Academic Calendar
A free printable academic calendar built around semesters, terms, exams, and school breaks.
An academic calendar organizes a school year into instructional terms - commonly fall, spring, and summer semesters or quarters - marking classes, exams, holidays, and breaks. Unlike a normal year calendar, it starts in late summer or early fall to match the school year.
How an Academic Year Differs from a Calendar Year
Most schools run on an academic year that spans two calendar years. A fall semester typically runs from late August to mid-December, and the spring semester from January to early May. That means an academic calendar is most useful when it starts in August and rolls over the December/January boundary, rather than starting on January 1 like a normal printable calendar.
| Term | Typical Window | What to Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Late Aug - Dec | Add/drop, midterms, finals, Thanksgiving break |
| Winter break | Dec - early Jan | Holiday closure, exam reopens |
| Spring semester | Jan - May | Spring break, project deadlines, finals |
| Summer term | May - Aug | Intensive courses, internships, camps |
Blank Template: My Academic Month
This blank monthly grid is ready to print. Number the days yourself, or leave it open and write in your own schedule, appointments, and reminders.
My Academic Month
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
What to Put on an Academic Calendar
Fold these into your term planning so nothing sneaks up on you:
- Instruction starts for each term and the last day you can drop a course.
- Midterm and final exam weeks for each course.
- Breaks: fall break, Thanksgiving, winter break, spring break, and reading days.
- Deadlines: scholarship, application, registration, and fee deadlines.
- Grade release dates and holiday observances at your specific institution.
Printing and Using It
Print one blank month per month of the term and fill in dates using your school’s published schedule, or mark national holidays from the current year’s yearly calendar. Keep the current month pinned in a study binder and archive past months for grade tracking. Pair it with a weekly schedule planner for hour-by-hour class and study blocks.
More to Explore
Frequently Asked Questions
What months are in an academic year?
In the US, an academic year typically runs from August or September of one year through May or June of the next, usually split into fall and spring semesters plus an optional summer term.
Do academic calendars use the same holidays as regular calendars?
Schools usually close for major federal holidays like Thanksgiving, MLK Day, and Memorial Day, plus their own breaks and in-service days. Check your institution's calendar for the exact list.
Do you provide a semester view?
The blank monthly template prints one month at a time, which you can print multiple times and label for fall, spring, and summer terms.
Can I use this for online classes?
Yes, online and in-person courses follow the same term structure, so the academic calendar works exactly the same.