Kent State University: Navigating the Academic Calendar

Kent State University, a public institution established in 1910, operates on a semester-based academic calendar. Ranked #232 in National Universities and #129 in Top Public Schools in the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, the university boasts a suburban setting on a 786-acre campus. With a student-faculty ratio of 20:1 and a total undergraduate enrollment of 20,841 as of fall 2024, Kent State offers a diverse range of academic programs and resources. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the university's academic calendar, including important dates and deadlines for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026.

Key Resources

The Kent State University Catalog serves as the official record for undergraduate and graduate programs, courses, academic policies, and special programs. While the University Catalog is an online-only publication, all pages are printer-friendly. Note that throughout the site there are also hyperlinks to other information resources at Kent State University. The information contained in these links is not a part of the official University Catalog. Kent State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (view statement of accreditation status). The Kent State University Catalog is produced and maintained by the Office of Curriculum Services under the auspices of the senior vice president for academic affairs and provost.

Fall 2025: Important Dates and Deadlines

The Fall 2025 semester at Kent State University is marked by several crucial dates and deadlines that students, faculty, and staff should be aware of. These dates encompass graduation applications, schedule adjustments, registration periods, holidays, grading periods, and degree clearance timelines.

Graduation Application Deadlines

Students planning to graduate in the Fall of 2025 must adhere to specific application deadlines based on their degree type:

Undergraduate Students (Bachelor’s Degree or Undergraduate Certificate): Graduation Application Deadline is July 1, 2024 - March 15, 2025.
Undergraduate Students (Associate Degree): Graduation Application Deadline is March 1, 2025 - August 22, 2025.
Graduate Students (Graduate Degree or Graduate Certificate): Graduation Application Deadline is March 1, 2025 - August 22, 2025.

Schedule Building and Adjustments

The process of building and adjusting the Fall 2025 schedule involves several stages:

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Schedule Build Window (DCU): October 7, 2024 - November 20, 2024. Dates are subject to change. Schedulers will be sent updates via listserv.
Timetable Produced: November 25, 2024 - February 7, 2025. Dates are subject to change. Schedulers will be sent updates via list serve.
Schedule Data Transferred to Banner: February 7, 2025. Dates are subject to change. Schedulers will be sent updates via list serve.
Schedule Adjustment in Banner/Workflow: February 10, 2025 - February 21, 2025. Dates are subject to change. Schedulers will be sent updates via list serve.
Schedule of Classes Available in FlashFAST: February 24, 2025. Dates are subject to change. Schedulers will be sent updates via listserv.

Registration and Fees

Priority Registration: Protected Groups: March 5, 2025. Dates are subject to change.
Time to Register Begins: Graduate Students: March 28, 2025 - August 24, 2025. Dates are subject to change. Students should check their Registration Status page in FlashLine to determine their time to register and/or to see if they have an advising requirement that prevents registration.
\$100 Late Registration Fee Assessed: August 25, 2025. This fee is applicable for students registering for their first enrolled hour for the term.
Registration Deadline for State Subsidy (15th Day), 5 pm: September 1, 2025.

Course Drop and Withdrawal

Last day to drop courses that meet the full term before a grade of “W” is assigned: August 31, 2025. Dates are subject to change. If class beginning and/or ending dates are other than the regular session dates for the full term, registration/ schedule adjustment deadlines may be different than noted. You may determine deadlines by accessing the Detailed Class Search from the Schedule of Classes.
“W” grade is assigned to dropped courses: September 1, 2025 - October 26, 2025 (Weeks 3-10). NOTE: If class beginning and/or ending dates are other than the regular session dates for a full term, deadlines may be different than noted. You may determine deadlines by accessing the Detailed Class Search from the Schedule of Classes Search. Search for the course(s), and after locating the course, click on the "Registration Deadlines" link to determine course specific dates.

Holidays and Breaks

Labor Day (No Classes, Offices Closed): September 1, 2025
Columbus Day (observed Fri., Nov. 28, 2025): October 13, 2025
Fall Break: October 2, 2025 - October 5, 2025
Veterans Day Observed (No Classes, Offices Closed): November 11, 2025
Thanksgiving Recess: November 26, 2025 - November 30, 2025. Classes recessed Wednesday through Sunday; offices closed Thursday and Friday.

Grading

Midterm Grading Begins in FlashFAST for students enrolled in lower division (00000, 10000, 20000 level) Full-Term Courses (Weeks 4-7): September 8, 2025 - October 5, 2025. Midterms Grades Process and Dates Subject to Change
Missing and Partially-Graded Midterm Grade Rosters Updated on the Secured Extranet SharePoint Site: October 2, 2025 - October 6, 2025. Access the rosters through the Faculty and Staff Portal on the Registrar’s Office home page. Midterms Grades Process and Dates Subject to Change
Midterm Grades Officially Available to all students enrolled in lower division (00000, 10000, 20000 level) courses in FlashFAST (week 8): October 7, 2025. Midterms Grades Process and Dates Subject to Change
Classes Officially End: December 7, 2025
Final Examination Period: December 8, 2025 - December 15, 2025
Default Grades Posted for Outstanding IN Grades Received: (Undergrad: 202510, 202560; Grad: 202480): December 17, 2025
Registrar’s Office Runs End of Term Final Grades Processing Jobs: December 17, 2025. See Base Part of Term Table on Page 1 for Grading Deadlines for All Parts of Term and Open Learning Courses.
Final Grades Officially Available in FlashFAST: December 18, 2025
Last Day to Submit Grade Changes for IN Grades Received: (Undergrad: 202510, 202560; Grad: 202480): December 5, 2025

Degree Clearance and Posting

Deadline for PhD/AUD/DNP Degree Clearance: December 5, 2025. Colleges will update SHADEGR (graduation status = 5) for those candidates who have completed ALL graduation requirements. Dates are subject to change. Updates will be sent via Graduation_Processing listserv.
Regional Campus-Opt Out Deadline for Auto Awarded AA/AS: December 12, 2025
Deadline for Degree Clearance - All Other Degrees: January 8, 2026. Colleges will update SHADEGR (graduation status = 5) for those candidates who have completed ALL graduation requirements. Dates are subject to change. Updates will be sent via Graduation_Processing listserv.
Registrar’s Office Begins Degree Post in Banner: January 9, 2026. Dates are subject to change. Updates will be sent via Graduation_Processing listserv.
Degrees Available in FlashFAST and on Transcripts: January 14, 2026. Dates are subject to change. Updates will be sent via Graduation_Processing listserv.
Final Graduation List Available in Cognos: January 15, 2026. SAAR-232 Graduation List (status = AW) Public Folders > Kent State University > Student > Official > Student Records (Registrar) > College. Dates are subject to change. Updates will be sent via Graduation_Processing listserv.
Degree Verification and Grads Only enrollment file sent to Clearinghouse: January 21, 2026
Digital Diplomas/Certificates available to students: January 20, 2026. Dates are subject to change. Updates will be sent via the Graduation_Processing listserv. Digital diplomas/certificates available via student Parchment accounts
Paper Diplomas/Certificates sent to Permanent or Diploma Address Listed in Student’s FlashLine Account: February 17, 2026. Dates are subject to change. Updates will be sent via the Graduation_Processing listserv. Paper diplomas/certificates will arrive to students from Parchment approx.

Other Important Dates

Lists of students that were dismissed for 202580 will be provided to advising offices: December 18, 2025
Holiday Observance: TBA. See the University Academic Calendar for dates.

Spring 2026: Important Dates and Deadlines

Looking ahead to the Spring 2026 semester, several key dates and deadlines are relevant for students planning to graduate or continue their studies.

Graduation Application Deadlines

Undergraduate Students (Bachelor’s Degree or Undergraduate Certificate): December 1, 2024 - September 15, 2025
Undergraduate Students (Associate Degree): October 1, 2025 - January 16, 2026
Graduate Students (Graduate Degree): October 1, 2025 - January 16, 2026

Summer 2026: Graduation Application Deadlines

Undergraduate Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree or undergraduate certificate: March 1, 2025 - Dec. 15, 2025

Financial Information

Kent State University's in-state tuition and fees are $13,628; out-of-state tuition and fees are $23,872. Fifty-eight percent of first-year students receive need-based financial aid, and the average net price for federal loan recipients is $18,340. The four-year graduation rate is 49%. Six years after graduation, the median salary for graduates is $40,179. Kent State University accepts the Common Application and has a test-optional admissions policy.

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