Advisors: Summer Session 2026 Information

TO: Academic Advisors
FROM: Daniel Kratochvil, Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Cornell University School of Continuing Education
DATE: April 2026
SUBJECT: Summer Session 2026 Information

Dear Advisors,

Cornell Summer Session is fast approaching. Our three-, six-, and eight-week sessions are a great opportunity for your students to

  • Catch up in their studies or ease their fall/spring load
  • Get ahead or prepare for study abroad
  • Pursue a minor or second major
  • Explore a new field
  • Take a class that is limited or that typically fills in the fall/spring
  • Enroll in a class that won’t be offered the following semester/year

Students can choose from more than 250 on-campus, off-campus, and online classes offered between May and August, earn credit toward academic goals, and still have time for travel or a summer job. View summer courses.

Below is important information to help you guide your students. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!

Important Summer Session information, dates, and deadlines

Summer Session dates

  • Three-week Session 1: June 1-18, 2026
  • Three-week Session 2: June 22-July 10, 2026
  • Three-week Session 3: July 13-31, 2026
  • Six-week Session: June 22-August 4, 2026
  • Eight-week Session: June 8-August 4, 2026

Key deadlines

Enrollment

Online enrollment is available for Cornell students via the Student Center. For additional information, see How to Register.

Course offerings and instruction modes

  • View all Summer 2026 classes on the university roster.
  • Note that classes are taught in person, on and off campus, and online. Please be sure your students check the instruction mode before enrolling and making plans. 

Credit limit and time commitment

Credit limits for Summer Sessions are:

  • Up to four credits in a three-week period (effectively a 20-credit semester)
  • Up to eight credits in a six-week period (a 20-credit semester)
  • Up to ten credits in an eight-week period (a 19-credit semester equivalent)
  • Up to fifteen credits during the entire summer period (May-August)
  • Summer Session classes feature the same content and time requirements as a 15-week class, compressed into 3, 6, or 8 weeks, resulting in a shorter and more intense educational experience. A petition is required to exceed the credit limit; however, doing so is not advisable and, depending on a student’s other time commitments, may be impossible. 

Missing a single day of work or a single class meeting can have a significant impact on a student’s overall success in Summer Session classes. They should plan to attend and engage as required.

Tuition and refunds

After your student enrolls, per-credit tuition will be added to their Bursar account. They are responsible for the tuition associated with all classes in which they’re enrolled, whether or not they participate in them. If they no longer wish to take a class, they should drop it immediately in Student Center.

If your student receives financial aid, they should check with the financial aid office to determine whether their aid package will cover any part of your Summer Session tuition. There is no financial aid available from the School of Continuing Education. 

See the SCE website for refund and withdrawal information.

Petitions

Summer Session classes are offered by the School of Continuing Education (SCE) so petitions for late class changes and other exceptions must be submitted to cusce@cornell.edu. See the SCE petitions and appeals page for forms and details.

For more information

For additional information, visit our website for Cornell Students. And please contact us at cusce@cornell.edu if you or your students have any questions.

Regards,

Daniel Kratochvil, PhD
Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
School of Continuing Education
Cornell University
B20 Day Hall
Ithaca, New York 14853
djk296@cornell.edu
summer.cornell.edu