Colorado College Academic Calendar: A Comprehensive Guide

Colorado College, a private liberal arts institution founded in 1874, operates on a unique academic structure known as the Block Plan. Ranked #30 in National Liberal Arts Colleges and #2 in Most Innovative Schools in the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, the college has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,031 students as of fall 2024. Situated in an urban setting with a 100-acre campus, Colorado College offers a distinctive educational experience characterized by its intensive, immersive approach to learning. This article provides a detailed overview of the Colorado College academic calendar, including important dates and events throughout the year.

The Block Plan: An Overview

The Block Plan is a defining feature of the academic experience at Colorado College. Unlike traditional semester-based systems, the Block Plan divides the academic year into eight blocks, each lasting approximately three and a half weeks. During each block, students take only one course, allowing for focused and in-depth study. This system fosters a dynamic learning environment where students and faculty can fully immerse themselves in a single subject before moving on to the next.

Key Dates and Events: A Detailed Look

The academic calendar at Colorado College includes a variety of important dates and events, including housing move-in days, class start and end dates, breaks, holidays, and graduation ceremonies. The following sections provide a detailed breakdown of these dates for various terms and sessions. Please note that some dates, such as housing move-in, are to be announced (TBA) and may vary.

Summer Sessions

Colorado College offers several summer sessions, including Maymester, Sessions A, C, D, Session B, and Augmester. These sessions provide students with opportunities to accelerate their studies, explore new subjects, or complete degree requirements during the summer months.

Maymester:

First Day of Classes: May 1 (Mon.) - Maymester, May 3 (Mon.) - Maymester, May 4 (Mon.) - Maymester, May 7 (Mon.) - Maymester
Last Day of Classes: May 18 (Thurs.) - Maymester, May 20 (Thurs.) - Maymester, May 21 (Thurs.) - Maymester, May 24 (Thurs.) - Maymester
Final Exams: May 18 (Thurs.) - Maymester, May 20 (Thurs.) - Maymester, May 21 (Thurs.) - Maymester, May 24 (Thurs.) - Maymester

Sessions A, C & D:

First Day of Classes: May 22 (Mon.) - Sessions A, C & D, May 24 (Mon.) - Sessions A, C & D, May 26 (Tues.) - Sessions A, C & D, May 29 (Mon.) - Sessions A, C & D
Last Day of Classes: June 23 (Fri.) - Session A, June 25 (Fri.) - Session A, June 26 (Fri.) - Session A, June 29 (Fri.) - Session A, July 14 (Fri.) - Session C, July 16 (Fri.) - Session C, July 17 (Fri.) - Session C, July 20 (Fri.) - Session C, July 28 (Fri.) - Sessions B & D, July 30 (Fri.) - Sessions B & D, July 31 (Fri.) - Sessions B & D, Aug. 3 (Fri.) - Sessions B & D
Final Exams: June 23 (Fri.) - Session A, June 25 (Fri.) - Session A, June 26 (Fri.) - Session A, June 29 (Fri.) - Session A, July 14 (Fri.) - Session C, July 16 (Fri.) - Session C, July 17 (Fri.) - Session C, July 20 (Fri.) - Session C, July 28 (Fri.) - Sessions B & D, July 30 (Fri.) - Sessions B & D, July 31 (Fri.) - Sessions B & D, Aug. 3 (Fri.) - Sessions B & D

Session B:

First Day of Classes: June 27 (Tues.) - Session B, June 29 (Tues.) - Session B, June 30 (Tues.) - Session B, July 3 (Tues.) - Session B
Last Day of Classes: July 28 (Fri.) - Sessions B & D, July 30 (Fri.) - Sessions B & D, July 31 (Fri.) - Sessions B & D, Aug. 3 (Fri.) - Sessions B & D
Final Exams: July 28 (Fri.) - Sessions B & D, July 30 (Fri.) - Sessions B & D, July 31 (Fri.) - Sessions B & D, Aug. 3 (Fri.) - Sessions B & D

Augmester:

First Day of Classes: July 24 (Mon.) - Augmester, July 26 (Mon.) - Augmester, July 27 (Mon.) - Augmester, July 30 (Mon.) - Augmester
Last Day of Classes: Aug. 10 (Thurs.) - Augmester, Aug. 12 (Thurs.) - Augmester, Aug. 13 (Thurs.) - Augmester, Aug. 16 (Thurs.) - Augmester
Final Exams: Aug. 10 (Thurs.) - Augmester, Aug. 12 (Thurs.) - Augmester, Aug. 13 (Thurs.) - Augmester, Aug. 16 (Thurs.) - Augmester
Degree Conferral Date (No Campuswide Ceremony): Aug. 10 (Thurs.) - Augmester, Aug. 12 (Thurs.) - Augmester, Aug. 13 (Thurs.) - Augmester, Aug. 16 (Thurs.)

Important Dates and Holidays During the Summer:

Memorial Day (Campus Closed): May 25 (Mon.), May 26 (Mon.), May 28 (Mon.), May 29 (Mon.), May 31 (Mon.)
Juneteenth (Campus Closed): June 18 (Fri.), June 19 (Mon.), June 19 (Thurs.), June 19 (Fri.)
Independence Day (Campus Closed): July 3 (Fri.), July 4 (Fri.), July 4 (Tues.), July 5 (Mon.)
Independence Day Observed (Campus Closed): July 3 (Fri.)

Tuition Due Dates:

Due dates depend on when you register for summer classes. Check your bill.

Fall Semester

The fall semester at Colorado College typically begins in late August. It includes a variety of events, such as Fall Welcome, Family Weekend, and Homecoming Weekend, as well as breaks for Thanksgiving.

Housing Move-In: TBA, Aug. 15-19 (Fri.-Tues.)
Fall Welcome: TBA, Aug. 16-Sept. 6
First Day of Classes: Aug. 19 (Thurs.), Aug. 20 (Thurs.), Aug. 21 (Thurs.), Aug. 24 (Thurs.)
First Day of Classes (Law): Aug. 23 (Mon.), Aug. 28 (Mon.)
Labor Day (Campus Closed): Sept. 1 (Mon.), Sept. 4 (Mon.), Sept. 6 (Mon.), Sept. 7 (Mon.)
Tuition Due: Sept. 5 (Fri.), Sept. 5 (Sat.), Sept. 5 (Sun.), Sept. 5 (Tues.)
Family Weekend: TBA, Sept. 18-21 (Thurs.-Sun.)
Homecoming Weekend: TBA, Oct. 30-Nov. 2 (Thurs.-Sun.)
Midsemester Reading Day: Oct. 7 (Thurs.), Oct. 8 (Thurs.), Oct. 9 (Thurs.), Oct. 12 (Thurs.)
Fall Break: Nov. 20-22 (Mon.-Wed.), Nov. 22-24 (Mon.-Wed.), Nov. 23-25 (Mon.-Wed.), Nov. 24-26 (Mon.-Wed.)
Thanksgiving (Campus Closed): Nov. 23-24 (Thurs.-Fri.), Nov. 25-26 (Thurs.-Fri.), Nov. 26-27 (Thurs.-Fri.), Nov. 27-28 (Thurs.-Fri.)
Last Day of Classes: Dec. 3 (Fri.), Dec. 4 (Fri.), Dec. 5 (Fri.), Dec. 8 (Fri.) (campus follows Monday class schedule)
Reading Days: Dec. 4-5 (Sat.-Sun.), Dec. 6-7 (Sat. -Sun.), Dec. 9-10 (Thurs.-Fri.)
Final Exams: Dec. 6-10 (Mon.-Fri.), Dec. 7-11 (Mon.-Fri.), Dec. 8-12 (Mon.-Fri.), Dec. 11-15 (Mon.-Fri.)
Degree Conferral Date (No Campuswide Ceremony): Dec. 10 (Fri.), Dec. 11 (Fri.), Dec. 12 (Fri.), Dec. 15 (Fri.)

Winter Session

Colorado College offers a Winter Session in December and January.

Housing Move-In: TBA
First Day of Classes (Winter Session): Dec. 13 (Mon.), Dec. 18 (Mon.)
Last Day of Classes (Winter Session): Jan. 3 (Mon.), Jan. 8 (Mon.)

Spring Semester

The spring semester begins in January and concludes with the University Commencement Ceremony in May.

Housing Move-In: TBA, Jan. 6 (Tues.)
First Day of Classes: Jan. 6 (Thurs.), Jan. 7 (Thurs.), Jan. 8 (Thurs.), Jan. 11 (Thurs.)
First Day of Classes (Law): Jan. 10 (Mon.), Jan. 16 (Mon.)
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday (Campus Closed): Jan. 15 (Mon.), Jan. 17 (Mon.), Jan. 18 (Mon.), Jan. 19 (Mon.)
Tuition Due: Feb. 5 (Mon.), Feb. 5 (Thurs.), Feb. 5 (Fri.), Feb. 5 (Sat.)
Midsemester Reading Day: Feb. 24 (Thurs.), Feb. 25 (Thurs.), Feb. 26 (Thurs.), March 1 (Thurs.)
Spring Break (Campus Closed Fri., March 19): March 15-19 (Mon.-Fri.)
Spring Break (Campus Closed Friday, March 20): March 16-20 (Mon.-Fri.)
Spring Break (Campus Closed Friday, March 23): March 19-23 (Mon.-Fri.)
Spring Break (Campus Closed Friday, March 24): March 20-24 (Mon.-Fri.)
Last Day of Classes: Apr. 21 (Fri.), Apr. 23 (Fri.), Apr. 24 (Fri.), Apr. 27 (Fri.) (campus follows Monday class schedule)
Reading Days: Apr. 22-23 (Sat.-Sun.), Apr. 24-25 (Sat.-Sun.), Apr. 25-26 (Sat.-Sun.), Apr. 28-29 (Sat.-Sun.)
Final Exams: Apr. 24-28 (Mon.-Fri.), Apr. 26-30 (Mon.-Fri.), Apr. 27-May 1 (Mon.-Fri.), Apr. 30-May 4 (Mon.-Fri.)
University Commencement Ceremony: Apr. 29 (Sat.), May 1 (Sat.), May 2 (Sat.), May 5 (Sat.)
Degree Conferral Date: Apr. 29 (Sat.), May 1 (Sat.), May 2 (Sat.), May 5 (Sat.)

Additional Information about Colorado College

Colorado College has a student-faculty ratio of 9:1, which allows for personalized attention and close interaction between students and professors. The college accepts the Common Application and has a test-optional admissions policy, making it accessible to a wide range of students.

The tuition and fees at Colorado College are $73,566. However, the college is committed to making education affordable, with 41% of first-year students receiving need-based financial aid. The average net price for federal loan recipients is $28,892.

Colorado College has a four-year graduation rate of 71%. Six years after graduation, the median salary for graduates is $47,611.

Read also: The history of Colorado Mesa

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