Key fall semester dates for students at UF, Santa Fe and Florida Gateway

The fall 2026 semester officially begins next week for several local and surrounding colleges and universities. 

Below are some key dates incoming and returning students at the University of Florida (UF), Santa Fe College (SF) and Florida Gateway College (FGC) should be aware of. 

UF (Gainesville) 

All dates and deadlines may be subject to change.  

• Advance registration (at or after assigned start time):  

• March 23-Aug. 18  

• Regular registration ($100 late fee after 11:59 p.m. deadline):  

• Aug. 19 

• Classes begin:  

• Aug. 20  

• Drop/add (at or after assigned start time):  

• Aug. 20, 21, 24-26  

• UF Employee Education Program (EEP) and state employee registration:  

• Aug. 20, 21, 24-26  

• Late registration:  

• Aug. 20, 21, 24-26  

• Non-degree registration (at or after assigned start time):  

• Aug. 24-26  

• Withdrawal from all courses with no fee liability:  

• Aug. 26  

• Fee payments (university bursar):  

• Sept. 4  

• Labor Day (no classes):  

 –    Sept. 7  

• Withdrawal with 25% refund (W assigned to all fall courses):  

• Sept. 11  

• Homecoming (no classes):  

• Oct. 9-10 

• Veterans Day (no classes):  

• Nov. 11  

• Drop deadline (W assigned to individual course(s). The student’s college must approve drops of individual courses). 

• Nov. 16  

• Withdrawal deadline (W assigned to all fall courses):  

• Nov. 16  

• Drop or add a course after the drop/withdrawal deadline (students must petition their college with appropriate documentation for approval to drop or add.)  

• Nov. 17-Dec. 2 

• Withdraw from all fall courses after the drop/withdrawal deadline (students must petition their college with appropriate documentation for approval to withdraw from all courses).  

• Nov. 17-Dec. 2  

• Thanksgiving break:  

• Nov. 23-28  

• End of classes:  

• Dec. 2  

• Reading days (no classes):  

• Dec. 3-4  

• Final exams:  

• Dec. 5-11   

• Commencement:  

• Dec. 11-12  

• Dates of graduate and professional commencements can vary. Students should refer to the official schedules. Dates and times of all ceremonies will be posted once officially scheduled.  

• Degree status and final grades available on ONE.UF:  

• Dec. 16  

• University closed:  

• Dec. 25-Jan. 1, 2027  

All dates and deadlines for 2026-27 can be found here. 

SF (Gainesville) 

Dates are subject to change.  

• Convocation:  

• Aug. 14 

• Fall and Fall A classes begin:  

• Aug. 17  

• Last day to add or drop classes with no record and receive a refund for Fall and Fall A:  

• Aug. 24  

• Labor Day (college closed):  

• Sept. 7  

• Fees due for Fall G:  

• Sept. 14  

• Last day to withdraw and receive a ‘W’ for Fall A:  

• Sept. 18  

• Fall G classes begin:  

• Sept. 21  

• Last day to add or drop classes with no record and receive a refund for Fall G:  

• Sept. 28  

• Fall A classes end:  

• Oct. 3  

• Fees due for Fall B:  

• Oct. 5  

• Fall A final exams:  

• Oct. 5-6 

• Fall A grades due:  

• Oct. 8  

• UF Homecoming (college closed):   

• Oct. 9-10 

• Fall A grades posted:   

• Oct. 9  

• Fall B classes begin:  

• Oct. 12  

• Last day to add or drop classes with refund for Fall B:  

• Oct. 15  

• Last day to withdraw and receive a ‘W’ for Fall:  

• Oct. 29  

• Last day to withdraw and receive a ‘W’ for Fall G:  

• Nov. 9  

• Veterans Day (college closed):  

• Nov. 11 

• Last day to withdraw and receive a ‘W’ for Fall B:  

• Nov. 16  

• Thanksgiving break (college closed):   

• Nov. 25-28 

• Classes end for Fall, Fall B and Fall G:  

• Dec. 5  

• Final exams for Fall, Fall B and Fall G:  

• Dec. 7-12  

• Graduation:  

• Dec. 10-11 

• Fall, Fall B and Fall G grades posted:  

• Dec. 15  

• Last day to request program changes for spring 2027:  

• Dec. 16  

• Winter break (college closed):  

• Dec. 21-Jan. 1, 2027  

A link to the full 2026-27 academic calendar is available here. 

FGC (Lake City)  

• Fall fees due (fees are due if registered on or before a due date):  

•  Aug. 12, Aug. 19, Aug. 26, Sept. 2 

• Move-in day:  

• Aug. 13  

• Fall registration begins:   

• May 18-Aug. 14 

• State employee fee waiver registration begins:  

• Aug. 14 

• Fall classes begin:  

• Aug. 17  

• Add/drop for full term classes:  

• Aug. 17-21 

• Labor Day holiday:  

• Sept. 7  

• Fall commencement ceremony participation deadline (includes having name in program). Fall graduation application required.  

• Oct. 16  

• Spring registration begins:  

• Oct. 26-Jan. 8, 2027  

• Last day for withdrawal (deadlines vary for classes that do not span the full term):  

• Nov. 6  

• Veterans Day holiday:  

• Nov. 11 

• Spring financial aid deadline and admission priority processing date:  

• Nov. 13  

• Thanksgiving holiday:  

• Nov. 25-27  

• Term ends and fall graduation application deadline:  

• Dec. 4  

• Grades due (noon):  

• Dec. 7  

• Fall commencement ceremony:  

• Dec. 8  

• Spring fees due (fees are due if registered on or before a due date): 

• Dec. 16 and Jan. 6, 13, 20, 2027  

• Winter break:  

• Dec. 21-31  

• New Year’s Day holiday:  

• Jan. 1, 2027  

A link to the full 2026-27 academic calendar is available here.  

Nick Anschultz is a Report for America corps member and writes about education for Mainstreet Daily News. This position is supported by local donations through the Community Catalyst for Local Journalism Fund at the Community Foundation of North Central Florida.