Winter Session

Online classes: January 2–17, 2026

October 15, 2025
Registration and enrollment begin.
December 1, 2025
Financial aid deadline for Cornell students (financial aid is not available for visiting students).
December 1, 2025
Registration deadline for visiting students.
December 19, 2025
Last day to petition to exceed the credit limit.
December 25, 2025 to
January 1, 2026
Cornell is closed for winter break. The university reopens on Friday, January 2, 2026.
January 2, 2026
Instruction begins.
January 3, 2026
(3:00 p.m. ET)
Last day for Cornell students to request access for Winter enrollment

Requests to add a class beyond this date require a petition.
January 3, 2026
(11:59 p.m. ET)
Last day to add a class or change credit hours for all students.

Requests to add a class beyond this date require a petition.
January 2–4, 2026
0% tuition liability for courses dropped during this period.
January 5–6, 2026
50% tuition liability for courses dropped during this period.
January 7, 2026
100% tuition liability for courses dropped on or after this date.
January 9, 2026
(11:59 p.m. ET)
Last day to drop a class without a petition and without the letter "W" appearing on your transcript.

Last day to change grading basis.
Variable dates
Course evaluation system open for students a few days before the end of class.
January 16–17, 2026
Instruction ends.

Final exams may be held on the last day of class (1/16) or on the following Saturday (1/17) at a time arranged by your instructor.

Last day to withdraw (the day of your final exam; petition required).

Note: Due to the limited number of instructional days for Winter Session 2026 (which happens to open on a Friday this year), classes may meet on Saturday, January 3, and Saturday, January 10. Please confirm class dates on the class roster or your class syllabus. Final exams will be held on the last day of class, Friday, January 16, unless otherwise noted by the class instructor in the class syllabus.