As the vernal equinox marks for the Northern hemisphere the first official day of spring 2024 – on 19 rather than 20 March due to it being a leap year – many individuals are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to escape the lingering chill of winter. Following a season marked by frigid temperatures across the United States , students can now feel the Spring Break period coming , seeking warmer destinations and hot fun away from their studies.
Traditional Spring Break hotspots such as California, Florida, and Texas are preparing for an influx of college students over the next two months. With excitement running high, let’s take a closer look at the schedules of US colleges and universities as they provide their students and faculty with a well-deserved break for rest and relaxation. Or crazy partying!
How long is Spring Break for colleges and universities? Spring Break typically spans about a week or two for most academic institutions. Some universities opt to grant students time off during the final week of March, followed by another break to observe Easter. In 2024, the majority of colleges and universities will observe their Spring Break holiday between 11 March and 1 April. Below are the specific Spring Break dates for many colleges and universities in the United States, but if yours is not listed, you can also check out the following .
Spring Break dates for colleges and universities Adelphi University: March 16 - March 23, 2024 Albion College: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Albright College: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Alfred State College: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Alfred University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Allegheny College: March 02 - March 09, 2024 American University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Appalachian State University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Arizona State University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Assumption University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Auburn University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Babson College: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Ball State University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Barnard College: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Baylor University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Bentley University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Berkeley College: March 23 - March 30, 2024 Bethune Cookman College: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Binghamton University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Boston College: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Boston University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Bowling Green State University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Bradley University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Bridgewater College: February 24 - March 02, 2024 Bridgewater State University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Brown University: March 23 - March 30, 2024 Bryant University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Bucknell University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Buffalo State: March 23 - March 30, 2024 California State University Chico: March 16 - March 23, 2024 Carnegie Mellon University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Central Connecticut State University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Central Michigan University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Clemson University: March 16 - March 23, 2024 Cleveland State University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Coastal Carolina University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Colby College: March 23 - March 30, 2024 Colgate University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 College of Charleston: March 02 - March 09, 2024 College of DuPage: March 23 - March 30, 2024 College of Notre Dame of Maryland: March 09 - March 16, 2024 College of the Holy Cross: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Colorado State University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Cornell University: March 30 - April 06, 2024 Creighton University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Curry College: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Denison University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 DePaul University: March 23 - March 30, 2024 Drexel University: March 23 - March 30, 2024 Duke University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Duquesne University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 East Carolina University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 East Tennessee State University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Eastern Kentucky University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Eastern Michigan University: March 23 - March 30, 2024 Elon College: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Emerson College: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Emory University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Fairfield University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Fairmont State College: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Ferris State University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Fitchburg State University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Florida International University University Park: February 24 - March 02, 2024 Florida State University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Fort Hays State University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Frostburg State University: March 16 - March 23, 2024 Gannon University: February 24 - March 02, 2024 George Mason University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Georgetown University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Georgia Institute of Technology: March 16 - March 23, 2024 Georgia Southern University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Georgia State University: March 09 - March 16,
Miami Beach hopes to put an end to spring break in South Beach with new rules
- $100 parking rate during two busiest weekends in March - $516 towing rate (double normal) - Beach entrances closing @ 6 pm between 5-12 St - Sidewalk cafes on Ocean Drive closing March 8-10; 15-17 pic.twitter.com/FeIoWbR8DM
— Joel Franco (@OfficialJoelF) February 10, 2024 Gettysburg College: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Gordon College: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Goucher College: March 16 - March 23, 2024 Grand Valley State University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Hamilton College: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Hampshire College: March 16 - March 23, 2024 Hampton University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Harper College: March 23 - March 30, 2024 Hartwick College: March 16 - March 23, 2024 Harvard University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 High Point University: February 24 - March 02, 2024 Hofstra University: March 16 - March 23, 2024 Howard University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Illinois State University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Indiana State University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Indiana University Bloomington: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Indiana University of Pennsylvania: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Indiana University Purdue U Indianapolis: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Indiana University Purdue University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Iowa State University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 James Madison University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Johnson and Wales University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Kansas State University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Kennesaw State University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Kent State University: March 23 - March 30, 2024 Kutztown University of Pennsylvania: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Lafayette College: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Lehigh University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Louisiana State University Baton Rouge: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Loyola Marymount University: February 24 - March 02, 2024 Loyola University Chicago: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Manhattan College: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Marist College: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Marquette University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Marshall University: March 16 - March 23, 2024 Mercyhurst College: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Merrimack College: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Miami University Oxford: March 23 - March 30, 2024 Michigan State University: February 24 - March 02, 2024 Middle Tennessee State University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Minnesota State University Mankato: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Mississippi State University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Missouri State University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Montclair State University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Morrisville State College: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Muhlenberg College: March 09 - March 16, 2024 New York University: March 16 - March 23, 2024 North Carolina State University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 North Dakota State University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Northeastern University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Northern Illinois University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Northwest Missouri State University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Oakland University: February 24 - March 02, 2024 Ohio University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Oklahoma State University Stillwater: March 16 - March 23, 2024 Old Dominion University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Olivet College: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Penn State University University Park: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Pine Manor College: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Providence College: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Purdue University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Purdue University Northwest: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Quinnipiac University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Radford University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Ramapo College of New Jersey: March 16 - March 23, 2024 Rhode Island College: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Rider University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Rochester Institute of Technology: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Roger Williams University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Rowan University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Rutgers University New Brunswick: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Rutgers University Newark: March 16 - March 23, 2024 Sacred Heart University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Saint Anselm College: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Saint Louis University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Salisbury University: March 16 - March 23, 2024 Sam Houston State University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Samford University: March 30 - April 06, 2024 San Diego State University: March 23 - March 30, 2024 San Jose State University: March 30 - April 06, 2024 Seton Hall University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Siena Heights University: March 23 - March 30, 2024 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania: March 09 - March 16, 2024 South Dakota State University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Southern Illinois University at Carbondale: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Southern Methodist University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 St Cloud State University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 St Joes University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 St Johns University Queens: February 24 - March 02, 2024
Stanford University: March 23 - March 30, 2024 State U of NY College at Geneseo: March 16 - March 23, 2024 Stonehill College: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Stony Brook University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Susquehanna University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Syracuse University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Temple University Main Campus: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Texas A and M University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Texas Christian University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Texas Tech University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 The Catholic University of America: March 09 - March 16, 2024 The George Washington University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 The Ohio State University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 The University of Akron: March 23 - March 30, 2024 The University of Arizona: March 02 - March 09, 2024 The University of Iowa: March 09 - March 16, 2024 The University of Memphis: March 02 - March 09, 2024 The University of Tampa: March 02 - March 09, 2024 The University of Texas at Arlington: March 09 - March 16, 2024 The University of Texas at Austin: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Towson University: March 16 - March 23, 2024 Triton College: March 16 - March 23, 2024 Tufts University: March 16 - March 23, 2024 Tulane University: March 23 - March 30, 2024 United States Naval Academy: March 09 - March 16, 2024
University at Albany: March 16 - March 23, 2024 University at Buffalo: March 16 - March 23, 2024 University of Alabama: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Alabama at Birmingham: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Arkansas: March 16 - March 23, 2024 University of California Berkeley: March 23 - March 30, 2024 University of Central Florida: March 16 - March 23, 2024 University of Central Missouri: March 02 - March 09, 2024 University of Cincinnati: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Colorado at Boulder: March 23 - March 30, 2024 University of Connecticut Storrs: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Delaware: March 23 - March 30, 2024 University of Denver: March 23 - March 30, 2024 University of Florida: March 02 - March 09, 2024 University of Georgia: March 02 - March 09, 2024 University of Hartford: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Houston Main Campus: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Illinois at Chicago: March 16 - March 23, 2024 University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Kansas: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Kentucky: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Louisville: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Loyola: March 02 - March 09, 2024 University of Maryland Baltimore County: March 16 - March 23, 2024 University of Maryland College Park: March 16 - March 23, 2024 University of Massachusetts Amherst: March 16 - March 23, 2024 University of Massachusetts Boston: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Massachusetts Dartmouth: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Massachusetts Lowell: March 02 - March 09, 2024 University of Miami: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Michigan Ann Arbor: February 24 - March 02, 2024 University of Minnesota Duluth: March 02 - March 09, 2024 University of Minnesota Twin Cities: March 02 - March 09, 2024 University of Mississippi: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Missouri Columbia: March 23 - March 30, 2024 University of Missouri Rolla: March 16 - March 23, 2024 University of Missouri St Louis: March 23 - March 30, 2024 University of Nebraska at Omaha: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Nebraska Lincoln: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Nevada Las Vegas: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of New Haven: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of New Orleans: March 16 - March 23, 2024 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of North Carolina at Greensboro: March 02 - March 09, 2024 University of North Carolina at Wilmington: March 02 - March 09, 2024 University of North Carolina Charlotte: February 24 - March 02, 2024 University of North Dakota: March 30 - April 06, 2024 University of North Texas: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Northern Colorado: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Northern Iowa: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Notre Dame: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Oklahoma: March 16 - March 23, 2024 University of Oregon: March 23 - March 30, 2024 University of Pennsylvania: March 02 - March 09, 2024 University of Pittsburgh: March 02 - March 09, 2024 University of Rhode Island: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Richmond: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Scranton: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of South Carolina: March 02 - March 09, 2024 University of South Dakota: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of South Florida Tampa: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Southern California: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Southern Indiana: March 02 - March 09, 2024 University of Southern Mississippi: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Tennessee at Chattanooga: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Tennessee Knoxville: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Vermont: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Virginia: March 02 - March 09, 2024 University of Washington: March 16 - March 23, 2024 University of Wisconsin Eau Claire: March 16 - March 23, 2024 University of Wisconsin Green Bay: March 09 - March 16, 2024 University of Wisconsin Madison: March 23 - March 30, 2024 University of Wisconsin Oshkosh: March 23 - March 30, 2024 University of Wisconsin Whitewater: March 23 - March 30, 2024 University of Wyoming: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Ursinus College: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Vanderbilt University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Villanova University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Virginia Commonwealth University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Virginia Polytechnic Institute: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Wake Forest University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Washington College: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Washington University: March 16 - March 23, 2024 Wayne State University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 West Chester University of Pennsylvania: March 09 - March 16, 2024 West Virginia University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 Western Kentucky University: March 16 - March 23, 2024 Western Michigan University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Western New England College: March 16 - March 23, 2024 Wichita State University: March 09 - March 16, 2024 William Paterson University: March 16 - March 23, 2024 Winona State University: March 02 - March 09, 2024 Yale University: March 09 - March 16, 2024
Spring Break: history and origins The origins of Spring Break revelry can be traced back to ancient Greek traditions. However, the modern phenomenon, which often garners media attention and became a fixture on MTV, emerged in the 1930s. It all began when a swimming coach brought his team to the tranquil shores of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to utilize a newly constructed Olympic-size pool for early-season training. This innovative idea quickly gained popularity among other swim coaches. Additionally, the presence of German U-boats patrolling the Atlantic during World War II made Florida a preferable destination over offshore locations like Bermuda, further solidifying the state’s status as a Spring Break hotspot.
The Spring Break tradition received a significant boost in 1960 with the release of ‘Where the Boys Are’ by Glendon Swarthout, followed by a movie adaptation of the same name. Swarthout, an English professor at Michigan State University, drew inspiration from his firsthand observations of the Beatnik-era antics in Fort Lauderdale while accompanying a group of students.
The influx of college students to the renowned Florida Spring Break destination surged from 20,000 to 50,000 and eventually reached an estimated 350,000 by 1985, thanks in part to the widespread popularity of Swarthout’s book and the subsequent film adaptation.
The alcohol-fueled antics of Spring Break celebrants reached a tipping point, prompting the mayor of the city to make a plea on national television to urge revelers to seek their festivities elsewhere. Despite this, Panama City, Florida, has solidified its reputation as the “Spring Break Capital of the World.” However, even in this renowned destination, issues arose, leading to stricter regulations.
As a result, alcohol is now prohibited on the 27-mile beach throughout the month of March. Revelers should also be prepared to expect curfews and bag checks. This measure, aimed at curbing excessive behavior, mirrors similar actions taken in other Spring Break hotspots grappling with similar challenges.