University Calendar

Get informed about important dates and deadlines for university students, including observed holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, move-in/move-out dates, and commencement dates for both on-campus and online students. GCU makes it easy to start school by providing a variety of school formats to fit your schedule, including campus, evening and online.

Instruction/Grade Calendars (15-Week Classes)

Move in Date
Aug. 28 – Sept. 1, 2023
Labor Day
Sept. 4, 2023
Instruction Begins
Sept. 5, 2023
Veteran's Day
Nov. 11, 2023
Final Drop Date 1
Nov. 19, 2023
Instruction Moves to Asynchronous Online for Most Courses
Nov. 20 – 22, 2023
Thanksgiving Break
Nov. 23 – 24, 2023
Thanksgiving Day
Nov. 23, 2023
Face-to-Face Instruction Ends
Dec. 15, 2023
End of Term
Dec. 17, 2023
Move out Date for Fall-only Students (Living Area Closure for ALL students)
Dec. 17, 2023
Christmas Break (Current Students)
Dec. 18, 2023 – Jan. 3, 2024
Final Course Grades Due
Dec. 24, 2023
Christmas Eve/Day
Dec. 24 – 25, 2023
See Policy Handbook Refund Policy
Variable Dates

Please note that online, onsite and offsite cohort students have classes that begin frequently. Therefore, students are encouraged to contact their university counselor or student services counselor for more information on class start dates.

Fall Nontraditional Campus Commencements

Oct. 18 – Oct. 20, 2023

9 am and 2 pm

Winter Traditional Campus Commencements

Dec. 15, 20239 am, 2 pm and 7 pm

Instruction/Grade Calendars (15-Week Classes)

Move in Date: Non-Graduates and Graduates
Jan. 3, 2024
Face-to-Face Instruction Begins
Jan. 4, 2024
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Jan. 15, 2024
President's Day
Feb. 19, 2024
Spring Break
March 11 – 17, 2024
Good Friday
March 29, 2024
Final Drop Date 1
March 31, 2024
Face-to-Face Instruction Ends
April 26, 2024
End of Term
April 28, 2024
Move Out Day: Non-Graduates
Noon, April 29, 2024
Move Out Day: Graduates
Noon, April 29, 2024 
Summer Break Begins
April 29 – May 5, 2024
Final Course Grades Due
May 5, 2024
See Policy Handbook Refund Policy
Variable Dates

Please note that online, onsite and offsite cohort students have classes that begin frequently. Therefore, students are encouraged to contact their university counselor or student services counselor for more information on class start dates.

Spring Traditional Campus Commencements

April 25, 20242 pm and 7 pm

April 26, 20249 am, 2 pm and 7 pm

Spring Nontraditional Campus Commencements

May 1 – 3, 20249 am and 2 pm

Instruction/Grade Calendars (15-Week Classes)

Traditional Campus Summer Break

April 29 – Aug. 26, 2024

Instruction Begins
May 6, 2024
Move-In Date
May 10, 2024
Memorial Day

May 27, 2024

Session A 3

May 6 – June 23, 2024

Session B 3
June 24 – Aug. 11, 2024
Independence Day

July 4, 2024

Final Drop Date 1
July 21, 2024
Summer Residents Move to Fall Housing
Aug. 2, 2024
Face-to-Face Instruction Ends
Aug. 16, 2024
Move-Out Dates for Non-Fall Residents: Non-Graduate
Noon, Aug. 17, 2024
Move-Out Dates for Non-Fall Residents: Graduates
Noon, Aug. 17, 2024
End of Term
Aug. 18, 2024
Fall Break

Aug. 18 – Sept. 2, 2024

Final Course Grades Due

Aug. 25, 2024

See Policy Handbook Refund Policy
Variable Dates

Instruction/Grade Calendars (15-Week Classes)

Move in Date
Aug. 26 – Aug. 30, 2024
Labor Day
Sept. 2, 2024
Instruction Begins
Sept. 3, 2024
Veteran's Day
Nov. 11, 2024
Final Drop Date 1
Nov. 17, 2024
Instruction Moves to Asynchronous Online for Most Courses
Nov. 25 – 29, 2024
Thanksgiving Break
Nov. 28 – 29, 2024
Thanksgiving Day
Nov. 28, 2024
Face-to-Face Instruction Ends
Dec. 13, 2024
End of Term
Dec. 15, 2024
Move out Date for Fall-only Students (Living Area Closure for ALL students)
Dec. 15, 2024
Christmas Break (Current Students)
Dec. 16, 2024 – Jan. 5, 2025
Final Course Grades Due
Dec. 22, 2024
Christmas Eve/Day
Dec. 24 – 25, 2024
See Policy Handbook Refund Policy
Variable Dates

Please note that online, onsite and offsite cohort students have classes that begin frequently. Therefore, students are encouraged to contact their university counselor or student services counselor for more information on class start dates.

Fall Nontraditional Campus Commencements

Week of Oct. 14, 2024

Winter Traditional Campus Commencements

Week of Dec. 11, 2024

Instruction/Grade Calendars (15-Week Classes)

Move in Date: Non-Graduates and Graduates
Jan. 5, 2025
Face-to-Face Instruction Begins
Jan. 6, 2025
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Jan. 20, 2025
President's Day
Feb. 17, 2025
Spring Break
March 10 – 16, 2025
Good Friday
April 18, 2025
Final Drop Date 1
March 30, 2025
Face-to-Face Instruction Ends
April 25, 2025
End of Term
April 27, 2025
Move Out Day: Non-Graduates
Noon, April 28, 2025
Move Out Day: Graduates
Noon, April 28, 2025
Summer Break Begins
April 28 – May 4, 2025
Final Course Grades Due
May 4, 2025
See Policy Handbook Refund Policy
Variable Dates

Please note that online, onsite and offsite cohort students have classes that begin frequently. Therefore, students are encouraged to contact their university counselor or student services counselor for more information on class start dates.

Spring Traditional Campus Commencements

Week of April 21, 2025

Spring Nontraditional Campus Commencements

Week of April 28, 2025

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Online Education on Your Time

Experience college on your timeframe with online programs at GCU. Our online degrees are designed to provide students with flexibility to fit their lifestyle. With most classes starting weekly and rolling enrollment, GCU makes it easy for students to jump into their degree — and into the opportunities that come with a degree. Partake in the quality education, flexibility and affordability that an  online degree program  from GCU can offer.

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Campus Learning, Day and Night

Experience GCU’s Phoenix campus with traditional day classes or with courses offered once a week in the evening. Both options provide students with opportunities to connect with peers and instructors, while gaining a quality education.  Traditional classes  provide a more structured approach to learning, whereas  evening classes  support the learner, while providing greater autonomy. To help you pave your path toward a degree faster, GCU is committed to reviewing unofficial transcripts within 24 business hours. 4

For courses shorter than 15 weeks, please refer to the course drop policy in the Policy Handbook

2  Dates and times of commencement ceremonies may be subject to change.

3  Grades for Session A and Session B are due 7 days after course ends.

4  Service offered on business days only.

Ready to get started? Online and evening programs give you the flexibility you need.

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