Santa Clara Important Dates 2026 to 27 for Parents
Santa Clara's quarter calendar starts late and finishes late: classes begin Sept. 21, 2026, and the last spring finals fall on June 10, 2027. These are the dates on the registrar's 2026 to 27 undergraduate calendar that matter most when you are booking flights.
Always double check the official calendar
Schools sometimes change dates. Santa Clara University academic calendar.
Booking tip
Santa Clara Family Weekend is Feb 19 to 20, 2027. Hotels near campus fill early, so book as soon as you know you're coming.
- Delta Hotels by Marriott Santa Clara Silicon Valley: Listed on SCU's Family Weekend 2027 travel page, with check in dates "flexible based on availability." Phone (408) 988-8411.
- Fairfield Inn & Suites San Jose Airport: Listed on SCU's Family Weekend 2027 travel page, with check in dates "flexible based on availability." Phone (408) 453-3133.
- Hotel Valencia Santana Row: SCU's Family Weekend travel page calls it a long time partner but notes there is no specific room block.
Move in & orientation
| What | When |
|---|---|
| New student move in (first year and transfer)New first year and transfer studentsResidence hall move in for new students starts at 8:30am with the first of three groups (90 minutes each); the second group begins at 10:00am and the third at 11:30am. The Welcome Weekend page suggests parking in the Main Parking Structure or the North Campus Parking Structure.Add to calendar: New student move in (first year and transfer)Source: Welcome Weekend, Center for Student Involvement, Santa Clara University | Fri, Sep 18, 20268:30 AM |
| New Student Welcome WeekendNew first year and transfer studentsThe Center for Student Involvement lists Welcome Weekend as Sept. 18 to 20, 2026, with RLC Community Conversations on the evening of Sept. 18 and a required community health and safety session on Sept. 19 or 20. Parents and families are encouraged but not required to attend. The registrar calendar prints Welcome Weekend against Sept. 19 to 20, so check the Welcome Weekend page for the final schedule.Add to calendar: New Student Welcome WeekendSource: Welcome Weekend, Center for Student Involvement, Santa Clara University | Fri, Sep 18 to Sun, Sep 20, 2026 |
| Returning student move inReturning on campus residentsThe registrar calendar lists residence halls opening at 9am to returning students. The 2026 to 27 housing contract says returning undergraduates' occupancy begins on the Saturday before the first day of fall classes.Add to calendar: Returning student move inSource: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Academic Calendar (rev. 8/20/26), Office of the Registrar, Santa Clara University | Sat, Sep 19, 20269 AM |
Classes & breaks
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Fall quarter 2026 classes beginFall classes begin Monday, Sept. 21. The last day to add a class is Sept. 25 by 5pm.Add to calendar: Fall quarter 2026 classes beginSource: UGRD Reg Info & Deadline Booklet, Fall 2026, Santa Clara University | Mon, Sep 21, 2026 |
| Thanksgiving week (no classes)Nov. 23 to 27 is listed as an academic holiday, with Nov. 26 and 27 as Thanksgiving administrative holidays. The housing contract says all residence halls stay open during Thanksgiving.Add to calendar: Thanksgiving week (no classes)Source: UGRD Reg Info & Deadline Booklet, Fall 2026, Santa Clara University | Mon, Nov 23 to Fri, Nov 27, 2026 |
| Fall quarter classes endFall classes end Friday, Dec. 4, followed by finals week.Add to calendar: Fall quarter classes endSource: UGRD Reg Info & Deadline Booklet, Fall 2026, Santa Clara University | Fri, Dec 4, 2026 |
| Residence halls close for winter breakOn campus residents (except University Villas)The registrar calendar lists residence halls closing at 9pm on Friday, Dec. 11, after fall finals. The housing contract says all residence halls except University Villas are closed during winter break. Winter quarter classes begin Monday, Jan. 4, 2027.Add to calendar: Residence halls close for winter breakSource: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Academic Calendar (rev. 8/20/26), Office of the Registrar, Santa Clara University | Fri, Dec 11, 20269 PM |
| Winter quarter 2027 classes beginWinter quarter classes begin Monday, Jan. 4, 2027, per the registrar calendar.Add to calendar: Winter quarter 2027 classes beginSource: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Academic Calendar (rev. 8/20/26), Office of the Registrar, Santa Clara University | Mon, Jan 4, 2027 |
| Spring recessThe registrar calendar lists spring recess as March 22 to 29, noting that March 29 (Easter Monday) is an academic holiday. The housing contract says residence halls stay open during spring break.Add to calendar: Spring recessSource: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Academic Calendar (rev. 8/20/26), Office of the Registrar, Santa Clara University | Mon, Mar 22 to Mon, Mar 29, 2027 |
| Spring quarter 2027 classes beginSpring quarter classes begin Tuesday, March 30, 2027, the day after the Easter Monday holiday.Add to calendar: Spring quarter 2027 classes beginSource: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Academic Calendar (rev. 8/20/26), Office of the Registrar, Santa Clara University | Tue, Mar 30, 2027 |
Finals
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Fall quarter final examsFall final exams run Monday to Friday, Dec. 7 to 11, 2026. Individual exam times depend on your student's classes.Add to calendar: Fall quarter final examsSource: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Academic Year Final Exam Schedules, Santa Clara University | Mon, Dec 7 to Fri, Dec 11, 2026 |
| Winter quarter final examsWinter final exams run Monday to Friday, March 15 to 19, 2027.Add to calendar: Winter quarter final examsSource: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Academic Year Final Exam Schedules, Santa Clara University | Mon, Mar 15 to Fri, Mar 19, 2027 |
| Spring quarter final examsSpring final exams run Monday to Thursday, June 7 to 10, 2027. The registrar notes spring exams are always held over four days, Monday to Thursday, to accommodate Graduate Commencement.Add to calendar: Spring quarter final examsSource: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Academic Year Final Exam Schedules, Santa Clara University | Mon, Jun 7 to Thu, Jun 10, 2027 |
Family weekend & homecoming
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Family Weekend 2027SCU's Family Weekend site says Family Weekend 2027 will be February 19 to 20, 2027. For the 2026 event, online registration launched in mid December and full details were posted in early January.Add to calendar: Family Weekend 2027Source: Family Weekend @ Santa Clara University | Fri, Feb 19 to Sat, Feb 20, 2027 |
Move out
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Residence halls close (non graduating students)Non graduating residentsThe registrar calendar lists residence halls closing at 9pm for non graduating students. The housing contract ends at 9pm on the last day of spring undergraduate finals, and Housing asks residents to move out within 24 hours of their last final.Add to calendar: Residence halls close (non graduating students)Source: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Academic Calendar (rev. 8/20/26), Office of the Registrar, Santa Clara University | Thu, Jun 10, 20279 PM |
| Residence halls close (graduating students)Graduating seniors living on campusThe registrar calendar lists residence halls closing at noon for graduating students, the day after the undergraduate ceremony.Add to calendar: Residence halls close (graduating students)Source: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Academic Calendar (rev. 8/20/26), Office of the Registrar, Santa Clara University | Sun, Jun 13, 202712 PM |
Commencement
| What | When |
|---|---|
| 176th Undergraduate CommencementListed on the registrar's 2026 to 27 undergraduate calendar. Ceremony times and guest details for 2027 were not yet posted on the commencement site when we checked; questions go to commencement@scu.edu.Add to calendar: 176th Undergraduate CommencementSource: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Academic Calendar (rev. 8/20/26), Office of the Registrar, Santa Clara University | Sat, Jun 12, 2027 |
Other dates
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Indigenous Peoples' Day (academic and administrative holiday)Listed as an academic and administrative holiday in the Fall 2026 deadline booklet.Add to calendar: Indigenous Peoples' Day (academic and administrative holiday)Source: UGRD Reg Info & Deadline Booklet, Fall 2026, Santa Clara University | Mon, Oct 12, 2026 |
How the SCU year is built
Three quarters, each with roughly 10 weeks of class and one finals week. The registrar's final exam schedule gives these windows:
- Fall: Monday to Friday, Dec. 7 to 11, 2026
- Winter: Monday to Friday, March 15 to 19, 2027
- Spring: Monday to Thursday, June 7 to 10, 2027
Spring exams are always squeezed into four days, Monday to Thursday, to leave room for Graduate Commencement. Each exam's day and time depend on when the class normally meets, and the registrar's final exam schedule already maps class start times to exam slots for all three quarters. Housing expects residents to move out within 24 hours of their last final, so match your student's class schedule against that grid before booking December and June flights.
Fall quarter 2026
- Fri, Sept. 18: new student move in, with Welcome Weekend running Sept. 18 to 20
- Sat, Sept. 19: residence halls open at 9am to returning students
- Mon, Sept. 21: classes begin
- Fri, Sept. 25: last day to add a class (5pm)
- Mon, Oct. 12: Indigenous Peoples' Day, no classes
- Mon, Nov. 23 to Fri, Nov. 27: academic holiday for Thanksgiving week
- Fri, Dec. 4: last day of fall classes
- Fri, Dec. 11: residence halls close at 9pm for winter break
Winter and spring 2027
- Mon, Jan. 4: winter quarter classes begin
- Fri, Feb. 19 to Sat, Feb. 20: Family Weekend 2027
- Mon, March 22 to Mon, March 29: spring recess (Easter Monday, March 29, is an academic holiday)
- Tue, March 30: spring quarter classes begin
- Thu, June 10: residence halls close at 9pm for non graduating students
- Sat, June 12: 176th Undergraduate Commencement
- Sun, June 13: residence halls close at noon for graduating students
Planning around the big four
Thanksgiving. The full week off is a gift for families on the East Coast or overseas, since a Tuesday night flight is not required. If home is too far, SCU's housing contract says the residence halls stay open over Thanksgiving, so your student can stay put.
Winter break. Halls close at 9pm on Dec. 11, and the contract says every hall except University Villas is closed for the break. If your student's last exam is early that week, the 24 hour move out expectation may move the departure up. Classes pick up again Jan. 4.
Family Weekend. February dates are unusual, so put Feb. 19 to 20 on the calendar now. For the 2026 event, SCU opened online registration in mid December and posted full details in early January, which is a reasonable guide to when the 2027 schedule will appear.
Commencement. The registrar lists Saturday, June 12, 2027 for the undergraduate ceremony. When we checked, SCU's commencement website still showed an earlier class's schedule, so times, tickets and the liturgy for 2027 were not posted yet. Write to commencement@scu.edu with questions.
Before you book
- The calendar PDF carries a revision stamp (8/20/26 when we checked). Open the official 2026 to 27 undergraduate calendar again before paying for anything nonrefundable.
- Housing's own move in and move out timeline page still showed last year's dates when we looked, so lean on the registrar calendar and Housing's emails to your student.
Questions about Santa Clara dates
When is move in at Santa Clara University for fall 2026?
New first year and transfer students move in Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in three groups starting at 8:30am, 10:00am and 11:30am. Returning students can move in from 9am on Saturday, Sept. 19. Classes begin Monday, Sept. 21.
When is SCU Family Weekend in 2027?
Family Weekend 2027 is Feb. 19 to 20, 2027. For the 2026 event, online registration opened in mid December, so watch the Family Weekend site late in the fall.
Do Santa Clara students get the whole Thanksgiving week off?
Yes. The Fall 2026 deadline booklet lists Nov. 23 to 27 as an academic holiday, with Thanksgiving administrative holidays on Nov. 26 and 27. The housing contract says residence halls stay open over Thanksgiving.
When does winter break start, and when do classes resume?
Fall finals run Dec. 7 to 11, 2026, and the registrar lists residence halls closing at 9pm on Friday, Dec. 11. Winter quarter classes begin Monday, Jan. 4, 2027.
When is Santa Clara University commencement in 2027?
The registrar's 2026 to 27 calendar lists the 176th Undergraduate Commencement on Saturday, June 12, 2027. Ceremony times were not posted yet when we checked; contact commencement@scu.edu.
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