Quarter versus semester system

This page compares the quarter and semester systems as found in US universities.

Criterion	Quarter system	Semester system
Example universities	University of Chicago, Stanford, Northwestern	MIT, Princeton, Harvard (note the MIT has a somewhat unusual structure because they have a separate Independent Activities Period (IAP) in January).
Number and timing of terms	Three major academic terms (called quarters): Fall or Autumn (late September-December), Winter (January-March), and Spring (March-June). An additional Summer Quarter late June-August.	Two major academic terms (called semesters): Fall (August-December or September-January), Spring (January or February to May). An additional summer term May-July or June-August
Duration of terms	Typically, the quarter has ten weeks of academic study and one week of final exams.	Typically, the semester has fifteen weeks of academic study and one week of final exams. See here for more.