Now that the elementary, middle, and high schoolers are back in school, it's time for the college kids to move into dorms, buy books, and their their academic year started! From the Atlanta University Center to Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Emory and Kennesaw State, here’s a look at when some of Metro Atlanta’s colleges and universities return for the Fall 2026 semester, plus a few things students and parents should take care of before classes begin.
When Do Metro Atlanta Colleges Go Back?
Clayton State University
Clayton State is among the first local schools to get the fall semester underway.
Classes began: August 8
Students should pay particular attention to the university’s early-semester deadlines. The Fall 2026 drop/add period runs August 10-13, with the final tuition and fee payment deadline also falling on August 13.
University of West Georgia
Students at the University of West Georgia aren’t far behind.
Classes begin: August 12
The open drop/add period runs August 12-18, giving students a short window to make adjustments to their schedules without moving into the withdrawal period.
Spelman College
It’s almost move-in time for new Spelman students.
New Student Orientation: August 12-16
Registration ends: August 18
First day of classes: August 19
Late registration: August 20-28
The first few weeks move quickly at Spelman, so students should make sure their registration, financial aid and class schedules are squared away before arriving on campus.
Morehouse College
Morehouse students also return to the Atlanta University Center this month.
First day of classes: August 19
Students should check the Morehouse academic calendar and their student accounts for individual registration, financial aid, housing and payment deadlines.
Clark Atlanta University
CAU students will be returning to class alongside their AUC neighbors.
First day of classes: August 19
Students should double-check their Banner accounts before the semester begins to make sure their registration, financial aid and other enrollment requirements are complete.
Georgia State University
Georgia State students have a little more time to enjoy summer.
First day of classes: August 24
Fall registration continues through August 23 for the university’s full-semester schedule.
Remember that Georgia State operates multiple campuses and programs, so students should check the calendar that applies specifically to their courses.
Georgia Tech
The Yellow Jackets return later in August.
First day of classes: August 24
Students should check Georgia Tech’s academic calendar and their individual schedules for registration, payment and course deadlines before the semester gets underway.
Kennesaw State University
Students at KSU’s Kennesaw and Marietta campuses also head back toward the end of August.
First day of classes: August 24
Students should also remember to confirm which campus their classes are located on. A schedule with classes split between Kennesaw and Marietta requires extra planning for transportation and travel time.
Emory University
Emory rounds out the month with classes beginning during the final week of August.
First day of classes: August 26
Add/Drop/Swap deadline: September 4
Labor Day — no classes: September 7
Individual graduate and professional schools at Emory may follow slightly different calendars, so students should check the schedule for their specific program.
Before You Head Back to Campus: 8 Things Students Should Do
Going back to college involves a lot more than buying notebooks and decorating a dorm room. Before classes begin, students should make sure they’ve handled some of the less exciting — but very important — details.
1. Check your financial aid account.
Don’t assume everything is complete just because you submitted a FAFSA months ago. Log into your student account and check for missing documents, holds or outstanding balances that could affect your classes.
2. Review your class schedule one more time.
Check classroom locations, professors and start times. If your school has multiple campuses, make sure you know exactly where each class meets.
3. Put add/drop deadlines in your phone.
The first week or two of the semester can be critical. Missing a deadline to change a course can potentially affect your transcript and your wallet.
4. Handle parking before the first day.
If you’re commuting, find out whether you need a parking permit, where your assigned lots are and how long it takes to walk or ride campus transportation from the parking area to class.
5. Don’t buy every textbook immediately.
Check the syllabus and wait to hear what the professor actually requires when possible. Students may be able to save money through used books, rentals, digital editions or campus library resources.
6. Learn where your campus resources are.
Find the tutoring center, counseling services, student health center, career services office, financial aid office and campus safety resources before you need them.
7. Create a realistic semester budget.
Food deliveries, coffee runs, rideshares and weekend activities can add up quickly. Determine how much money is available each month after tuition, housing, books, transportation and other necessities.
8. Get organized before assignments start piling up.
Once professors release syllabi, enter major tests, papers and project deadlines into a calendar. Seeing the entire semester at once can make it much easier to avoid getting overwhelmed later.
Parents: The College Transition Is Different for You, Too
For parents sending a student to college — especially for the first time — it can be tempting to make sure every problem is solved for them.
But college is also where students begin learning how to advocate for themselves.
Before the semester starts, parents can help students understand how to contact financial aid, communicate with professors, make medical appointments, manage money and seek academic help on their own.
Parents should also have conversations about campus safety, alcohol, transportation, relationships and what to do if a student ever feels unsafe.
And don’t forget about mental health.
Moving away from home, adjusting to a new academic workload and trying to make friends can be exciting, but it can also be stressful and lonely. Parents should establish a communication routine while still giving students room to build their own college experience.
One More Thing: Don’t Forget the Paperwork
Before move-in day, students and families should check for:
- Tuition and financial aid requirements
- Housing and meal plan information
- Immunization and health records
- Health insurance requirements or waivers
- Parking permits
- Student ID requirements
- Emergency contact information
- Textbooks and course materials
- Move-in appointments and dorm rules
- Add/drop and withdrawal deadline
Whether you’re a freshman leaving home for the first time, a senior counting down to graduation or a parent wondering how four years went by so quickly, another college year is officially here.
