End-of-Year Academic Calendar for Most Colleges

So, I'm honestly really curious about the normal college schedule. When do most colleges usually wrap up their academic year? Are there any differences in semester-system schools and quarter-system schools?

Most colleges and universities in the U.S. follow either the semester or the quarter system. Schools on the semester system usually begin their academic year in late August or early September and wrap up in early to mid-May. The semester system includes a fall semester (August/September-December), spring semester (January-May), and optionally a summer term.

Specifically, the fall semester typically starts in late August or early September and ends in mid-December. The spring semester commences in January and lasts until May. Final exams usually take place in mid-December for the fall semester and in early to mid-May for the spring semester.

Schools on the quarter system typically start the academic year around late September and finish in mid-June. There are generally three quarters in the academic year: fall (September-December), winter (January-March), and spring (March-June). Additionally, there's often an optional summer quarter.

As you can see, quarter-system schools tend to wrap their academic year a bit later than semester-system ones due to the structure of the quarters. However, this also means break periods, like summer break, might start later for students at quarter-system schools compared to their peers in semester-system schools.

Exact dates can vary by institution though, so it's always a good idea to check the specific academic calendar of any college you're interested in.