Spring Intake in USA 2026: Application Deadlines & Top Universities
Talk to Expert
Most of the students aim to study in the US for the Fall intake. However, the Spring intake in the USA is the next best option after the Fall intake in USA. Students who cannot submit their applications at US universities for the Fall intake apply for the Spring intake to avoid a gap year. The Spring intake session in the US starts in January and ends in May. This article will provide a detailed guide on the application process and when to apply for the Spring intake in the USA.
Important Update: Since the applications for the USA's Spring intake 2025 have closed, admissions are rolling for Spring 2026 intake. Check out the full details below.
- When is Spring Intake in USA?
- Spring 2026 Intake in USA Timeline
- Key Pointers for Pre-Applications for USA Spring Intake
- Post Application Submission for Spring Intake in USA
- After Student Visa Confirmation in the USA
- List of Universities in USA Offering Spring Admissions 2026
- Spring Intake in USA FAQs
When is Spring Intake in USA?
The Spring intake or the January intake in USA is the secondary intake of USA. The admissions for Spring begin after Fall intake in USA ends. Preparations for this intake in the USA begin a year before, starting from July or August. Since USA Spring intake 2025 is over, applicants can apply for Spring 2026 session in USA. So if you wish to apply in the Spring 2026 intake to US universities, you must begin your preparations from July-August 2026.
Advantages of Spring Intake in USA
There are various reasons why international students should consider applying to Spring intake in USA and they are as follows:
- Smaller class sizes and lower competition rates increase the chances of international students' admission in the Spring intake.
- Ideally, there is more time to prepare for admission applications and arrange for application materials if applying for the USA's Spring intake.
- Admission decisions are released in a shorter time span for Spring intake applicants in comparison to Fall intake admissions of USA.
- Compared to the Fall intake of USA, the Spring intake offers better housing accommodation and lower financially burdening options.
Thus, these reasons essentially make Spring intake another ideal intake for applicants to apply to US universities for admissions.
Spring 2026 Intake in USA Timeline
The following table is a timeline of what needs to be prepared before and while applying for Spring intake in the USA in 2026:
| Spring Intake 2025 USA Deadlines |
To-Do List |
|---|---|
| July 2025 - August 2025 |
Shortlist two to three US universities you wish to apply to, and check course availability for Spring intake and consequently the admission requirements. Also, check Spring deadlines for US universities and plan to apply accordingly. |
| September 2025 - October 2025 |
Apply for the following standardised tests:
Also, apply for ELP tests - TOEFL / IELTS / PTE, any one of these. |
| October 2025 - November 2025 |
Begin applying to US universities and check deadlines beforehand. Also, check for scholarships you may be eligible for. Spring intake deadlines in the USA are usually in the last week of October or in the first week of November each year. Dates may vary. Wait for your admission decisions also during this period. |
| November 2025 - December 2025 |
If you receive an offer, accept or defer within the stipulated period. Apply for your visa if accepting the offer. |
| December 2025 |
Prepare and appear for visa interviews. Begin prepping for flying to the US. |
| January 2026 |
Book your tickets and fly to the US for your education. |
The details in the above table are based on a common analysis, but the dates may vary with each university in the US the student applies to.
Check: When to Start Applying to US Universities
Key Pointers for Pre-Applications for USA Spring Intake
- The students should shortlist the course of choice and the universities offering them during Spring intake by August.
- Since limited courses are available in the Spring intake of the USA, students must choose their universities well before time.
- Look out for course brochures, download them and decide on which university to apply to in the US.
- Make a list of shortlisted colleges and compare the tuition fee and the total cost of living in the USA.
- Begin preparing for standardised tests of ACT / SAT for undergrad admissions* and GRE / GMAT for postgrad admissions in the USA.
- Appear for ACT / SAT and GMAT / GRE at least two months before applying for admission, that is, by September.
- Side by side also register for either TOEFL or IELTS or PTE or any other English language proficiency test scores that are accepted and, prepare for it.
- Begin writing your SOPs and chalk out your strengths plus whatever you wish to add to your admission essays.
- Contact your professors or school teachers and school counsellors to add a letter of recommendation (LOR) for you.
- Keep track of the application deadlines and apply before time, as late applications are not entertained in US universities.
*Note: If the US university is test-optional and the student does not wish to submit them, they can also avoid appearing for any of these exams and apply without these scores. However, students will have to submit their ELP test scores as there is no exemption for it for Indian students.
Check out: Documents Required for Application to US Universities
Post Application Submission for Spring Intake in USA
- Make sure you keep a regular check on your e-mails. Immediately respond back to emails that come from universities you have applied to for admission.
- It usually takes three to four weeks for a US university ideally to assess an application.
- The decision from any US university may vary depending on the deadlines.
- If you receive an offer letter, accept the offer within the given period and submit your response.
- By this time look for education loans for students or scholarships in the USA to support studies in the USA.
- To confirm your acceptance at the US university, students need to pay the tuition fee after getting their visas, not before the visa approval. They have to pay a deposit fee to accept and block their seats.
- Apply immediately for your student visa to the USA upon accepting the offer at the university.
- The student visa application may take a few weeks for assessment plus the students will have to appear for an interview, thus it's important to apply well within time.
After Student Visa Confirmation in the USA
- Once the student gets his/her student visa for the USA, he/she can book their tickets to the USA.
- Make sure to carry important documents along like copies of mark sheets from high school, photocopies of your passport and other important details.
- Arrange for temporary accommodation if university accommodation is unavailable when you reach.
- Have your credit cards and cash handy along with your laptops and mobile phones.
Check out the pre-departure checklist before leaving for the US.
List of Universities in USA Offering Spring Admissions 2026
The following are the top 10 universities in USA offering spring admissions 2026 and can be considered if applying for admissions in the USA:
Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!
- Cornell University
- Stanford University
- Yale University
- Brown University
- Texas State University
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Auburn University
- California State University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- University of Colorado Boulder
Other universities in the USA may offer Spring admissions to international students. Thus, there may be cases where the courses in question are not offered in Spring and are only available in Fall intake. So students must shortlist their courses accordingly. Check out US University Deadlines 2025
Interested in studying in USA and require admission-related assistance? Sign up for our free Shiksha Abroad Counselling and request a call back from our counsellors. Or you can drop in your queries in the comment box below.
Spring Intake in USA FAQs
Q. Which month is spring intake in the USA?
A. THe Spring intake begins in January, however, applicants have to get their preparation materials from July or August. The Spring intake in USA can in some cases, stretch towards February also. Thus, classes begin by January/February for Spring intake in USA dpending upon the university in question.
Q. Which intake is better fall or spring for USA?
A. Both intakes in USA have their pros and cons, but ultimately it depends on the applicant how well prepared he/she is in order to apply either in Fall or Spring. In case applicants get their documents together, scores (standardised & English langugae scores) in time based on cutoff and the recommendations within a stipulated time frame, they can apply in either of the intakes. Sometimes, applicants can also defer their admissions, in this case Spring is always a better and safe bet. Thus, the decision between Fall or Spring intakes in USA is solely the applicant's decision.
Q. What is the deadline for spring 2025 in the USA?
A. The deadlines for Spring intake in USA can vary anywhere between November and December. Please note, that the deadlines would vary based on courses or universities the international applicant is applying to. Applicants should keep their applications ready maximum by October end, so that the Spring deadlines is not missed.
Q. Which courses are in high demand in USA's spring intake?
A. There are various courses that are in demand in USA for the spring intake and they are as follows:
- Computer Science
- Business Administration
- Mechanical Engineering
- Data Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Information Technology
There are various ways in which applying to California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) is different from applying to other US universities. These are the main variations, according to the data at hand:
- First is the Application Procedure. Cal Poly uses Cal State to process online applications. Applying is open to both first-year and transfer students from October 1, 2026 through November 30, 2026. To increase their chances of being selected, students must select a major and review the selection criteria when submitting their applications.
- Second are the application requirements. Typically, the application calls for a transcript from high school, a college prep course load, and a high school GPA. It is not necessary nor advised to have SAT or ACT results.
- Unless the applicant is exempt from paying an application cost, there is a $70 application fee per campus. Email is the main method of communication used during the admissions process.
Applicant who wish to study at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology must meet the GPA requirements. We have mentioned the South Dakota School of Mines GPA requirements for international students as per the program:
· For UG admission, GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale required for South Dakota Mines admission
· For PG admission, GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale required for South Dakota Mines
Also read What is Grade Point Average (GPA) and how it affects your admissions to the US Universities?
Pick your stage and get free guidance from counsellors who've helped thousands get into top universities.
Starting research
Shortlisting colleges
Exam preparation
SOP/LOR writing
Scholarship & finance
Visa application
Statement of Purpose
Letter of Recommendation
Student Visa Application
Admission Essay Writing
Student Curriculum Vitae
A score of 26 is a great start. Most good universities in United States generally look for student scores between 28 and 30. While the very best schools often expect a 33 or even higher. Always prepare well for it.