| Event | Date | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🕊️ | Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday | 20 January 2025 | University-wide holiday honoring civil rights leader; no classes, offices closed, impacting students and staff with a day for reflection and community service. |
| 📅 | Spring Semester Begins | 13 January 2025 | Start of spring term classes; new course registrations, orientations for transfers, affecting all undergraduates and graduates. |
| 🇺🇸 | Presidents' Day Holiday | 17 February 2025 | Federal holiday; classes suspended, allowing time for study or travel. |
| 🏖️ | Spring Break Begins | 10 March 2025 | Week-long break for relaxation, travel, or internships; impacts academic momentum. |
| 🛫 | Spring Break Ends | 16 March 2025 | Return to classes post-break; readjustment period for students. |
| 📚 | Last Day of Spring Classes | 30 April 2025 | Conclusion of spring semester instruction; preparation for finals begins. |
| 📝 | Spring Final Exams | 2 May 2025through May 9 | Exam period for spring courses; high stress time for students. |
| 🎓 | Commencement Ceremony | 9 May 2025 | Graduation event celebrating achievements; affects graduates and families. |
| ☀️ | Summer Session Starts | 14 May 2025 | Beginning of accelerated summer courses; optional for credit advancement. |
| 🎖️ | Memorial Day Holiday | 26 May 2025 | Honoring military personnel; no classes. |
| 🗽 | Juneteenth Holiday | 19 June 2025 | Celebration of emancipation; university observance. |
| 🎆 | Independence Day Holiday | 4 July 2025 | National holiday; summer break extension. |
| 🏖️ | Summer Session Ends | 8 August 2025 | Conclusion of summer term. |
| 🍂 | Fall Semester Begins | 25 August 2025 | Start of fall classes; welcome week activities. |
| 🛠️ | Labor Day Holiday | 1 September 2025 | Workers' rights holiday; no classes. |
| 🍁 | Fall Break | 16 October 2025through October 17 | Short mid-semester break. |
| 🦃 | Thanksgiving Break Begins | 26 November 2025 | Holiday break for family time. |
| 🍽️ | Thanksgiving Break Ends | 30 November 2025 | Return to classes. |
| ❄️ | Last Day of Fall Classes | 5 December 2025 | End of fall instruction. |
| 📝 | Fall Final Exams | 8 December 2025through December 17 | Exam week. |
Are you planning on applying to USC next year? Then you need to know the important dates and deadlines for the admissions process at USC. You can check them out below…
| Event | Date | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 📅 | Early Action Application Deadline | 1 November 2025 | Deadline for early undergraduate applications to USC; for merit scholarships consideration. |
| 🗓️ | Regular Decision Application Deadline | 1 December 2025 | Standard deadline for freshman applications. |
| 💰 | Financial Aid Priority Deadline | 1 December 2025 | Submit FAFSA and CSS Profile for aid consideration. |
| 📬 | Early Action Notification | 15 January 2026approximate | Decisions released for early applicants. |
| ✉️ | Regular Decision Notification | 1 April 2026approximate | Admission decisions for regular applicants. |
| ✅ | Enrollment Deposit Deadline | 1 May 2026 | Commit to USC with deposit. |
| 🔄 | Transfer Application Deadline | 1 February 2026 | For students transferring to USC. |
| 🎓 | Graduate Application Deadline | 15 December 2025varies by program | Deadlines for master's and PhD programs. |
| 🏆 | Scholarship Application Deadline | 1 December 2025 | For university-wide scholarships. |
| 🌍 | International Student Deadline | 1 December 2025 | Additional requirements for visas. |
The University of Southern California (USC) academic calendar serves as the foundational framework for the university's educational rhythm, guiding students, faculty, and staff through a structured year of learning, research, and community engagement. Located in the vibrant city of Los Angeles, California, USC operates on a semester system, typically dividing the academic year into fall, spring, and summer terms. This structure allows for intensive periods of study interspersed with essential breaks, enabling Trojans to balance rigorous coursework with personal rejuvenation. Historically, USC's calendar has evolved to align with broader educational trends in the United States, incorporating federal holidays and regional observances that reflect the diverse cultural fabric of Southern California. For instance, the calendar often integrates breaks around major U.S. holidays, providing opportunities for students to engage in community service, travel, or family time. Compared to other institutions, USC's calendar emphasizes flexibility, with options for accelerated programs and online courses that cater to non-traditional students. This impacts students by offering predictability for planning classes, exams, and extracurricular activities, while also influencing admissions cycles for prospective students. International students particularly benefit from the calendar's alignment with global holiday periods, easing transitions and cultural adjustments. Faculty use it to schedule research deadlines and professional development, ensuring alignment with grant cycles and conferences. Overall, the USC academic calendar is more than a schedule; it's a tool for holistic success, fostering an environment where academic excellence meets the dynamic lifestyle of Los Angeles. To get insights into professors and courses, check out Rate My Professor and share your experiences.
At USC, semester dates are designed to optimize learning while accommodating the bustling life in Los Angeles. The fall semester generally begins after summer, allowing students to dive into core courses, electives, and major requirements. Planning classes involves considering prerequisites, credit loads, and advisor recommendations to build a balanced schedule. Spring semester follows a winter break, refreshing students for advanced studies or capstone projects. Tips for effective planning include using USC's online portal for registration, attending advising sessions, and incorporating time for internships, which are plentiful in LA's entertainment and tech industries. Ratings from Rate My Professor can help select courses with highly regarded instructors. This structure supports tracking rival school events, like those at UCLA, for collaborative opportunities or competitions.
Exam schedules at USC are typically set at the end of each semester, with midterms interspersed to gauge progress. Preparation involves utilizing campus resources like tutoring centers and study groups. Students often plan around these periods to manage stress and maintain academic performance.
Thanksgiving break at USC provides a much-needed pause in the fall semester, allowing students to recharge with family and friends. In the U.S. context, this holiday aligns with national traditions of gratitude and feasting, often involving travel back home or exploring LA's cultural scenes. Planning tips include booking flights early due to high demand and coordinating with roommates for shared celebrations. The break impacts work schedules for student employees, offering time for reflection on academic progress.
USC's holidays and breaks are tailored to U.S. observances, including Labor Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and spring break, which often coincides with warmer weather for beach outings in California. These periods are ideal for family travel, coordinating with international students' home visits, and planning work schedules around deadlines.
Faculty and staff at USC follow work schedules aligned with the academic calendar, including deadlines for grading, research submissions, and administrative tasks. This ensures smooth operations and supports student success.
Meetings and grading periods for USC faculty are structured to align with semester timelines. Explore job opportunities at Higher Ed Jobs and invite employees to rate their employer experiences.
Historical calendars at USC provide archives for verifying past dates, while future patterns help in long-term planning for classes and events.
Key events like orientation and commencement are highlights of the USC calendar. Invite students to rate professors or view ratings to enhance course selection.
| Event | Date | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🕊️ | Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday | 19 January 2026 | Civil rights observance; university closed. |
| 📅 | Spring Semester Begins | 12 January 2026 | Launch of spring term. |
| 🇺🇸 | Presidents' Day Holiday | 16 February 2026 | Federal holiday. |
| 🏖️ | Spring Break Begins | 9 March 2026 | Vacation period. |
| 🛫 | Spring Break Ends | 15 March 2026 | Classes resume. |
| 📚 | Last Day of Spring Classes | 29 April 2026 | Spring term ends. |
| 📝 | Spring Final Exams | 1 May 2026through May 8 | Testing period. |
| 🎓 | Commencement Ceremony | 8 May 2026 | Graduation day. |
| ☀️ | Summer Session Starts | 13 May 2026 | Summer courses begin. |
| 🎖️ | Memorial Day Holiday | 25 May 2026 | Military honor day. |
| 🗽 | Juneteenth Holiday | 19 June 2026 | Emancipation celebration. |
| 🎆 | Independence Day Holiday | 3 July 2026observed | National independence. |
| 🏖️ | Summer Session Ends | 7 August 2026 | Summer conclusion. |
| 🍂 | Fall Semester Begins | 24 August 2026 | Fall start. |
| 🛠️ | Labor Day Holiday | 7 September 2026 | Labor observance. |
| 🍁 | Fall Break | 15 October 2026through October 16 | Mid-fall break. |
| 🦃 | Thanksgiving Break Begins | 25 November 2026 | Thanksgiving start. |
| 🍽️ | Thanksgiving Break Ends | 29 November 2026 | Post-Thanksgiving. |
| ❄️ | Last Day of Fall Classes | 4 December 2026 | Fall end. |
| 📝 | Fall Final Exams | 7 December 2026through December 16 | Exams week. |
