When you're planning what your college experience will be like, it's strategic to know how many semesters are in a year. The answer to this question may vary depending on which term system your college uses.
Understanding more about the different academic calendars and how each works can help you prepare to enter university studies.
You can read on to learn more about semesters, trimesters, trimesters, and other academic terms used in university settings.
How many semesters are there in a year?
The most common academic term used in American universities is the semester. With this academic calendar, each academic year is divided into two semesters.
With this college system, each semester:
- Starts in autumn or spring
- Lasts 14 to 20 weeks
- May include 4 to 6 classes for full-time enrollment
There are also breaks provided between each semester. Students who enroll full-time for a bachelor's degree can finish their courses in 4 years, i.e. 8 semesters.
Fall semester
The school year begins with the fall semester. It usually starts at the end of August and lasts until mid-December.
A full-time student may take four, five, or six courses during the fall semester. This generally earns the student 12 to 18 credits. In the college semester system, you attend the same classes every week from the beginning of the school year until the end of the semester. This gives you around 16 weeks to explore the subjects you are studying.
At the end of the fall semester, there is usually a winter break that lasts several weeks. This break is followed by the start of the spring semester.
Spring semester
January usually brings a return to school. The spring semester tends to start in early January and end in mid-May.
As in the fall semester, full-time students typically take four to six classes. These courses may be very different from those taken in the fall. This is not always the case, however. Sometimes you can take an introductory level course in the fall and move up to a more advanced level in the spring.
The spring semester is followed by a summer break, which usually lasts several months.
Summer semester
Some students take advantage of the extended amount of time they have off during the summer. Others want to use this time to take more classes.
Some colleges offer a short summer term between the spring and fall semesters. Students may use this optional session to take one or two courses. As it is a short period, the work is concentrated and classes can last several hours a day.
Taking summer courses may help you graduate early or may allow you to take lighter loads during core semesters.
How long is a semester?
Academic Calendar Systems
Colleges have a lot of leeway when it comes to setting their academic calendars; therefore, not all schools structure their programming the same way.
Most colleges have a semester system. Others opt for alternative approaches, however. In addition to semesters, you may hear of colleges using quarters, trimesters, or 4-1-4 calendars.
- What is a semester? The semester system divides the academic year in half. There are 2 main periods, one in autumn and one in spring. Each period lasts about 16 weeks and there is a winter break in between. During an academic semester, full-time students typically take 4 to 6 classes at the same time. You may have the option to take extra courses during the summer term, or you may take a long break from school between the spring and fall semesters.
- What is a quarter? Colleges with quarterly calendars divide the main academic year into 3 terms: fall, winter, and spring. Each quarter is 10 weeks to 13 weeks long. Full-time students can take 3 or 4 classes per college term. Often, quarter students who carry full course loads are able to finish school more quickly than their semester counterparts. Some quarterly colleges also offer accelerated summer terms, which can also speed the path to graduation.
- What is a room? The college quarter system is quite similar to the quarter system. The difference is that the summer term may be more equivalent in length to all other terms and there may be more emphasis on it. Even so, the summer term is generally optional. Trimesters usually last about 10 weeks to 12 weeks. Similar to the quarterly schedule, the quarterly system is typically designed for students to take 3 or 4 classes at a time. Those who take advantage of the summer term can shave about a year off their studies compared to semester-long college students.
- 4-1-4 or 4-4-1 Calendar . The numbers in this calendar system represent approximately how many months each period lasts. These systems are similar to semester schedules, but there is also an emphasis on accelerated terms that are held at some point during the year. A 4-1-4 calendar has a fall semester, a January semester, and a spring semester. The January session can be called “J-term”. A 4-4-1 school saves the accelerated deadline for after the spring semester. Some people refer to this as a “Maymester”. These short periods allow students to focus on one or two subjects over the course of a month. They can also be excellent opportunities for students to participate in short study trips or internships abroad.
No matter which calendar your college uses, how many credits you need to graduate from college is generally consistent. Therefore, you are likely to learn a comparable amount of material and do a similar amount of work when you graduate.
Some arrangements are more conducive than others to graduating early. Even so, how long it takes you to complete a course will largely depend on how many courses you take per term.
How many weeks in a semester?
The length of a semester varies from one school to another. In general, though, a semester usually lasts between 14 and 20 weeks. On average, most schools have semesters of 16 weeks each.
The first semester, held in the fall, typically begins around August and ends in mid-December. The second semester, known as the spring term, generally runs from January to May.
Quarter vs. Semester Pros and Cons
Should you choose a college that uses semesters or look for one with a quarter system? It largely depends on you and your preferences, but there are some pros and cons to each approach.
Understanding how each academic calendar system aligns with your personal learning style can help you decide which schedule would best suit you.
| Quarter | Semester |
| ProsConcentrated study on a few topics each termEasier to graduate earlyLess summer slide as breaks are shorterMore flexibility to explore new subjectsFast movement through courses | ProsMore opportunities to build relationships with peers and teachersMore time to engage with the materialMore time to complete core assignmentsShorter class periods each daySubstantial breaks between terms |
| ConsFavorite classes end quickly Fewer weeks to complete major assignments Harder to fit in internships Longer class periods each day May not be compatible with studying abroad | ConsChanging majors can cost more time and moneyLess opportunities for early graduationGreater chance of falling behind on GPA or credit requirementsLess variety during the school yearMore time spent in unappreciated classes |
Of course, term length is not your only determining factor when it comes to selecting a college. If your preferred school is practically perfect in every way except term time, you might consider enrolling anyway. You may find that a system that didn't appeal to you on paper ends up working very well.
Semester or Quarter, Which is Better?
Some students like the traditional approach offered by a semester calendar. Others do well with the quarterly schedule. The table below can help you figure out which style is best for you.
| Semester | Quarter |
| 14 to 20 weeks in duration4 to 5 classes per term for a full course loadMore time to complete coursework for each classTwo core terms per academic yearLonger breaks between termsMay have an optional summer termMay have less flexibility to take extra courses, change majors or graduate earlyAcademic calendar used by most U.S. higher education institutions | 10 to 13 weeks in duration3 to 4 classes per term for a full course loadShorter term to study course materials and complete projectsThree main terms per academic yearShorter breaks between termsMay have an optional summer termMay offer opportunities to explore additional areas, do a double major or finish quicklyIt may be more difficult to schedule internships or study abroad |
Students have achieved success throughout their college semesters and trimesters. You may find that any of these could be a good option for you as well.
What is an academic year?
An academic year is the main period that students are in school each year. It usually starts around August and ends around May. This is different from the calendar year, which includes 52 weeks and runs from January to December.
At a college with two semesters a year, there may be 30 to 32 weeks in an academic year, plus several weeks off for breaks between the two terms. For colleges that offer classes year-round, it may be more accurate to say that the academic year runs from the first of August until the following August.
Is a term a semester?
A university semester is a type of academic term. The word “term” is a general description that can be used for any period of an academic calendar. Although a semester is the most common type of period in the United States school system, quarters and trimesters are also periods.
If you attend a school that uses a semester calendar, you might assume that someone who mentions a term is referring to a semester. Likewise, in a school that uses coins, a term usually refers to a coin.
How many semesters are there in a term?
A semester is generally the same thing as a term. In a school on a semester calendar, a semester is equal to a term. A traditional semester lasts about 16 weeks.
There are 2 semesters in an academic year. In such a school you can also say that there are 2 trimesters in a year. Not all schools have semester terms. For example, other schools' terms are quarters. Each quarter lasts about 3 months. In a school with the trimester system, a trimester would be equal to a trimester.
How long is 4 semesters in college?
The standard semester length is 14 to 20 weeks, depending on the school. Many colleges have 15 or 16 week semesters. Typically, there is a short winter break and a long summer break between these terms.
It takes just under 2 calendar years to complete 4 semesters of college. You can start the first semester in August and the second in January. The following August, you would enroll in the third semester. The last semester would begin next January and end in May.
How many semesters are there in 2 years of college?
At a college that is on the semester system, you can typically complete 4 semesters in 2 years. During your first academic year, you can register for the fall term and then the spring term. You can do the same thing during your second year.
Some colleges offer accelerated deadlines during school holidays. Sessions held in January or May may only last 2 to 4 weeks each. Summer periods are generally a little longer. In any case, these extra sessions are usually optional, but they can help you graduate early, reduce your workload during the regular semester, or explore areas of interest.
How many semesters are there in 4 years?
Students pursuing undergraduate degrees typically spend 4 years in college. During this time, your courses are divided into 8 semesters.
Each academic year contains a fall semester and a spring semester. They usually last 15 to 16 weeks each, and you get breaks between terms. Not every college has a semester schedule. Some offer 3 quarters per year. In four years, you would have 12 quarters.
Other schools use the trimester system – which consists of 4 quarters per year. In this case, you can enroll in 16 different terms during your 4 years of college.
Earning Your College Degree Online
Colleges come in all different varieties. Some use semester systems and others use quarterly systems. Some have classes all year round and others only go from August to May.
Additionally, while many colleges offer on-campus courses, a growing number of schools also offer an online approach. Online study can offer busy individuals a flexible path to a college degree.
So if you feel like you have lots of college credits but no degree, digital courses can help you balance school, work, and family. Like on-campus programs, accredited online colleges are rigorous and reputable.
There are online universities that use semesters, quarters, quarters, and other academic schedules. You can start searching for accredited online programs today to find the schedule and course options that are right for you.
