Navigating the Spring Semester at CSUN

California State University, Northridge (CSUN) operates on a semester system, with distinct registration periods for the fall, spring, and summer terms. Understanding these periods and key dates is crucial for students to effectively plan their academic year. CSUN makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of calendar dates, updates may become necessary, and all information is subject to change without notice. Dates are based on the Faculty Affairs Academic Calendars. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the spring semester, focusing on registration, important dates, deadlines, and other essential information.

Key Dates for Spring Semester

For the Spring 2026 semester, several important dates stand out:

Classes Begin: Weekday classes begin Tues., Jan. 20, 2026. Weekend classes begin Sat. and Sun., Jan. 24 and 25. Spring 2026 weekday classes begin BEFORE weekend classes do!
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No Instruction): Mon., Jan. 19, 2026.
Spring Recess (No Instruction): Mon. to Sun., March 16 to 22.
César Chávez Day Holiday Observed (No Instruction): Tues., March 31. Classes resume April 1.
Last Day of Formal Instruction: Fri., May 8.
Final Examinations: Sat. to Fri., May 9 to 15.
Grades Available Through the CSUN Portal: Starting Sat., May 9 (updated nightly thereafter).
Last Day of Spring Semester and 2025-2026 Academic Year: Fri., May 22.

Registration Periods Explained

There are three registration periods in the fall, spring and summer terms: Registration-by-Appointment, Nonrestrictive Registration and Late Registration / Schedule Adjustment.

Registration-by-Appointment

Early Registration and Wait-Listing Begin: Mon., Nov. 3, 2025
Registration-by-Appointment Period: From your registration appointment through Fri., Dec. 12.
Maximum Load: 18 units from the start.
Eligible CSUN students may enroll in one CSU Fully Online Course at another campus: From Mon., Dec. 1, 2025 through Fri., Jan.
Repeating courses is permitted beginning: Sat., Dec. 13, 2025.
Wait-listing period: From your registration appointment through Sun., Jan. 25, 11:59 pm.

Nonrestrictive Registration

No Appointment Needed: Sat., Dec. 13, 2025 through Mon., Jan. 19, 2026. Maximum load: 18 units
Students in good standing may enroll in 18 units maximum as soon as registration begins (16 units for graduate students). For exceptions, see Enrollment Limits.
You can wait-list for closed classes - up to 13 wait-listed units - as soon as registration begins.

Late Registration / Schedule Adjustment

Week 1 of Classes: ALL STUDENTS. You may adjust your schedule (add, drop or swap classes, or change grading basis) online. Permission is not required to add classes except for restricted classes. Wait-listing continues through Sun., Jan. 25. Jan. 20 to Jan. 25, 2026
Weeks 1 to 3: GRADUATE Student Last Day to Drop. Master's, doctorate, credential and university certificate students may drop classes online through the third Friday of instruction. Formal approval is required to drop classes after Friday, Feb. 6. Visit Graduate Evaluations: Forms for your Late Change in Academic Schedule request form. Jan. 20 to Feb. 15. Visit Late Change in Academic Schedule Forms for Undergraduate and Second Bachelor's Students and review Information Regarding Potential Impact of Change in Academic Schedule.
Weeks 5 to 12: ALL STUDENTS. To add a class, request a permission number from the instructor and enroll using self-service registration. To drop classes or change grading basis, request approval using the appropriate Late Schedule Change form(s). Feb. 16 to April 17
Weeks 13 and Beyond: ALL STUDENTS. Schedule changes in Week 13 and thereafter are not permitted except for serious and compelling circumstances. Please refer to Late Schedule Changes. April 20 to May 22 and beyond

What you can do in each period varies. For an overview, see Registration Periods. Find dates by term below.

Enrollment and Wait-Listing

Eligible CSUN students can enroll in one CSU Fully Online Course at another campus from December 1, 2025, through January. Repeating courses is permitted starting December 13, 2025. Students in good standing may enroll in a maximum of 18 units as soon as registration begins (16 units for graduate students), with exceptions available under Enrollment Limits.

Read also: UCF Application Strategies

Wait-listing for closed classes, up to 13 wait-listed units, is available as soon as registration begins.

Late Registration and Schedule Adjustments

During the first week of classes (January 20 to January 25, 2026), all students can adjust their schedules online by adding, dropping, or swapping classes, or changing the grading basis. Permission is generally not required to add classes, except for restricted ones. Wait-listing continues through January 25.

Graduate students have until the third Friday of instruction (February 6) to drop classes online. After this date, formal approval is required. Undergraduate students may drop classes online until the end of the fourth week of instruction (February 15). Formal approval is needed for changes after this deadline.

From February 16 to April 17 (Weeks 5 to 12), students need a permission number from the instructor to add a class and must use self-service registration. Dropping classes or changing the grading basis requires approval via the appropriate Late Schedule Change forms.

Schedule changes are generally not permitted from April 20 to May 22 (Weeks 13 and beyond) except under serious and compelling circumstances, as detailed in Late Schedule Changes.

Read also: College SAT Deadlines

Withdrawal Deadlines

Last day for graduate students to drop classes online: Sun., Feb. 6, 2026
Last day for undergraduate students to drop classes online: Sun., Feb. 15, 2026
20th day of instruction (Census) - A grade of "W" will be issued after this date: Feb. 16
Weeks 5 to 12: Complete the appropriate Late Schedule Change form(s) (required). Feb. 16 to April 17
Weeks 13+ (last 3 weeks of instruction and thereafter): Complete the appropriate Late Schedule Change form(s) (required). April 20 to May 22

Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid

Tuition and other fees, and the payment deadline, are due January 13, 2026, before classes begin. Reducing the number of enrolled units may affect your eligibility for financial aid, campus housing and more. Before dropping, review the Precautions for Reducing Units and Late Schedule Changes.

If units increase to 6.1 or more, additional fees will be charged. If you are adding after the Jan. 13 payment deadline, tuition and other fees are due at the time of enrollment. Units added on or after Feb. 16, the 20th day of instruction, will not increase a student’s financial aid award.

The 2025-2026 Federal and California Financial Aid application period began in December. Enrollments recorded by the 20th day of instruction are considered official. Students who remain enrolled after March 25, 2026, may not need to repay Financial Aid.

Summer 2026 Highlights

Summer 2026 classes begin Tuesday, May 26, 2026, the day after Memorial Day. Summer Term is offered on a state-support basis.

Summer 2026 Instructional Days

Session 1 (12 weeks): Tuesday to Tuesday, May 26 to Aug. 18, 2026
Session 2 (first 6 weeks): Tuesday to Tuesday, May 26 to July 7
Juneteenth Holiday (No instruction): Friday to Sunday, June 19 to 21
Independence Day Observed (No instruction): Friday to Sunday, July 3 to 5.
Session 3 (second 6 weeks): Wednesday to Tuesday, July 8 to Aug. 18
Final Examinations: Held on the last class meeting. Confirm with your professor.
Grades available in the CSUN Portal (updated nightly): Starting Tuesday, Aug. 18

Summer 2026 Registration Periods

Obtain an online appointment to register: March 10 to 16, 2026
Registration-by-Appointment and Wait-Listing begin, all sessions: March 17
Nonrestrictive Registration, Sessions 1 and 2, begins. No appointment needed. Wait-listing continues: April 1 to May 25
Nonrestrictive Registration, Session 3. No appointment needed.: April 1 to July 7
Repeating courses previously taken at CSUN is permitted in all three summer sessions beginning: April 1

Summer 2026 Withdrawal Deadlines & Last Day to Drop a Class

For Sessions 1 and 2: Friday, June 5, 2026
For Session 3: Friday, July 17

Fall 2026 Semester Overview

Fall 2026 Instructional Days

Saturday-only and Friday-Saturday classes begin: Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026
Sunday-only classes begin: Sunday, Aug. 23
Weekday classes begin: Monday, Aug. 24
Friday-only classes begin: Friday, Aug. 28
Labor Day holiday weekend. No instruction: Saturday through Monday, Sept. 5 to 7
Veterans' Day holiday. No instruction. Classes meet Nov. 10 and resume Nov. 12.: Wednesday, Nov. 11
Thanksgiving Recess. No instruction: Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 26 to 29
Last day of formal instruction: Friday, Dec. 11
Final examinations: Saturday through Friday, Dec. 12 to 18
Grades available through the CSUN Portal starting: Saturday, Dec. 12 (updated nightly thereafter)
Last day of Fall 2026 semester (campus closed): Thursday, Dec. 24

Fall 2026 Registration Periods

Early Registration and Wait-Listing begin: Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Eligible CSUN students may enroll in one CSU Fully Online Course at another campus: TBA: Probably June 1 through Aug. 28
First-time freshman advisement and registration begin: Monday, June 1 (Advising may begin earlier.)
Registration-by-Appointment. Maximum load: 18 enrolled units: From your registration appointment through July 5
Wait-listing period. Maximum 13 wait-listed units: From your registration appointment through Sunday, Aug. 30, 11:59 pm
Repeating courses is permitted starting: Monday, July 6
Nonrestrictive Registration. No appointment needed. Maximum load: 18 units: Monday through Sunday, July 6 to Aug. 23

Fall 2026 Late Registration / Schedule Adjustment

Week 1 of Classes: ALL STUDENTS: You may continue to add, drop or swap classes, or change grading basis (CR/NC) using self-service registration. Permission is not required to add classes (except for restricted classes). Wait-listing continues through Sunday, Aug. 30. Aug. 24 to 30, 2026, 11:59 pm
Weeks 1 to 3: GRADUATE Student Last Day to Drop: Master's, doctorate, credential and University certificate students may drop classes online through the third Friday of instruction. Formal approval is required to drop classes after Friday, Sept. 11. Aug. 24 to Sept. 11, 2026, 11:59 pm
Weeks 1 to 4: UNDERGRADUATE Student Last Day to Drop: First and second bachelor's students may drop classes online until the end of the fourth week of instruction. Formal approval is required to drop classes or change grading basis after Sunday, Sept. 20. Aug. 24 to Sept. 20, 2026, 11:59 pm
Weeks 2 to 4: ALL STUDENTS: You may add classes using online, self-service registration. Permission numbers are required to add ALL classes. Wait-listing is not available. Please finalize your schedule by Sunday, Sept. 20.

Application Deadlines

FALL semester admission: Oct. 1 to Jan. 31, extended to Feb.
SPRING semester admission: Aug. 1 to Sept. 30*, extended to Oct.
FALL semester admission: Oct. 1 to Jan. 31, extended to May 15, 2026. Exception: The Nursing: RN to BSN option (post-licensure) will close Feb.
SPRING semester admission: Apply from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30, extended to Oct.

Read also: High School College Applications

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