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 around 12 to 14 weeks of instruction followed by a final exam week
. Most colleges have two main semesters per academic year:
- Fall semester (late August or early September to December)
- Spring semester (January to May)
Each semester generally involves taking four to six courses, totaling around 12 to 18 credit hours, with a minimum of 12 credits required to maintain full- time student status
. Some colleges offer shorter, condensed semesters lasting 8 to 10 weeks, and others operate on a quarter system with four terms per year, each about 10 weeks long
. Summer semesters are usually shorter, lasting about 12 weeks or less, and are optional
. In summary, the standard college semester is about 15 weeks long, with variations depending on the institution and academic calendar system used.
