar for 2026 provides all essential dates, deadlines, and procedural information for Spring 2026 and Fall 2026 semesters. Students should bookmark this resource and consult the Office of the Ithaca College Registrar website for any calendar updates or clarifications.
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