Upcoming intakes in USA 2025 - 2026: Fall, Spring and Summer

How many intakes in USA for international students?

The USA has three intakes for international students: Fall Intake (September to December), Spring Intake (January to April), and Summer Intake (May to August). Fall Intake is the most popular and preferred option for international students. It starts in late August or early September 2025 and runs from September to December 2025, ending in early January 2026.

Let us look at the these intakes in the USA in detail in this comprehensive guide.

While planning your higher education abroad, the first region that pops into your mind will probably be the USA. With numerous Ivy League schools adorning the country’s education system, it draws the attention of every higher education aspirant from the outside.

So, to make their application process seamless and provide applicants with equal opportunity, the US schools have a batch-wise intake process that happens thrice a year. During each intake, they welcome applications only for a particular set of courses and colleges.

Now without any delay, let us dive in to know everything about the intakes in the USA, the application process, requirements and the colleges and courses that will be open for you to apply.

Time is running out! Secure your spot for the September intake—apply today!

Intakes in the USA 2025 - 2026

Generally, universities and colleges in the US follow three intake sessions: Summer, Spring, and Fall. The greatest number of universities provide seats for their Fall intake, so in September, the biggest part of the admissions happens.

For students, the Fall intake is the first largest intake option. If students miss admission in September, they choose the spring intake, which is the second-largest intake option.

While applying to universities, you may not be able to assume and jump to a general conclusion about which university will be the best fit for you. This dilemma occurs because each university opens applications for specific courses based on their requirement and availability during each intake.

So, here is an idea! Wait for the application to open for the course you are passionate about in your dream university, particularly in one of the intakes in the USA.

Meanwhile, work on all the other mandatory requirements to set your foot there, like taking up exams, acing the visa process, and so on!

Now let us see in detail about each intake and how the universities customise their application procedure.

Apply now and secure your spot for the 2025 intake in USA!

1. Spring intake in the USA

When is the Spring Intake in the USA for 2026?

The Spring 2026 intake in the USA generally runs from January to May 2026.

Spring 2026 application deadline in the USA

For the Spring 2026 intake in the USA, application deadlines typically fall between August and November 2025. But the application deadlines can vary based on the university and programs.

Benefits of applying in this January intake:

The spring or January intake is the second preferred intake in the USA for students to apply and travel abroad. But, there are some generous perks when it comes to completing the needed requirements.

For instance, you will have ample time to prepare well and ace the IELTS, GRE, GMAT or TOEFL. Also, you can explore to know more about various universities and the courses they offer.

In short, you can structure your higher education plans six months ahead of your trip to study abroad. If you apply for a course in spring intake, you’ll have the opportunity to complete your degree in a short time compared to other intakes and can start working towards your goal and career at an earlier stage.

Also read: Countries offering January intake 

List of universities in the USA offering spring admissions 2025

• Florida International University
• University of South Carolina
• University of Central Florida
• Arizona State University
• Wichita State University

Also read: Spring intake in USA

2. Summer intake in the USA

When is the Summer intake in the USA 2025?

The USA summer intake in 2025, also known as the May intake, typically starts around May or June to August or September.

Summer intake in USA 2025 deadlines

Summer intake deadlines for USA universities in 2025 generally fall between January and March, with some universities offering later deadlines.

This is the last application intake universities come up with after the fall and spring intake. However, only a few universities open selected courses for application. Primarily, language programs for non-English speakers and some cultural programs are offered by the universities this season.

List of universities in USA for summer (May) intake

• Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
• University of Florida
• University of Illinois at Chicago
• Indiana University Bloomington
• Mississippi State University
• New York University
• University of Houston
• The University of Texas at Austin
• The University of New Mexico
• Kean University

Time is running out! Secure your spot for the September intake—apply today!

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Fall intake in the US: A complete guide for international students

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3. Fall intake in the USA

When is fall intake in USA 2025?

The Fall intake in the US for the 2025-2026 academic year typically starts in late August or early September 2025 and ends in December. or early of January 2026.

Fall intake in USA 2025 deadlines

The deadline for Fall intake applications in the USA for 2025 varies, but typically falls between November 2024 and January 2025.

The fall or autumn semester admissions are the most popular among higher education applicants. Almost all the USA universities take in the first batch of undergrad freshers for this season and offer a wide range of courses and slots to apply, get selected and pursue the degree of your choice!

Just like for the spring intake, start grooming yourself to get set and go to the US university of your choice six months before the first day of your class. Generally, the academic sessions start in August or September, and thus, you can begin applying to the universities and learn about them from the early stages.

And here’s a secret for you! The less you rush and more relaxed while applying to the universities, the higher your chances of catching a flight to land in your dream institute!

List of universities in USA for September intake

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Stanford University
• University of Utah
• George Mason University
• University of South Florida
• University of Dayton, Ohio
• Colorado State University
• Louisiana State University
• University of Minnesota
• Colorado School of Mines

Get ahead of the competition and apply for the 2025 intake in USA!

The optimum timeline to start working on your applications for the intakes in the USA

Most application deadlines for undergraduate courses fall between November 1 and January 1. So you can start the application process in the summer or early fall of your senior year in high school. This early start allows you to gather the required documents, LORs and SOPs and fulfil the admission requirements.

You can utilise this summer period to organise your education plans and apply for scholarships after exploring the universities in the US and the courses they provide. Finally, apply for the visa and ace the interview. All that is left is to pack your bags and fly towards your destination from January to May!

Also read: Intakes in UK | Intakes in Canada | Intakes in Ireland | Intakes in Australia

Document checklist to have while applying for the US universities:

• Your academic mark sheets
• Transcripts and provisional certificates of the degree if you have completed one
• Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• Letter of Recommendation (LOR)
• Your IELTS, GRE, TOEFL or GMAT scores
• Resume stating your curricular and co-curricular activities
• Your national ID proof
• Passport
• Other authentic documents and certifications related to your internships and projects

Unlock your potential: Upcoming intakes in the USA 2025-2026

Which intake is best for you?

Suppose you are confused about selecting the suitable intake. In that case, you can consider your educational records, favourite program, acceptance rates, career opportunities, entrance test score, and eagerness to learn the course. If you don’t have an entrance test score yet, waiting for the next intake is better.

But don't worry, because Edvoy helps you find the right fit. You can make a determined decision by booking a free video counselling session with our professional counsellors. They can help you select the right course, visa procedure, and application process and choose a suitable intake.

Edvoy offers end-to-end assistance throughout the study-abroad process, including university selection assistance, application guidance and funding advice, visa application support, and more.

Download our app and start your study abroad journey today!

Refer your friend to study abroad and get rewarded £250 when they join the university!

Time is running out! Secure your spot for the September intake—apply today!

Frequently asked questions (FAQs):

1. What are the intakes in the USA in 2025 - 2026?

There are three intakes opened by the US universities. They are fall intake, spring intake, and summer intake.

2. What is Jan intake called in the USA?

Spring intake is otherwise known as the January intake in the USA since the applications open and the process of admitting to the dream institutes happens from January to May.

3. Is IELTS accepted in the USA?

Yes. Many universities have the IELTS score as one of their criteria to process admissions. Apart from that, you can provide your GRE, TOEFL exam scores and GMAT scores for business schools.

4. Can I apply now for September intake in the USA?

You can download the brochure of the universities where you want to apply, for the September intake in the USA. And, look out for the updates and notifications on their official sites. You can also get in touch with Edvoy, for a comfortable and relaxed process of applying to the university of your dreams.

5. Which intake is better: spring or fall?

Each intake has its pros and cons. For instance, you will have abundant internship and career opportunities to explore and choose in relevance to what you pursued in the fall intake. Also, the timeline will be perfect if you start your education in this intake. When it comes to springtime, the class sizes will be small. This will assist in providing you with the best student-teacher interaction and an excellent campus experience.

6. What are the duration of intakes in the USA?

The fall intake spans from September to December. The spring intake starts in January and ends in April. The summer intake starts in May and ends in August.

7. Are there April intakes in USA?

The spring intake is from January to April. Students who have missed the fall intake can apply for this one. However, the spring intake does not have as many courses on offer as the fall intake.

8. Does the USA have a May intake?

Summer Intake, commonly perceived as the tertiary intake in the USA, is an academic cycle that begins in May and extends through August. 

All you have to do is, plan accordingly and apply based on your course choice to pursue at a specific university!

9. What is the list of universities in the USA offering spring admissions in 2025?

Here are some of the universities offering spring intake in 2025:

• Auburn University
• California State University
• College of Alameda
• DeVry University
• Faulkner University
• Golden West College
• Pacific States University
• The University of Alabama
• Troy University

10. Is January intake available in the USA?

Many universities in the USA have spring semesters that start in January or February and end in early May. The application deadline for the January intake may vary based on the university and the program. Generally, the application timeline starts from July to November of the previous year.