Illinois Universities Announce Spring Break Dates

From Northwestern to DePaul, find out when students across the state will be on spring break.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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As spring break approaches, universities across Illinois have announced their respective schedules. The breaks range from early March to late April, with most major schools like Northwestern, Illinois State, and the University of Illinois taking time off in mid-to-late March.

Why it matters

Spring break is an important time for college students to recharge before the final stretch of the academic year. Knowing the exact dates allows students, families, and communities to better plan travel, events, and other activities around these university breaks.

The details

The spring break schedules for major Illinois universities are as follows: Northwestern University (March 21-30), Illinois State University (March 7-15), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (March 14-22), University of Illinois at Chicago (March 23-27), DePaul University (March 23-27), University of Chicago (March 15-22), Loyola University Chicago (March 2-7), Northern Illinois University (March 8-15), and DeVry University (April 26-May 3). The College of DuPage and Southern Illinois University in Carbondale will also be on break in late March and early April.

  • Spring break at Northwestern University starts Saturday, March 21, and ends Monday, March 30.
  • Spring break at Illinois State University lasts from Saturday, March 7, through Sunday, March 15.
  • The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has its spring break from Saturday, March 14, through Sunday, March 22.
  • The University of Illinois at Chicago has its spring break from Monday, March 23, through Friday, March 27.
  • DePaul University's spring break is from Monday, March 23, through Friday, March 27.

The players

Northwestern University

A private research university located in Evanston, Illinois.

Illinois State University

A public research university located in Normal, Illinois.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The flagship institution of the University of Illinois system, located in Urbana and Champaign, Illinois.

University of Illinois at Chicago

The largest campus of the University of Illinois system, located in Chicago, Illinois.

DePaul University

A private Catholic research university located in Chicago, Illinois.

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The takeaway

With spring break dates now announced, Illinois college students and their communities can begin planning for the upcoming academic breaks. These schedules provide important information for travel, events, and other activities during this popular time of year.