The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, California, stands as one of the most respected graduate-level institutions for military officers, federal civilians, and international defense professionals. Each academic year, students pursue advanced master’s and doctoral studies designed to improve global security leadership, operational strategy, engineering innovation, technology implementation, and defense-focused research.
For students preparing to join NPS in Academic Year 2026 (2025-26 cycle), understanding the academic timeline is essential for planning coursework, research, duty assignments, and relocation travel. Unlike traditional semester-based universities, NPS operates on a quarter system, consisting of Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer quarters — each with its own reporting schedule, instruction period, examination cycle, and graduation ceremony.
Below is a complete, human-written summary of the academic calendar for AY 2026, extracted from the official institutional document and organized for clarity and student readiness.
Fall Quarter 2025
The academic year begins with the Fall quarter, welcoming both U.S. and international students to campus.
- Reporting Date for International Students: Sunday, 14 September 2025
- Reporting Date for U.S. Military & Civilian Students: Monday, 22 September 2025
- Instruction Starts: Monday, 29 September 2025
- Columbus Day Holiday: Monday, 13 October 2025
- Shift Day – Friday Classes Conducted on Thursday: 23 October 2025
- Discovery Day Event: Friday, 24 October 2025
- Veterans Day Holiday: Tuesday, 11 November 2025
- Thanksgiving Holiday: Thursday, 27 November 2025
- Awards Ceremony: Tuesday, 9 December 2025
- Last Day of Classes: Friday, 12 December 2025
- Final Exams: 16–18 December 2025
- Graduation Ceremony: Friday, 19 December 2025
- Winter Break: 22 December 2025 – 2 January 2026
2026 NPS Academic Calendar – Re…
Fall Quarter Experience
The Fall term is a period of orientation, academic adjustment, and building relationships across disciplines and international defense networks. Events such as Discovery Day help students explore research labs, defense-focused projects, and faculty expertise.
Winter Quarter 2026
Winter quarter begins immediately after the holiday break and is considered one of the busiest periods academically.
- Reporting Date for All Students: Monday, 29 December 2025
- New Year’s Day Observed: Thursday, 1 January 2026
- Instruction Begins: Monday, 5 January 2026
- Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday: Monday, 19 January 2026
- Shift Day – Monday Schedule Held on Tuesday: 20 January 2026
- President’s Day Holiday: Monday, 16 February 2026
- Awards Ceremony: Tuesday, 17 March 2026
- Last Day of Classes: Wednesday, 18 March 2026
- Final Exams: 19–21 March 2026
- Thesis & Research Week: 23–26 March 2026
- Graduation Ceremony: Friday, 27 March 2026
2026 NPS Academic Calendar – Re…
Winter Term Reflection
Winter quarter is particularly important for students working on major research outputs and theses. The dedicated thesis week allows time for collection, review, and defense preparation before spring instruction begins.
Spring Quarter 2026
Spring quarter introduces a long period of instruction combined with national observances and student presentations.
- Reporting Date (International Students): Sunday, 15 March 2026
- Reporting Date (U.S. Students): Monday, 23 March 2026
- Classes Begin: Monday, 30 March 2026
- Memorial Day Holiday: Monday, 25 May 2026
- Awards Ceremony: Tuesday, 9 June 2026
- Last Day of Classes: Friday, 12 June 2026
- Final Exams: 15–17 June 2026
- Graduation Ceremony: Thursday, 18 June 2026
- Juneteenth Holiday: Friday, 19 June 2026
- Summer Break: 22 June – 3 July 2026
2026 NPS Academic Calendar – Re…
Spring Quarter Environment
This term is packed with academic presentations, field-related studies, and early internship or defense-operations planning. Spring graduation is known for recognizing research that contributes directly to national or international defense priorities.
Summer Quarter 2026
The final quarter concludes the academic cycle with another thesis preparation phase and major graduation ceremony.
- Reporting Date (International Students): Sunday, 21 June 2026
- Reporting Date (U.S. Students): Monday, 29 June 2026
- Classes Begin: Monday, 6 July 2026
- Labor Day Holiday: Monday, 7 September 2026
- Awards Ceremony: Tuesday, 15 September 2026
- Last Day of Classes: Wednesday, 16 September 2026
- Final Exams: 17–19 September 2026
- Thesis & Research Week: 21–24 September 2026
- Graduation Ceremony: Friday, 25 September 2026
2026 NPS Academic Calendar – Re…
Quarter Highlights
Summer is the wrap-up period for many students completing capstone projects, technology development, and defense-related applied research programs. The year ends with a large graduation ceremony marking the transition to active professional roles.
Why This Academic Calendar Matters
Students benefit from understanding the quarter structure because it supports:
- Balanced scheduling between coursework and military duties
- Planning around federal holidays and leave periods
- Proper preparation for research and thesis milestones
- Relocation, housing, and sponsorship coordination (especially for international officers)
- Timely visa processing for foreign defense students
NPS is unique because the academic pace aligns with real-world operational needs rather than traditional university timelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is NPS on a semester schedule?
No — NPS follows a four-quarter academic model, enabling flexible entry and graduation cycles.
2. Do international students report earlier than U.S. students?
Yes, most quarters require international students to report earlier for orientation and security processing.
3. Are thesis weeks included every quarter?
Yes — Winter and Summer quarters include dedicated thesis & research time for project completion.
4. When does the academic year officially end?
The final graduation ceremony is held on Friday, 25 September 2026. 2026 NPS Academic Calendar – Re…
Conclusion
The Naval Postgraduate School Academic Year 2025-26 outlines a structured and mission-focused learning environment built around research excellence and defense leadership development. With clear academic timelines, milestone points, holidays, and graduation dates, students can plan effectively and gain maximum value from the NPS experience.
For updated details or program-specific variations, students should refer to the official NPS academic portal.