Are college semesters typically a certain number of weeks long?

I'm trying to get a sense of what to expect from a college academic calendar. How many weeks long is a college semester on average? Does the length vary significantly between universities, or is there a general standard most colleges follow? It'd be helpful to understand how this might impact planning breaks or internships.

Most colleges and universities in the U.S. function on a semester schedule, with each semester typically running for around 15 to 16 weeks. This counts both instructional time and final exam periods.

To give you an example, a fall semester frequently starts in late August or early September and culminates in mid-December. The spring semester often begins in January and ends in early May. Notably, there's usually a week-long break in the middle of each semester, commonly referred to as 'fall break' or 'spring break.'

However, keep in mind that there are deviations from this 'standard'. For instance, some institutions operate on a quarter system, where the academic year is divided into four terms, each approximately 10 to 12 weeks long. Others use a trimester system, with three terms each year, and some universities have unique systems, such as the 4-1-4 schedule, which includes two 4-month terms separated by a one-month term in January.

All of these different calendar structures can play a role in planning your time off or internships, so it's important to familiarize yourself with the specific academic calendar of the institutions you're interested in. Always refer directly to the school's academic calendar for the most accurate dates and schedule details.