Graduate Enrollment Information & Timeline
Spring 2026 / Summer 2026 / Fall 2026 Timeline
| Jan 14, 2026 | Tuition payment due date Spring 2026 |
| Jan 20, 2026 | First day of Spring term classes |
|---|---|
| Jan 26, 2026 | Last day to enroll, add a course or drop a course without tuition billing while remaining enrolled for Spring term 2026 (No Exceptions) |
| February 2, 2026 | Last day to drop a class with no academic record - note: Tuition charges still apply - Last day to withdraw from SMU with no academic record - withdrawal refund schedule applies. See Bursar's website for more information. |
| February 4, 2026 | Deadline to apply for May 2026 graduation (Email Jim Dees: jdees@smu.edu) |
| March 16-22 | Spring Break |
| April 3, 2026 | Good Friday - University offices closed |
| April 6 - April 24, 2026 |
Enrollment begins for Summer 2026 and Fall 2026 terms for continuing students enrolled in Spring 2026 |
| April 16, 2026 | Last day for Spring 2026 graduation candidate to change grade of Incomplete |
| April 23, 2026 | Students may begin applying for August or December 2026 graduation |
| April 25, 2026 | First day of enrollment for newly admitted students for Summer/Fall term 2026 |
| April 27, 2026 | Last day to drop a course (grade of W) or withdraw from all classes for Spring term 2026. You must contact the Lyle Graduate Office to withdraw. (Email Jim Dees: jdees@smu.edu) |
| May 1, 2026 | Last day for a thesis or dissertation defense for May 2026 graduation |
| May 5, 2026 | Last day of classes Spring term 2026 |
| May 7, 2026 | Reading day |
| May 8-14, 2026 | Final Examinations |
| May 16, 2026 | Official close of term, degree conferral date, graduation ceremony date |
| May 22, 2026 | Tuition payment due date Summer term 2026 (or on day of enrollment if after May 23) |
| June 3, 2026 | First day of combined Summer term 2026 classes |
| June 4, 2026 | Last day to enroll, add courses or drop courses without academic record (tuition charges apply) for Summer term 2026 |
| June 12, 2026 | Last day to apply for Summer 2026 graduation (Email Jim Dees: jdees@smu.edu) |
| July 3, 2026 | University Holiday - Independence Day |
| July 16, 2026 | Last day for Summer 2026 graduation candidate to change grade of Incomplete |
| July 29, 2026 | Last day to drop a course (grade of W) or withdraw from all classes for Summer term 2026. You must contact the Lyle Graduate Office to withdraw. (Email Jim Dees: jdees@smu.edu) |
| August 4, 2026 | Last day of classes Summer term 2026, final exams, dissertation/thesis defense, date for conferral of Summer 2026 degrees |
| August 23, 2026 | Last Day to Cancel Fall 2026 enrollment with full tuition refund. No exceptions. |
| August 24, 2026 | First day of Fall term 2026 classes |
| August 24, 2026 | Tuition payment due date Fall 2026 |
| August 28, 2026 | Last day to enroll, add a course or drop a course without tuition billing while remaining enrolled for Fall term 2026 - (No exceptions) |
| September 4, 2026 | Last day to drop a class with no academic record - note: Tuition charges still apply - Last day to withdraw from SMU with no academic record - withdrawal refund schedule applies. See Bursar's website for more information. |
| Sept 7, 2026 |
University Holiday - Labor Day |
| Sept 9, 2026 | Last day to file for Fall 2026 graduation (Email Jim Dees: jdees@smu.edu) |
| Oct 12-13, 2026 | Fall Break |
| Nov 2-20, 2026 | Spring term 2026 enrollment begins for continuing students enrolled in Fall term 2026 |
| Nov 12, 2026 | Last day for Fall 2026 graduation candidate to change grade of Incomplete |
| Nov 16, 2026 | Students may begin applying for May 2026 graduation |
| Nov 24, 2026 | Last day to drop a course (grade of W) or withdraw from all classes for Fall term 2026. You must contact the Lyle Graduate Office to withdraw. (Email Jim Dees: jdees@smu.edu) |
| Nov 24-25, 2026 | No classes meet |
| Nov 26-27, 2026 | University Holidays - Thanksgiving |
| Dec 3, 2026 | Last day for dissertation or thesis defense for Fall 2026 graduation |
| Dec 8, 2026 | Last day of classes Fall term 2026 |
| Dec 9, 2026 | Reading day |
| Dec 10-16, 2026 | Final exams Fall term 2026 |
| Dec 19, 2026 | Fall 2026 graduation date and date for conferral of Fall degrees |
Important Information
Graduating this term?
You will apply for graduation via my.SMU.edu. Please contact Jim Dees (jdees@smu.edu) and inform him that you plan to graduate at the end of the current term so he may provide you with instruction on applying for graduation. You need to apply for graduation at the beginning of the term in which you plan to graduate.
Complete a Degree Plan, if you have not done so already. Print and complete degree plan and e-mail the form to Jim Dees (jdees@smu.edu).
SMU Honor Code
Every student at SMU is bound by the SMU Honor Code. You need to become familiar with it and should review it regularly.