USU Graduate School Deadlines (Academic Year 2026 – 2027)

This page outlines important deadlines and milestones for graduate students at Utah State University. Dates are aligned with the USU Registrar’s Calendar.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate in a given semester:

  • Submit your graduation application and pay the $15 fee before the university deadline.
  • Complete all degree requirements (e.g., thesis/plan b paper or project/dissertation approval, internships, exams like PRAXIS).
  • Defend your thesis/plan b paper or project/dissertation and submit all final forms 3 weeks before the last day of the semester (see deadlines below). 
  • Check with your Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC) for any program-specific deadlines.

Semester Deadlines

Semester Graduation Application Deadline Submission Deadline Degree Conferral & Defense Deadline**

Summer 2026

July 15, 2026 

July 17, 2026

August 7, 2026

Fall 2026

October 31, 2026 

December 4, 2026

December 18, 2026 

Spring 2027

February 28, 2027*

April 16, 2027 

May 7, 2027

Summer 2027

July 15, 2027

July 16, 2027

August 6, 2027

*If you want to graduate in May and walk at the commencement ceremony you must submit your application by February 28. 
**The degree conferral date is also the final day to defend and have the defense count for that semester. Defending by this date does not guarantee graduation in that semester unless the thesis/Plan B paper or project/dissertation was submitted by the submission deadline. Students who defend after the submission deadline will graduate in the following semester (“grace” semester). All graduate degrees will be awarded within 45 days of the degree conferral date. All theses and dissertations submitted by the submission deadline are guaranteed to be reviewed. Anything submitted after the semester's submission deadline will be reviewed but may not meet the degree conferral date for that semester.

Graduate Student Insurance Deadlines

  • Fall: 2nd Friday in September
  • Spring/Summer: 2nd Friday in January

Registrar Forms & Program Milestones

Master’s Students

  • Supervisory Committee Form (Master's Plan A/Plan B): Submit by the end of your second semester. No changes allowed within 6 weeks of defense.
  • Program of Study Form: Submit by the end of your second semester. Revisions allowed anytime via updated form.
  • Appointment for Final Defense (AFD): Submit at least 10 business days before your defense.

All required forms by degree type can be found on the  Academic Forms page. 

Doctoral Students

  • Supervisory Committee Form: Submit by the end of your third semester. No changes allowed within 6 weeks of defense.
  • Program of Study Form: Submit by the end of your third semester. Revisions allowed anytime via updated form.
  • Appointment for Final Defense (AFD): Submit at least 10 business days before your defense.

The Grace Semester

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