Spring Intake in USA 2026: Application Deadlines & Top Universities
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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 discuss in detail how to go about the application process and when to apply for the Spring intake in the USA. Check: International Student Visa Guide to 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.
What 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 the Spring intake of USA begins a year from July or August. Since USA Sprimg 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.
Why Apply to US in Spring Intake?
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.
- There is ideally 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 makes 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 about applying to which university 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
Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!
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:
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
International students must apply online through the official website to get admission into California Institute of the Arts. They must meet the entry requirements of the programme and submit an online application by the deadline for admission at the institute. Applicants must create an account to start the California Institute of the Arts admission proess. Mentioned below are basic application requirements for international students:
- An online application and a non-refundable application fee of USD 85 or INR 7,410.64
- Personal essay
- High school and/or university transcripts
- Two letters of recommendation
- Portfolio
- Statement of purpose
- Proof of English proficiency
The institute offers a number of courses across a vast course catalogue that includes: Business Administration, Biology & Biological Science, Criminology, Mechanical Engineering, Finance, Computer Science, Health & Wellness among others.
Listed below are some prominent courses offered by URI:
· Bachelor's in Accounting
· B.S in Civil Engineering
· B.S. in Computer Science
· B.A in Communication Studies
· M.S. in Computer Science
· MBA
With a 99% acceptance rate, the University of South Dakota is easy to get into. The university follows an easy approach during admission. The university takes a simple admissions procedure. The high acceptance percentage does not mean that the university admits every applicant; rather, it suggests permissive admittance as compared to another university.
Students must prove themselves by scoring excellent academic scores, English proficiency requirements, and standardized test scores. Also, the university prioritizes factors, such as rigor of secondary school record, class rank, academic GPA, standardized test scores, application essays, recommendations, and more.
According to the University of South Dakota enrollment statistics for 2024, over 9,000 students were admitted. Out of the total, more than 7,000 pursued undergraduate programs and over 2,000 took graduate programs. Out of the total undergraduate enrollment, 221 students were international. Students can check the below table for the enrollment statistics of the university:
Particulars | Headcounts |
|---|---|
UG applicants | 7095 |
PG applicants | 2773 |
UG International | 221 |
Total | 9868 |
The University of South Dakota acceptance rate is 99%. This shows that the university is lenient during admission and follows an easy approach to selecting applicants for its UG and PG programs. Students must demonstrate their worth by meeting requirements for English proficiency, achieving high academic standing, and performing well on standardized tests. The institution prioritizes several other criteria, including the difficulty of the applicant's secondary school record, class rank, academic GPA, results on standardized tests, recommendation letters, and more.
The University of South Dakota popular majors include Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Education; Psychology; and more. Their appeal is mostly due to their high graduation rate, opportunities for study and research, superior pay packages, and employment in large corporations. Students can refer to the table below for the popular majors at the University of South Dakota along with the graduation percentage and alumni salaries:
Popular Majors | Graduate Percentage | Alumni Starting Salary |
|---|---|---|
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services | 19% | INR 37L |
Education | 11% | INR 35L |
Biological and Biomedical Science | 6% | INR 23L
|
Psychology | 5% | INR 23L |
Health Profession, and Related Programs | 30% | INR 32L |
The University of South Dakota expects a GPA score of 2.5 from undergraduates and 3 from postgraduates on the 4-pointer scale. Along with the GPA scores, undergraduates must meet the basic eligibility and submit an ACT score of 21 or higher and an SAT score of 1070 or higher. In addition, they must submit the required documents, such as academic history, transcripts, letters of recommendation, English language scores, and more.
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