How Long Does A College Semester Last?

The system for dividing the academic year is different in the US than in some other countries. In the US, college academic years are most often separated into semesters or quarters.

It’s important to have a good understanding of how the academic year works because semesters and quarters affect things like how many classes you can take, your exam schedule, and when your breaks are.

But just how long is a semester? We’ll get into that here and also have a look at the different types of semesters you can expect during your time in college.

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What is a Semester?

Typically, schools that use a semester system divide the academic year into two parts: fall and spring.

The fall semester begins around the end of August or beginning of September and runs until mid-December, and the spring semester begins a month later in mid-January and runs until the end of May.

In between these two semesters there’s a break. Winter break generally occurs around Christmas and New Years and lasts for a few weeks, and then there’s a longer break over the summer before the next academic year begins.

During a semester, which lasts about 15 weeks, full-time students take between four to six different classes.

The semester system remains the most popular one in the US, with up to 95% of higher education institutions favoring it over other systems.

What is a Quarter?

The quarter system divides the academic year into four parts instead of two. It also follows the seasons, so the quarters in each year are fall, winter, spring, and summer.

In many colleges, the summer semester isn’t mandatory but it’s often used by students to catch up on classes or make up any courses where they didn’t perform well.

Quarters are shorter than semesters and usually go on for about 10 weeks, which means students take fewer courses each quarter, usually three or four, than they would in a semester.

Since the quarter system runs from September to June, some students have expressed frustration that they finish later than students at schools with a semester system. In fact, some students are unable to land coveted summer internships since they’re in school later and can’t begin on the internship’s start date.

What is a Trimester?

A trimester divides the academic year into three parts: fall, winter, and spring. Each trimester is usually around 12-13 weeks long and, like a quarter, students also take three or four courses.

Some schools also offer an optional summer semester, similar to the quarter system, where students can take courses to make up or improve grades. This system is more often used in high schools or middle schools instead of colleges.

How Long is a Semester in College?

While on average a semester lasts 15 weeks, almost all college semesters fall between 14 and 16 weeks long.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that some schools may still use the semester system but they are much shorter. Sometimes, online courses or online schools have semesters that are more like a half semester at 8 weeks long.

Additionally, even schools with a two-semester system can offer a condensed summer semester that lasts 6 to 9 weeks and offers special courses or a chance for students to make-up their grades.

Understanding the length of each semester is important so that you can effectively manage your time and plan out your school schedule. Depending on your school and your program, it’s possible that not every class will be offered each semester. Sometimes, courses are exclusive to either the fall or spring semesters, so you’ll need to plan accordingly.

The Different Semesters

Let’s take a closer look at each of the different semesters in an academic year.

Spring and Fall Semesters

During these 15-week semesters, you’ll be doing the bulk of your school work. Before each academic year, you should receive information from your school about the upcoming semester, such as start and end dates, as well as other important dates like holidays. It’s important to pay attention to the administrative dates in each semester, because there are often strict dates for dropping a class without consequence, switching courses, or even paying your tuition.

Each semester will include a set of exams, based on the courses you take. You can expect final exams at the end of your semester that occur within a period of a couple of weeks. Some courses also include midterm exams, which fall around 6-8 weeks into each semester.

Summer Semester

Since this semester is optional, students aren’t required to pay any extra tuition for it. However, it might be in your best interest to consider taking an extra summer semester.

Summer semesters are often shorter and usually lasts no more than 12 weeks. A lot of students use the summer semester to make up failed classes or retake classes where they didn’t do as well as they hoped. If you’re unable to take a full course load in the fall or spring semesters, then it’s a good idea to make up those classes during the summer semesters.

However, the summer semester isn’t only for students to make up or improve their grades. Some students also use this optional semester as an opportunity to get ahead in their studies by taking classes to accelerate the pace of their degree if they want to graduate early or work during a future semester.

Advantages of a Semester System

Semesters, quarters, and trimesters all come with their own set of pros and cons, but there’s a reason that the semester system is the most widely used one at colleges around the US.

Here are just some of the reasons why a semester system is more preferred over a quarter or trimester system:

• More time to study: Students in a quarter or trimester system often find their studies to feel a little rushed or frantic. Since a semester is spread out over a longer period of time, students have more time to study and get the most out of each course.
• Shorter classes: Since students take more classes, the semester system often has shorter classes that last around 50-75 minutes. This is the ideal amount of time for students to be able to focus in a class or lecture.
• More contact with teachers: The prolonged period of time of a semester allows students to form better relationships with their professors and work with them over a longer amount of time.
• Easier transition: For most people, the semester system in university is more similar to what they’re used to coming from high school, so that makes it easier to transition into the more demanding college life.

The Bottom Line

Hopefully now your question of “how long is a semester” has been answered and you have a better understanding of what to expect from each semester in college.

At University of the People (UoPeople), we offer flexible terms throughout the year so that students don’t have to wait a whole year or semester to begin a course. Additionally, our remote and tuition-free courses in a number of fields are preferred by hundreds of students who are looking for alternative solutions for completing a degree.