SDSU Important Dates 2026 to 27 for Parents
SDSU's 2026 to 27 calendar is two semesters, with fall finals ending Friday, Dec. 18 and commencement ceremonies running May 13 to 16, 2027. Housing publishes its own break closure times, and those are the dates that should drive your flight bookings.
Always double check the official calendar
Schools sometimes change dates. San Diego State University academic calendar.
Booking tip
SDSU Family Weekend is Oct 2 to 3, 2026. Hotels near campus fill early, so book as soon as you know you're coming.
- Days Inn by Wyndham San Diego Hotel Circle: Listed on SDSU's Family Weekend travel discounts page. Ask for the "SDSU Friends and Family Rate" (15% off the best available rate, plus $5 off overnight parking per Bartell Hotels).
- The Dana on Mission Bay: Listed on SDSU's Family Weekend travel discounts page. Ask for the "SDSU Friends and Family Rate" (15% off the best available rate, plus $5 off overnight parking per Bartell Hotels).
- Pacific Terrace Hotel: Listed on SDSU's Family Weekend travel discounts page. Ask for the "SDSU Friends and Family Rate" (15% off the best available rate, plus $5 off overnight parking per Bartell Hotels).
Move in & orientation
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Fall 2026 residence hall move inOn campus residentsHousing lists move in as Aug. 19 to 21, 2026 for residential communities and notes the dates are subject to change. Move in dates and check in times are staggered and emailed to students in early July.Add to calendar: Fall 2026 residence hall move inSource: Important Dates, SDSU Housing | Wed, Aug 19 to Fri, Aug 21, 2026 |
| Spring 2027 return and new resident check inOn campus residentsHousing: on Jan. 18, continuing students may return after 10 a.m. New spring residents may check in from 2 to 5 p.m.Add to calendar: Spring 2027 return and new resident check inSource: Important Dates, SDSU Housing | Mon, Jan 18, 2027 |
Classes & breaks
| What | When |
|---|---|
| First day of fall 2026 classesThe fall semester officially begins Aug. 19; classes start Monday, Aug. 24.Add to calendar: First day of fall 2026 classesSource: Fall 2026 Academic Calendar, Office of the Registrar, SDSU | Mon, Aug 24, 2026 |
| Thanksgiving break 2026No classes on Wednesday, Nov. 25, but campus is open. Thanksgiving recess on Nov. 26 and 27; campus closed.Add to calendar: Thanksgiving break 2026Source: Fall 2026 Academic Calendar, Office of the Registrar, SDSU | Wed, Nov 25 to Fri, Nov 27, 2026 |
| Thanksgiving housing closureCommunities that close over the breakHousing: communities that do not offer housing over the break close Nov. 25 at 4 p.m. and reopen Nov. 29 at noon.Add to calendar: Thanksgiving housing closureSource: Important Dates, SDSU Housing | Wed, Nov 25 to Sun, Nov 29, 20264 PM to 12 PM |
| Last day of fall 2026 classesLast day of classes before final examinations.Add to calendar: Last day of fall 2026 classesSource: Fall 2026 Academic Calendar, Office of the Registrar, SDSU | Fri, Dec 11, 2026 |
| Winter break housing closureCommunities that close over the breakHousing: communities that do not offer housing over the break close Dec. 18, 2026 at 6 p.m. and reopen Jan. 18, 2027.Add to calendar: Winter break housing closureSource: Important Dates, SDSU Housing | Fri, Dec 18, 2026 to Mon, Jan 18, 20276 PM |
| Winter recess (campus closed)Faculty and staff holiday, campus closed Dec. 22 to 25. The fall semester officially ends Dec. 31.Add to calendar: Winter recess (campus closed)Source: Fall 2026 Academic Calendar, Office of the Registrar, SDSU | Tue, Dec 22 to Fri, Dec 25, 2026 |
| First day of spring 2027 classesThe registrar's Spring 2027 page lists Jan. 19 as the first day of the spring semester and Thursday, Jan. 21 as the first day of classes. The Senate approved 2026 to 2027 calendar PDF (Sept. 2025) shows Tuesday, Jan. 19 as the first day of classes, so confirm with the registrar page before booking.Add to calendar: First day of spring 2027 classesSource: Spring 2027 Academic Calendar, Office of the Registrar, SDSU | Thu, Jan 21, 2027 |
| Spring break housing closureCommunities that close over the breakHousing: communities that do not offer housing over the break close March 26, 2027 at 4 p.m. and reopen April 4 at noon.Add to calendar: Spring break housing closureSource: Important Dates, SDSU Housing | Fri, Mar 26 to Sun, Apr 4, 20274 PM to 12 PM |
| Spring break 2027Spring recess. March 31 (Farmworker's Day) is a campus holiday that falls during the break.Add to calendar: Spring break 2027Source: Spring 2027 Academic Calendar, Office of the Registrar, SDSU | Mon, Mar 29 to Fri, Apr 2, 2027 |
| Last day of spring 2027 classesLast day of classes before final examinations.Add to calendar: Last day of spring 2027 classesSource: Spring 2027 Academic Calendar, Office of the Registrar, SDSU | Wed, May 5, 2027 |
Finals
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Fall 2026 final examinationsFinal examinations run Saturday, Dec. 12 to Friday, Dec. 18.Add to calendar: Fall 2026 final examinationsSource: Fall 2026 Academic Calendar, Office of the Registrar, SDSU | Sat, Dec 12 to Fri, Dec 18, 2026 |
| Spring 2027 final examinationsFinal examinations run Thursday, May 6 to Wednesday, May 12.Add to calendar: Spring 2027 final examinationsSource: Spring 2027 Academic Calendar, Office of the Registrar, SDSU | Thu, May 6 to Wed, May 12, 2027 |
Family weekend & homecoming
| What | When |
|---|---|
| 29th Annual Family WeekendSDSU lists Family Weekend as Friday, Oct. 2 and Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, with the event schedule running Oct. 2 to 4. Registration has closed, and the Friday picnic, Saturday brunch and Saturday tailgate are sold out. Saturday includes the Aztec football game against Texas State at Snapdragon Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Questions: (619) 594-1509.Add to calendar: 29th Annual Family WeekendSource: 29th Annual Family Weekend, SDSU | Fri, Oct 2 to Sat, Oct 3, 2026 |
| Homecoming football game vs. Fresno StateSan Diego State Athletics lists the Oct. 17 home game against Fresno State at 7:30 p.m. as the Homecoming game.Add to calendar: Homecoming football game vs. Fresno StateSource: Football 2026 Single Game Tickets, San Diego State Athletics | Sat, Oct 17, 20267:30 PM |
Move out
| What | When |
|---|---|
| End of year residence hall closing9 month residence halls and apartmentsHousing: 9 month residence halls and apartments close for the academic year at noon on May 14, 2027.Add to calendar: End of year residence hall closingSource: Important Dates, SDSU Housing | Fri, May 14, 202712 PM |
Commencement
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Commencement 2027The registrar lists College of Graduate Studies ceremonies and the SDSU Imperial Valley ceremony on May 13 and undergraduate ceremonies May 14 to 16. The commencement site says detailed ceremony dates and times will be finalized later in the fall semester.Add to calendar: Commencement 2027Source: Spring 2027 Academic Calendar, Office of the Registrar, SDSU | Thu, May 13 to Sun, May 16, 2027 |
Other dates
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Labor Day (campus closed)Faculty and staff holiday. Campus closed.Add to calendar: Labor Day (campus closed)Source: Fall 2026 Academic Calendar, Office of the Registrar, SDSU | Mon, Sep 7, 2026 |
| Veterans Day (campus closed)Faculty and staff holiday. Campus closed.Add to calendar: Veterans Day (campus closed)Source: Fall 2026 Academic Calendar, Office of the Registrar, SDSU | Wed, Nov 11, 2026 |
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (campus closed)Faculty and staff holiday. Campus closed.Add to calendar: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (campus closed)Source: Spring 2027 Academic Calendar, Office of the Registrar, SDSU | Mon, Jan 18, 2027 |
Two lists, two offices
The Office of the Registrar owns class days, holidays and finals. SDSU Housing owns the Important Dates page that says when residential communities close and reopen. Keep both bookmarked, because a community that does not offer break housing can close before your student's last obligation is done.
Fall 2026 at a glance
- Move in: Aug. 19 to 21, with staggered check in times.
- First day of classes: Monday, Aug. 24.
- Campus closed: Labor Day (Sept. 7) and Veterans Day (Nov. 11).
- Thanksgiving: no classes Wednesday, Nov. 25, and campus is closed Nov. 26 and 27. Communities that close for the break shut at 4 p.m. on Nov. 25 and reopen at noon on Sunday, Nov. 29.
- Last day of classes: Friday, Dec. 11.
- Finals: Saturday, Dec. 12 to Friday, Dec. 18.
- Winter closure: communities without break housing close at 6 p.m. on Dec. 18 and reopen Jan. 18.
That Dec. 18 closing time sits on the last day of finals. If your student has an exam that Friday, look for a flight late that evening or the next morning with a plan for where they will sleep, and confirm the closing time on the Housing page before you pay.
Spring 2027 at a glance
- Return to housing: Monday, Jan. 18. Continuing residents may come back after 10 a.m.; new spring residents check in from 2 to 5 p.m. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is the same day, and campus is closed.
- First day of classes: the registrar's Spring 2027 page says Thursday, Jan. 21. The Senate approved calendar PDF from September 2025 showed Tuesday, Jan. 19. Go with the registrar page, and look again in December in case it changes.
- Spring break: March 29 to April 2. Closing communities shut at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 26 and reopen at noon on Sunday, April 4. Farmworker's Day, March 31, falls inside the break.
- Last day of classes: May 5.
- Finals: May 6 to 12.
- End of year closing: 9 month residence halls and apartments close at noon on Friday, May 14.
Commencement week
The registrar lists graduate studies and SDSU Imperial Valley ceremonies on Thursday, May 13 and undergraduate ceremonies from Friday, May 14 through Sunday, May 16. The commencement office says exact ceremony days and times will be finalized later in the fall semester. Until your graduate's college ceremony is posted, a refundable room covering the whole Thursday to Sunday stretch is the safer booking.
One detail many families miss: the noon closing on May 14 lands in the middle of commencement weekend. A graduate whose ceremony is on Saturday or Sunday should ask Housing well ahead of time how that works for them.
Family Weekend and Homecoming
Family Weekend 2026 is Friday, Oct. 2 and Saturday, Oct. 3, with the published schedule running into Sunday, Oct. 4. Registration has closed and the three signature events sold out, so for the 2027 edition, watch the Family Weekend page and register while early bird pricing is offered. Homecoming is Saturday, Oct. 17, built around the 7:30 p.m. football game against Fresno State at Snapdragon Stadium.
Before you book anything
Housing marks its move in dates as subject to change, and the commencement schedule is not final yet. Recheck the registrar calendar and the Housing Important Dates page each time you book, and ask your student for their personal exam times rather than assuming the last day of finals.
Questions about SDSU dates
When is SDSU Family Weekend in 2026?
The 29th Annual Family Weekend is Friday, Oct. 2 and Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, with the schedule running through Sunday, Oct. 4. Registration has closed and the picnic, brunch and tailgate are sold out. Saturday's football game against Texas State is at 7:30 p.m. at Snapdragon Stadium.
When is Thanksgiving break at SDSU in 2026?
There are no classes Wednesday, Nov. 25, and campus is closed Nov. 26 and 27. Housing communities that close for the break shut at 4 p.m. on Nov. 25 and reopen at noon on Nov. 29.
When can my student leave for winter break?
Fall finals run Dec. 12 to 18, 2026. Communities that do not offer winter housing close at 6 p.m. on Dec. 18 and reopen Jan. 18, 2027, so check your student's own exam times before booking.
When is SDSU spring break in 2027?
Spring recess is March 29 to April 2, 2027. Communities that close for it shut at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 26 and reopen at noon on Sunday, April 4.
When is SDSU commencement 2027?
Ceremonies run Thursday, May 13 to Sunday, May 16, 2027, with undergraduate ceremonies May 14 to 16. The commencement office says exact days and times will be finalized later in the fall semester.
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