A typical college semester in the United States lasts about 15 to 17 weeks, with the final week usually reserved for final exams

. This translates to roughly 3.5 to 4 months per semester

. Most colleges divide the academic year into two main semesters: fall (starting around late August or early September and ending in December) and spring (starting in January and ending in May)

. Some institutions offer shorter, condensed semesters lasting 8 to 10 weeks, often with a more intensive schedule

. Additionally, some colleges use a quarter system instead of semesters, where each term lasts about 10 weeks and there are four terms per year (fall, winter, spring, summer)

. In summary:

• Standard semester length: 15 to 17 weeks (about 4 months)
• Fall semester: late August/early September to December
• Spring semester: January to May
• Condensed semesters: 8 to 10 weeks (less common)
• Quarter system terms: about 10 weeks each

This semester length allows students to take typically four to six courses per semester, with full-time status usually requiring at least 12 credit hours