USC Important Dates 2026 to 27 for Parents
USC runs on fall and spring semesters, and its official academic calendar lists every recess and exam week for 2026 to 27. These are the dates families book flights around, plus the housing deadlines that do not always match the class calendar.
Always double check the official calendar
Schools sometimes change dates. University of Southern California academic calendar.
Booking tip
USC Family Weekend is Oct 29 to Nov 1, 2026. Hotels near campus fill early, so book as soon as you know you're coming.
Move in & orientation
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Fall 2026 undergraduate move in, McCarthy Honors CollegeMcCarthy Honors College residentsThe Fall 2026 Arriving Guide lists Sunday, August 16 and Monday, August 17 for McCarthy Honors College residents only. Move in appointments were required through the USC Housing portal. Check in for this building was in the driveway area behind McCarthy Honors College, 3096 McClintock Ave.Add to calendar: Fall 2026 undergraduate move in, McCarthy Honors CollegeSource: Arriving at USC: Fall 2026 Undergraduate Guide - USC Housing | Sun, Aug 16 to Mon, Aug 17, 2026 |
| Fall 2026 undergraduate move in, all other residentsUndergraduate residentsThe Fall 2026 Arriving Guide lists Tuesday, August 18 and Wednesday, August 19 for general undergraduate residents. Appointments were required, and the guide warns that residents without a confirmed appointment may be denied access or face extended waits. The Fall 2026 check in page gives the full undergraduate window as Sunday, August 16 through Wednesday, August 19.Add to calendar: Fall 2026 undergraduate move in, all other residentsSource: Arriving at USC: Fall 2026 Undergraduate Guide - USC Housing | Tue, Aug 18 to Wed, Aug 19, 2026 |
Classes & breaks
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Fall 2026 classes beginFall semester classes begin Monday, August 24, 2026. Registration runs Monday to Friday, August 17 to 21.Add to calendar: Fall 2026 classes beginSource: Academic Calendar - USC | Mon, Aug 24, 2026 |
| Fall recessThe academic calendar lists fall recess as Thursday and Friday, October 8 and 9, 2026.Add to calendar: Fall recessSource: Academic Calendar - USC | Thu, Oct 8 to Fri, Oct 9, 2026 |
| Thanksgiving breakThe academic calendar lists Thanksgiving as Wednesday to Sunday, November 25 to 29, 2026.Add to calendar: Thanksgiving breakSource: Academic Calendar - USC | Wed, Nov 25 to Sun, Nov 29, 2026 |
| Fall 2026 classes endFall classes end Friday, December 4, followed by study days Saturday to Tuesday, December 5 to 8.Add to calendar: Fall 2026 classes endSource: Academic Calendar - USC | Fri, Dec 4, 2026 |
| Residence halls closed for winter breakResidence hall residentsUnder the 2026 to 2027 Living Agreement, residence halls are closed December 16, 2026 through January 7, 2027, and residents must vacate by 5:00 p.m. on December 16. Belongings may stay in the room and keys do not need to be returned. Apartments stay open over winter break.Add to calendar: Residence halls closed for winter breakSource: 2026-2027 Living Agreement - USC Housing | Wed, Dec 16, 2026 to Thu, Jan 7, 2027 |
| Winter recessThe academic calendar lists winter recess from Thursday, December 17, 2026 to Sunday, January 10, 2027. The same calendar shows the Winter Holiday line as TBD.Add to calendar: Winter recessSource: Academic Calendar - USC | Thu, Dec 17, 2026 to Sun, Jan 10, 2027 |
| Spring 2027 classes beginSpring semester classes begin Monday, January 11, 2027.Add to calendar: Spring 2027 classes beginSource: Academic Calendar - USC | Mon, Jan 11, 2027 |
| Spring recessThe academic calendar lists spring recess from Sunday, March 14 to Sunday, March 21, 2027.Add to calendar: Spring recessSource: Academic Calendar - USC | Sun, Mar 14 to Sun, Mar 21, 2027 |
| Spring 2027 classes endSpring classes end Friday, April 30, followed by study days Saturday to Tuesday, May 1 to 4, 2027.Add to calendar: Spring 2027 classes endSource: Academic Calendar - USC | Fri, Apr 30, 2027 |
Finals
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Fall 2026 final examinationsFall final exams run Wednesday, December 9 to Wednesday, December 16, 2026. Each student's exam days depend on their courses.Add to calendar: Fall 2026 final examinationsSource: Academic Calendar - USC | Wed, Dec 9 to Wed, Dec 16, 2026 |
| Spring 2027 final examinationsSpring final exams run Wednesday, May 5 to Wednesday, May 12, 2027.Add to calendar: Spring 2027 final examinationsSource: Academic Calendar - USC | Wed, May 5 to Wed, May 12, 2027 |
Family weekend & homecoming
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Homecoming 2026Homecoming is held with USC Reunions on October 2 and 3, 2026. The game against Washington is at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 3 at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. For game tickets, use the USC Ticket Office.Add to calendar: Homecoming 2026Source: USC Homecoming - USC Alumni Association | Fri, Oct 2 to Sat, Oct 3, 2026 |
| Trojan Family Weekend 2026Trojan Family Weekend runs Thursday, October 29 to Sunday, November 1, 2026. The family tailgate is Saturday, October 31, before the USC home football game against Ohio State. Register through the Trojan Family Weekend registration page, and send questions to info@tfw.usc.edu. Football tickets are sold through the USC Ticket Office.Add to calendar: Trojan Family Weekend 2026Source: Trojan Family Weekend 2026 - Event Summary | Thu, Oct 29 to Sun, Nov 1, 2026 |
Move out
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Spring 2027 residence hall contract endResidence halls (Law Residence ends May 18; graduate full year and family housing ends July 31)The 2026 to 2027 Living Agreement runs residence hall contracts to the close of the academic year, May 12, 2027. A contract expires at the earlier of noon the day after the resident's last final exam or 5:00 p.m. on the last day of the term. Unauthorized occupancy after that is charged $200 per day.Add to calendar: Spring 2027 residence hall contract endSource: 2026-2027 Living Agreement - USC Housing | Wed, May 12, 2027 |
Commencement
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Commencement 2027The academic calendar lists Commencement 2027 as Wednesday to Saturday, May 12 to 15. Ceremony times and locations for 2027 are not posted yet; for 2026 the main stage ceremony was at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and each eligible graduate received ten guest tickets at no charge.Add to calendar: Commencement 2027Source: Academic Calendar - USC | Wed, May 12 to Sat, May 15, 2027 |
How the USC calendar is built
USC runs two semesters. Fall 2026 runs from Monday, August 24 until finals end on Wednesday, December 16. Spring 2027 begins Monday, January 11 and wraps up with finals on Wednesday, May 12. Each term has a short break or two, and each ends with a few study days before exams.
Fall 2026
- Fall recess: Thursday and Friday, October 8 and 9. With the weekend it is four days, which is short for a cross country trip.
- Trojan Family Weekend: Thursday, October 29 to Sunday, November 1.
- Thanksgiving: Wednesday, November 25 to Sunday, November 29. The calendar starts the break on Wednesday, so ask whether your student has class on the Monday and Tuesday before you book.
- Last day of classes: Friday, December 4, then study days December 5 to 8.
- Final exams: Wednesday, December 9 to Wednesday, December 16.
- Winter recess: Thursday, December 17 to Sunday, January 10.
Spring 2027
- Classes begin: Monday, January 11.
- Spring recess: Sunday, March 14 to Sunday, March 21.
- Last day of classes: Friday, April 30, then study days May 1 to 4.
- Final exams: Wednesday, May 5 to Wednesday, May 12.
- Commencement: Wednesday, May 12 to Saturday, May 15.
The December squeeze
Fall finals end December 16, and the 2026 to 2027 Living Agreement closes residence halls for winter break that same day, with residents out by 5 p.m. The halls stay closed through January 7. Belongings can stay in the room. Apartments remain open over the break. If your student lives in a residence hall, hold off on a flight home until the final exam schedule is set, and plan the departure around that 5 p.m. deadline.
Booking for Trojan Family Weekend
USC's event listing places the weekend at Alumni Park, and the family tailgate is Saturday, October 31 before USC hosts Ohio State at the Coliseum. USC Athletics still lists the kickoff time as TBD. That puts a campus wide family event and a big home game on the same Saturday. USC's commencement guest page tells visitors from outside Los Angeles to reserve accommodations early, and the same advice fits a game weekend: reserve a refundable room the moment you decide to come. Register through the Trojan Family Weekend registration page, and send questions to the organizers at info@tfw.usc.edu.
Commencement week
The 2027 ceremonies run May 12 to 15. Check the commencement site for 2027 ceremony details as they are announced. For reference, in 2026 each eligible graduate received ten guest tickets at no charge, the main university ceremony was at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and the commencement FAQ warned that parking is extremely limited on campus and tends to fill up quickly. Residence hall contracts also end May 12, so graduating students and their families have a lot happening at once.
Homecoming
Homecoming 2026 is October 2 and 3, paired with USC Reunions. The game against Washington is at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, October 3. If you are visiting that weekend, expect game day parking rates.
Double check before you book
The calendar still lists the Winter Holiday as TBD, and housing contracts have their own end dates separate from the academic calendar. Recheck the official academic calendar and your student's housing portal before booking anything nonrefundable.
Questions about USC dates
When is Trojan Family Weekend 2026?
Thursday, October 29 to Sunday, November 1, 2026, centered on Alumni Park. The family tailgate is Saturday, October 31, before the home football game against Ohio State.
When is Thanksgiving break at USC in 2026?
The academic calendar lists Thanksgiving as Wednesday, November 25 to Sunday, November 29, 2026.
When do fall finals end and when does winter break start?
Fall finals run December 9 to 16, 2026, and winter recess runs December 17 to January 10. Residence halls close at 5 p.m. on December 16 and stay closed through January 7, so residence hall students need to be out by 5 p.m. that day.
When is spring break 2027?
Spring recess runs Sunday, March 14 to Sunday, March 21, 2027.
When is USC commencement 2027?
The academic calendar lists Commencement 2027 as Wednesday, May 12 to Saturday, May 15. Check the commencement site for 2027 ceremony details as they are announced.
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