Dates & Deadlines
Fall 2026
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July 24
Graduate Assistant Course Load Waiver Requests due for fall semester. (PERS 938)
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August 31
McNair Book Scholarship application deadline.
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August 22
Degree Audit, Application for Completion of Degree or Certificate and $40.00 fee for Dec grads.
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August 24
Proposal Approval Form for thesis/dissertation completion for December graduation.
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10 business days prior to planned defense date
Right to Defend deadline for students completing their Thesis/Dissertation/or MFA f or May graduation (must be approved at least 7 business days before defense is held).
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September 15
Lela Winegarner Scholarship application deadline.
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September 15
Ora Bretall Scholarship application deadline.
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September 29
Fall Career Fair
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October 26
Last date for oral defense of a Dissertation for December graduation.
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November 2
Final Deposit of Dissertation for students completing their degree in December.
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November 9
Last date for oral defense of a Thesis for December graduation.
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November 9
Last date for oral defense of an MFA Supportive Statement for December graduation.
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November 16
Final Deposit of of Thesis for students completing their degree in December.
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November 16
Final Deposit of MFA Supportive Statement for students completing their degree in December.
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November 30
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November 30
Graduation Announcement Form for doctoral student wanting to announce degree completion in the media.
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December 1
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December 12
Degree Completion Date
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December 14
Graduate Assistant Course Load Waiver Requests due for spring semester. (PERS 938)
Spring 2027
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January 15
Degree Audit, Application for Completion of Degree or Certificate and $40.00 fee for May grads.
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January 15
Proposal Approval Form for thesis/dissertation completion for May graduation.
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10 business days prior to planned defense date
Right to Defend deadline for students completing their Thesis/Dissertation/or MFA for May graduation. (must be approved at least 7 business days before defense is held)
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February 12
University Research Symposium registration closes.
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March 15
Ada Belle Clark Welsh Scholarship application deadline.
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March 15
Ora Bretall Scholarship application deadline semester.
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March 15
Donald F. McHenry Fellowship application deadline.
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March 15
Illinois State Foundation Fellowship application deadline.
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March 22
Last date for oral defense of a Dissertation for May graduation
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March 29
Final Deposit of Dissertation for students completing their degree in May.
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April 5
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April 9
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April 12
Final Deposit of Thesis or MFA Supportive Statement for students completing their degree in May.
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April 23
Graduate Assistant Course Load Waiver Requests due for summer semester. (PERS 938)
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Two weeks prior to graduation date
Graduation Announcement Form for doctoral student wanting to announce degree completion in the media.
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April 26
Master’s Comprehensive Exam results due.
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May 8
Degree Completion Date
Summer 2026
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January 16
Application for Completion of Degree or Certificate and $40.00 fee for August grads
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May 22
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May 22
Proposal Approval Form for thesis/dissertation completion for August graduation
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10 business days prior to planned defense date
Right to Defend deadline for students completing their Thesis/Dissertation/or MFA for May graduation. (must be approved at least 7 business days before defense is held)
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May 31
Symposium Project/Presentation Assistance Grant application deadline.
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July 13
Last date for oral defense of a Dissertation for August graduation.
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July 20
Last date for oral defense of a Thesis for August graduation.
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July 20
Last date for oral defense of an MFA Supportive Statement for August graduation.
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July 20
Final Deposit of Dissertation for students completing their degree in August.
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July 27
Master’s Comprehensive Exam results due for students that took the exam in the summer term (submit results to grad.degree.audit@ilstu.edu.
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July 27
Final Deposit of Thesis for students completing their degree in August.
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July 27
Final Deposit of MFA Supportive Statement for students completing their degree in August.
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August 1
EDI Tuition Scholarship deadline for fall semester.