Academic Calendar 2025 - 2026

The academic calendar of Lake Forest College is based on two 15-week semesters (14 weeks of classes plus a 5-day final exam period), from late August through mid-December and from mid-January to early May. Students normally take four course credits per semester (the equivalent of 16 semester hours). All courses run for 15 weeks.

Three summer sessions offer a number of courses, the great majority being taught by regular members of the College’s faculty. Each session is four weeks in length, during which a student may enroll in a single course.

Fall Semester 2025

Thursday, August 21
First day of classes

Thursday, August 28
Last day for permissible change of registration

Monday, September 1
Labor Day - OFF - No classes

Thursday, September 18
Academic Concerns reminder

Thursday, October 16
No classes on fall break

Friday, October 17
No classes on fall break

Monday, October 13
Classes resume

Tuesday, November 4
Election Day - OFF - No classes

Friday, November 7
Last day for withdrawal with automatic W and last day for Pass/No Pass registration

Wednesday, November 26
No classes on Thanksgiving break

Thursday, November 27
No classes on Thanksgiving break

Friday, November 28
No classes on Thanksgiving break

Monday, December 1
Classes resume

Friday, December 5
Last day of classes

Saturday, December 6
Reading day

Sunday, December 7
Reading Day

Monday, December 8
Final exams begin

Tuesday, December 9
Final exams

Wednesday, December 10
Final exams

Thursday, December 11
Final exams

Friday, December 12
Exams end

Wednesday, December 17
Grades Due

Spring Semester 2026

Monday, January 12
First Day of Classes

Monday, January 19

MLK Day - OFF - No classes

Tuesday, January 20
Last day for permissible change of registration

Tuesday, February 10
Academic Concerns reminder

Monday, March 9
No classes on spring break

Tuesday, March 10
No classes on spring break

Wednesday, March 11
No classes on spring break

Thursday, March 12
No classes on spring break

Friday, March 13
No classes on spring break

Monday, March 16
Classes resume

Friday, April 3
Last day for withdrawal with automatic W and last day for Pass/No Pass registration

Tuesday, April 7
No classes on student symposium day

Tuesday, April 28
Last day of classes

Wednesday, April 29
Reading day

Thursday, April 30
Finals begin

Friday, May 1
Final exams

Saturday, May 2
Reading day

Sunday, May 3
Reading day

Monday, May 4
Final exams

Tuesday, May 5
Final exams

Wednesday, May 6
Exams end

Thursday, May 7
Senior Grades Due

Saturday, May 9
Commencement

Monday, May 11
Non-Senior Grades Due


Summer 2026

Learn more about the Summer Session at Lake Forest College. 

May Term

Tuesday, May 12
Summer 1 term begins

Thursday, May 14
Last day for permissible change of registration and Pass/No Pass registration

Friday, May 22
Last day for withdrawal with automatic W

Monday, May 25
No class on Memorial Day

Thursday, June 4
Last day of classes

Friday, June 5
Summer 1 term final exams

June Term

Monday, June 8
Summer 2 term begins

Wednesday, June 10
Last day for permissible change of registration and Pass/No Pass registration

Thursday, June 18
Last day for withdrawal with automatic W

Friday, June 19
No class on Juneteenth

Wednesday, July 1
Last day of classes

Thursday, July 2
Summer 2 term final exams

Friday, July 4
No classes on July 4th

July Term

Monday, July 6
Summer 3 term begins

Wednesday, July 8
Last day for permissible change of registration and Pass/No Pass registration

Thursday, July 16
Last day for withdrawal with automatic W 

Wednesday, July 29
Last day of classes

Thursday, July 30
Summer 3 term final exams