Checking the calendar and realizing it’s already mid-January is a vibe, but not necessarily a good one if you’re a Racer. Before you know it, the library is packed, the line at Starbucks in the Curris Center is out the door, and everyone is frantically refreshing myGate. Honestly, the Murray State finals schedule is the one document that dictates whether you’re having a celebratory dinner at Martha’s or crying into a textbook at 2 a.m.
If you're looking at the Spring 2026 semester, the finish line is closer than it looks. Classes officially wrap up on May 1. That’s a Friday. Then, the real chaos begins.
When Do Finals Actually Start at Murray State?
For the Spring 2026 term, the university has blocked out May 2 through May 8 for final examinations. It’s a tight window. Unlike some schools that give you a "dead day" to just exist and breathe, Murray State usually dives straight into the deep end. You've basically got one week to prove you actually learned something since January.
The schedule isn't random. It’s a logic puzzle based on when your class normally meets. If you have a Monday-Wednesday-Friday 9:00 a.m. class, your final isn't going to be on a Tuesday at midnight. The Registrar’s Office at Murray State uses a standard grid. Most exams for classes that meet on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays happen on the Monday, Wednesday, or Friday of finals week. Same goes for the Tuesday-Thursday crowd.
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The Specific Breakdown (Spring 2026)
Based on the university’s tentative academic calendar, here is the rough layout of how the days fall:
- May 1 (Friday): Last day of regular classes. This is usually when people are frantically turning in final projects or "optional" extra credit.
- May 2 (Saturday): Yes, sometimes there are Saturday exams, especially for weekend classes or specific departmental common exams. Don't assume you have the weekend off.
- May 4 - May 8 (Monday - Friday): The meat of finals week.
- May 9 (Saturday): Commencement. If you’re graduating, this is the big one. If not, this is the day you finally get to pack the car and head home.
Where to Find Your Personal Schedule
Look, I can give you the general dates, but your specific 15-to-18-hour course load is unique. You need to log into myGate.
Basically, you go to the "Academics" tab. Under the "Student Links" channel, there’s usually a "View/Print My Schedule" option. During the latter half of the semester, the registrar often posts a direct link to the final exam matrix.
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A lot of people get confused by the "Common Exam" times. Some massive 100-level courses—think Chemistry, College Algebra, or certain Business blocks—don't follow the normal "when the class meets" rule. They might pull everyone into a big lecture hall or the CFSB Center at a weird time so everyone takes the same test at once. Check your syllabus. Seriously. Professors are required to list the final exam time on the syllabus they gave you back in January. If the myGate matrix and your syllabus disagree, talk to the professor immediately.
The 48-Hour Rule for Grades
One thing that stresses people out is waiting for grades. Murray State has a pretty strict rule for instructors: final grades are typically due 48 hours after the final exam is administered.
The ultimate deadline for faculty to submit everything for Spring 2026 is Monday, May 11, at 10:00 a.m. CST. If you're hitting "refresh" on your transcript at noon on Sunday and see nothing, don't panic. Your professor is probably still caffeinating and grading 150 essays. You can usually view your official final grades on the "Academics" tab in myGate the business day after the faculty deadline.
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What Happens if You Have Three Finals in One Day?
It happens. It’s rare, but it’s a nightmare. If you look at the Murray State finals schedule and realize you have three or more exams scheduled in a single 24-hour period, you actually have some rights.
Most departments at Murray State allow students to petition to move one of those exams. You can’t just pick the one you’re most scared of, though. Usually, the "middle" exam is the one that gets moved. You have to handle this weeks in advance. Don't walk into your professor's office on May 3 and ask for a change. They will politely (or not so politely) tell you no.
Tips for Staying Sane in Murray
- Waterfield Library isn't the only spot. Everyone crowds into Waterfield. Try the upper floors of the Curris Center or empty classrooms in Faculty Hall if you need silence.
- The "W" Deadline. If you’re failing and think a final won't save you, the deadline to drop with a "W" for Spring 2026 is April 17. After that, you're locked in.
- Pace your Racer Cash. By finals week, everyone is out of meal plan money and living on ramen. Save those last few dollars for a late-night stress snack.
The finals schedule is the final boss of the semester. Map it out early, put the times in your phone with alerts, and double-check the room numbers. Sometimes finals aren't held in your regular classroom if the class is huge.
Actionable Next Steps
- Log into myGate today and navigate to the Academics tab to verify your specific exam times against the university's master matrix.
- Cross-reference your syllabus for any "Common Exam" dates that might override the standard meeting time.
- Mark April 17 on your calendar as the final "W" drop date, just in case a course isn't going as planned before the final stretch.