Starting in Fall 2026, Samuel Merritt University will implement a unified calendar model featuring two distinct academic calendars: the Standard Academic Calendar and the Alternate ABSN Academic Calendar.
- Standard Academic Calendar: Applies to all academic programs. The 5-week ABSN sessions within this calendar are designated solely for the ABSN program.
- Alternate ABSN Academic Calendar: Used exclusively by the ABSN program and follows a different schedule from the standard calendar.
Fall 2026 Standard Academic Calendar
Semester: 8/24/2026 - 12/20/2026
Session 1: 8/24/2026 – 10/18/2026
Session 2: 10/19/2026 – 12/20/2026
ABSN Session A: 8/24/2026 – 9/27/2026
ABSN Session B: 9/28/2026 – 11/1/2026
ABSN Session C: 11/2/2026 – 12/13/2026
Term | Length | Event | Date |
| Standard Semester | 16 weeks | Classes begin | 8/24/2026 |
| Add/drop period | 8/24/2026 - 9/4/2026 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without a W | 9/4/2026 | ||
| Last day to drop with a W | 10/18/2026 | ||
| Classes end | 12/11/2026 | ||
| Final exams week | 12/14/2026 - 12/19/2026 | ||
| End of term/Degree conferral date | 12/20/2026 | ||
| Final grades due | 12/27/2026 | ||
| Commencement Ceremony | 12/9/2026 | ||
| Session 1 | 8 weeks | Classes begin | 8/24/2026 |
| Add/drop period | 8/24/2026 - 8/28/2026 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without a W | 8/28/2026 | ||
| Last day to drop with a W | 9/21/2026 | ||
| Classes end | 10/18/2026 | ||
| Final grades due | 10/25/2026 | ||
| Session 2 | 8 weeks | Classes begin | 10/19/2026 |
| Add/drop period | 10/19/2026 - 10/26/2026 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without a W | 10/26/2026 | ||
| Last day to drop with a W | 11/18/2026 | ||
| Classes end | 12/20/2026 | ||
| Final grades due | 12/27/2026 | ||
| ABSN Session A | 5 weeks | Classes begin | 8/24/2026 |
| Add/drop period | 8/24/2026 - 8/26/2026 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without a W | 8/26/2026 | ||
| Last day to drop with a W | 9/10/2026 | ||
| Classes end | 9/27/2026 | ||
| Final grades due | 10/4/2026 | ||
| ABSN Session B | 5 weeks | Classes begin | 9/28/2026 |
| Add/drop period | 9/28/2026 - 9/30/2026 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without a W | 9/30/2026 | ||
| Last day to drop with a W | 10/15/2026 | ||
| Classes end | 11/1/2026 | ||
| Final grades due | 11/8/2026 | ||
| ABSN Session C | 5 weeks | Classes begin | 11/2/2026 |
| Add/drop period | 11/2/2026 - 11/4/2026 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without a W | 11/4/2026 | ||
| Last day to drop with a W | 11/19/2026 | ||
| Classes end | 12/13/2026 | ||
| Final grades due | 12/20/2026 | ||
FALL 2026 HOLIDAYS | |||
| Labor Day | 9/7/2026 | ||
| Thanksgiving Break | 11/23/2026 - 11/28/2026 | ||
| Winter Holiday | 12/20/2026 - 1/10/2027 | ||
Fall 2026 Alternate ABSN Academic Calendar
ABSN ALT Semester: 11/9/2026 - 3/28/2027
ABSN ALT Session 1: 11/9/2026 - 12/20/2026
ABSN ALT Session 2: 1/11/2027 - 2/14/2027
ABSN ALT Session 3: 2/15/2027 - 3/21/2027
Term | Length | Event | Date |
| ABSN ALT Semester | 15 weeks | Classes begin | 11/9/2026 |
| Add/Drop period | 11/9/2026 - 11/20/2026 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without W | 11/20/2026 | ||
| Last day to drop with W | 1/27/2027 | ||
| End of term/Degree conferral date | 3/28/2027 | ||
| Final Grades due | 4/4/2027 | ||
| ALT ABSN Session A | 5 weeks | Classes begin | 11/9/2026 |
| Add/Drop period | 11/9/2026 - 11/11/2026 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without W | 11/11/2026 | ||
| Last day to drop with W | 12/2/2026 | ||
| Classes end | 12/20/2026 | ||
| Final Grades due | 12/27/2026 | ||
| ALT ABSN Session B | 5 weeks | Classes begin | 1/11/2027 |
| Add/Drop period | 1/11/2027 - 1/13/2027 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without W | 1/13/2027 | ||
| Last day to drop with W | 1/27/2027 | ||
| Classes end | 2/14/2027 | ||
| Final Grades due | 2/21/2027 | ||
| ALT ABSN Session C | 5 weeks | Classes begin | 2/15/2027 |
| Add/Drop period | 2/15/2027 - 2/17/2027 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without W | 2/17/2027 | ||
| Last day to drop with W | 3/3/2027 | ||
| Classes end | 3/21/2027 | ||
| Final Grades due | 3/28/2027 | ||
FALL 2026 HOLIDAYS | |||
| Thanksgiving Break | 11/23/2026 - 11/28/2026 | ||
| Winter Holiday | 12/20/2026 - 1/10/2027 | ||
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | 1/18/2027 | ||
| Presidents' Day | 2/15/2027 | ||
Spring 2027 Standard Academic Calendar
Semester: 1/11/2027 - 5/2/2027
Session 1: 1/11/2027 - 3/7/2027
Session 2: 3/8/2027 - 5/2/2027
ABSN Session A: 1/1/2027 - 2/14/2027
ABSN Session B: 2/15/2027 - 3/21/2027
ABSN Session C: 3/22/2027 - 4/25/2027
Term | Length | Event | Date |
| Standard Semester | 16 weeks | Classes begin | 1/11/2027 |
| Add/drop period | 1/11/2027 - 1/22/2027 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without a W | 1/22/2027 | ||
| Last day to drop with a W | 3/8/2027 | ||
| Classes end | 4/23/2027 | ||
| Final exams week | 4/26/2027 - 5/1/2027 | ||
| End of term/Degree conferral date | 5/2/2027 | ||
| Final grades due | 5/9/2027 | ||
| Commencement Ceremony | 5/28/2027 | ||
| Session 1 | 8 weeks | Classes begin | 1/11/2027 |
| Add/drop period | 1/11/2027 - 1/15/2027 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without a W | 1/15/2027 | ||
| Last day to drop with a W | 2/8/2027 | ||
| Classes end | 3/7/2027 | ||
| Final grades due | 3/14/2027 | ||
| Session 2 | 8 weeks | Classes begin | 3/8/2027 |
| Add/drop period | 3/8/2027 - 3/11/2027 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without a W | 3/11/2027 | ||
| Last day to drop with a W | 4/5/2027 | ||
| Classes end | 5/2/2027 | ||
| Final grades due | 5/9/2027 | ||
| ABSN Session A | 5 weeks | Classes begin | 1/11/2027 |
| Add/drop period | 1/11/2027 - 1/13/2027 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without a W | 1/13/2027 | ||
| Last day to drop with a W | 1/28/2027 | ||
| Classes end | 2/14/2027 | ||
| Final grades due | 2/21/2027 | ||
| ABSN Session B | 5 weeks | Classes begin | 2/15/2027 |
| Add/drop period | 2/15/2027- 2/17/2027 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without a W | 2/17/2027 | ||
| Last day to drop with a W | 3/3/2027 | ||
| Classes end | 3/21/2027 | ||
| Final grades due | 3/28/2027 | ||
| ABSN Session C | 5 weeks | Classes begin | 3/22/2027 |
| Add/drop period | 3/22/2027 - 3/24/2027 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without a W | 3/24/2027 | ||
| Last day to drop with a W | 4/8/2027 | ||
| Classes end | 4/25/2027 | ||
| Final grades due | 5/2/2027 | ||
SPRING 2027 HOLIDAYS | |||
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | 1/18/2027 | ||
| Presidents' Day Holiday | 2/15/2027 | ||
Spring 2027 Alternate ABSN Academic Calendar
ABSN ALT Semester: 3/29/2027 - 7/18/2027
ABSN ALT Session 1: 3/29/2027 - 5/2/2027
ABSN ALT Session 2: 5/3/2027 - 6/6/2027
ABSN ALT Session 3: 6/7/2027 - 7/11/2027
Term | Length | Event | Date |
| ABSN ALT Semester | 15 weeks | Classes begin | 3/29/2027 |
| Add/Drop period | 3/29/2027 - 4/9/2027 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without W | 4/9/2027 | ||
| Last day to drop with W | 5/24/2027 | ||
| End of term/Degree conferral date | 7/18/2027 | ||
| Final Grades due | 7/25/2027 | ||
| ALT ABSN Session A | 5 weeks | Classes begin | 3/29/2027 |
| Add/Drop period | 3/29/2027 - 3/31/2027 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without W | 3/31/2027 | ||
| Last day to drop with W | 4/14/2027 | ||
| Classes end | 5/2/2027 | ||
| Final Grades due | 5/9/2027 | ||
| ALT ABSN Session B | 5 weeks | Classes begin | 5/3/2027 |
| Add/Drop period | 5/3/2027 - 5/5/2027 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without W | 5/5/2027 | ||
| Last day to drop with W | 5/19/2027 | ||
| Classes end | 6/6/2027 | ||
| Final Grades due | 6/18/2027 | ||
| ALT ABSN Session C | 5 weeks | Classes begin | 6/7/2027 |
| Add/Drop period | 6/7/2027 - 6/9/2027 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without W | 6/9/2027 | ||
| Last day to drop with W | 6/23/2027 | ||
| Classes end | 7/11/2027 | ||
| Final Grades due | 7/18/2027 | ||
SPRING 2027 HOLIDAYS | |||
| Memorial Day | 5/31/2027 | ||
| Independence Day | 7/4/2027 | ||
Summer 2027 Standard Academic Calendar
Semester: 5/3/2027 - 8/22/2027
Session 1: 5/3/2027 - 6/27/2027
Session 2: 6/28/2027 - 8/22/2027
ABSN Session A: 5/3/2027 - 6/6/2027
ABSN Session B: 6/7/2027 - 7/11/2027
ABSN Session C: 7/12/2027 - 8/15/2027
Term | Length | Event | Date |
| Standard Semester | 16 weeks | Classes begin | 5/3/2027 |
| Add/drop period | 5/3/2027 - 5/14/2027 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without a W | 5/14/2027 | ||
| Last day to drop with a W | 6/28/2027 | ||
| Classes end | 8/13/2027 | ||
| Final exams week | 8/16/2027 - 8/21/2027 | ||
| End of term/Degree conferral date | 8/22/2027 | ||
| Final grades due | 8/29/2027 | ||
| Session 1 | 8 weeks | Classes begin | 5/3/2027 |
| Add/drop period | 5/3/2027 - 5/7/2027 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without a W | 5/7/2027 | ||
| Last day to drop with a W | 5/28/2027 | ||
| Classes end | 6/27/2027 | ||
| Final grades due | 7/4/2027 | ||
| Session 2 | 8 weeks | Classes begin | 6/28/2027 |
| Add/drop period | 6/28/2027 - 7/2/2027 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without a W | 7/2/2027 | ||
| Last day to drop with a W | 7/26/2027 | ||
| Classes end | 8/22/2027 | ||
| Final grades due | 8/29/2027 | ||
| ABSN Session A | 5 weeks | Classes begin | 5/3/2027 |
| Add/drop period | 5/3/2027 - 5/5/2027 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without a W | 5/5/2027 | ||
| Last day to drop with a W | 5/20/2027 | ||
| Classes end | 6/6/2027 | ||
| Final grades due | 6/13/2027 | ||
| ABSN Session B | 5 weeks | Classes begin | 6/7/2027 |
| Add/drop period | 6/7/2027 - 6/9/2027 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without a W | 6/9/2027 | ||
| Last day to drop with a W | 6/24/2027 | ||
| Classes end | 7/11/2027 | ||
| Final grades due | 7/18/2027 | ||
| ABSN Session C | 5 weeks | Classes begin | 7/12/2027 |
| Add/drop period | 7/12/2027 - 7/14/2027 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without a W | 7/14/2027 | ||
| Last day to drop with a W | 7/29/2027 | ||
| Classes end | 8/15/2027 | ||
| Final grades due | 8/22/2027 | ||
SUMMER 2027 HOLIDAYS | |||
| Memorial Day | 5/31/2027 | ||
| Independence Day | 7/4/2027 | ||
Summer 2027 Alternate ABSN Academic Calendar
ABSN ALT Semester: 7/19/2027 - 11/7/2027
ABSN ALT Session 1: 7/19/2027 - 8/22/2027
ABSN ALT Session 2: 8/23/2027 - 9/26/2027
ABSN ALT Session 3: 9/27/2027 - 10/31/2027
Term | Length | Event | Date |
| ABSN ALT Semester | 15 weeks | Classes begin | 7/19/2027 |
| Add/Drop period | 7/19/2027 - 7/23/2027 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without W | 7/23/2027 | ||
| Last day to drop with W | 9/13/2027 | ||
| End of term/Degree conferral date | 11/7/2027 | ||
| Final Grades due | 11/19/2027 | ||
| ALT ABSN Session A | 5 weeks | Classes begin | 7/19/2027 |
| Add/Drop period | 7/19/2027 - 7/21/2027 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without W | 7/21/2027 | ||
| Last day to drop with W | 8/4/2027 | ||
| Classes end | 8/22/2027 | ||
| Final Grades due | 8/29/2027 | ||
| ALT ABSN Session B | 5 weeks | Classes begin | 8/23/2027 |
| Add/Drop period | 8/23/2027 - 8/25/2027 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without W | 8/25/2027 | ||
| Last day to drop with W | 9/8/2027 | ||
| Classes end | 9/26/2027 | ||
| Final Grades due | 10/3/2027 | ||
| ALT ABSN Session C | 5 weeks | Classes begin | 9/27/2027 |
| Add/Drop period | 9/27/2027 - 9/29/2027 | ||
| Registration deadline/Last day to drop without W | 9/29/2027 | ||
| Last day to drop with W | 10/13/2027 | ||
| Classes end | 10/31/2027 | ||
| Final Grades due | 11/7/2027 | ||
SUMMER 2027 HOLIDAYS | |||
| Labor Day | 9/6/2027 | ||
Overall
| Program | Academic Calendar |
| ABSN Fresno | Alternate |
| ABSN Oakland | Alternate |
| ABSN Sacramento | Standard |
| ABSN San Francisco Peninsula | Alternate & Standard |
By Cohort
| Program | Academic Calendar |
| ABSN Fresno July | Alternate |
| ABSN Fresno October | Alternate |
| ABSN Oakland July | Alternate |
| ABSN Oakland October | Alternate |
| ABSN Sacramento April | Standard |
| ABSN Sacramento August | Standard |
| ABSN Sacramento December | Standard |
| ABSN San Francisco Peninsula April | Standard |
| ABSN San Francisco Peninsula December | Standard |
| ABSN San Francisco Peninsula July | Alternate |
| ABSN San Francisco Peninsula October | Alternate |