A typical college semester in the United States lasts about 15 to 17 weeks, which is roughly 3.5 to 4 months long. This period usually includes instruction time and a final exam week at the end
. The academic year is generally divided into two main semesters:
- Fall semester, running from late August or early September to mid-December
- Spring semester, running from mid-January to early May
There are also optional summer semesters which tend to be shorter, lasting about 6 to 12 weeks depending on the institution
. Some colleges offer condensed semesters of 8 to 10 weeks, especially for accelerated or online courses, but these are more intensive
. In summary:
- Standard semester length: 15–17 weeks (about 4 months)
- Summer semester: 6–12 weeks (shorter, intensive)
- Condensed semesters: 8–10 weeks (intensive format)
This semester system is the most common in U.S. higher education, with students typically taking 4 to 6 courses per semester
