southbound — your-build-term.md
Your build term · Jan – Apr 2027 · checked Oct 22, 2026

Make winter your build term.

Most schools let you step away from January to April, build full-time and come back. Southbound runs Jan 11 to Apr 11, 2027 in Miami, and we read the leave policies at 150 US and Canadian schools so you know how yours works.

What we could find, not finalFocal compiled this from schools’ public websites in October 2026. It may be incomplete or out of date, and it isn’t legal, academic, financial or immigration advice, or endorsed by any school. Tuition refunds, financial aid, scholarships, housing and visa status can all change when you take time off, and rules differ by college and by student. Before you register, drop classes or file anything, confirm every date and cost with your registrar, financial aid office, dean’s office and (for visa holders) international student office. We don’t list tuition, refund or financial-aid deadlines: for those, ask your school’s bursar and financial aid office.
rank — brb-score

BRB Score

How easily your school lets you build and be right back (if you want to…). Our own score out of 100.

How the BRB Score is scored
UP TO 35Leave routeNo leave request 35, formal leave 30, withdraw and reapply 10.
UP TO 20Time to decideLess if a request is due before Jan 11.
UP TO 15Reasons acceptedAny personal reason or none needed 15, dean’s approval 9, a listed set that includes career 8, not stated 6, personal reasons not accepted 0 and a further −20.
UP TO 15Published clearlyHow clearly the school’s own pages state the rule.
UP TO 10Builder sceneVerified hackathons, founder clubs, centers and hard-tech teams.
UP TO 5Pages kept currentWhether sources look current for 2026–27.
MINUS 10 TO 20Watch-outs180-day caps, a one-term leave that isn’t the default, a page that discourages running a business, or personal reasons not accepted (−20).

Our lens, not an official ranking. BRB = build, and be right back.

limits — time away allowed

How long you can be away

Before you’d have to reapply. Greener means more room to build.

Reapply after any term off: 18About one term: 21About two terms: 62Three to four terms: 22Five terms or more: 7No stated limit: 2Varies: 4Not stated: 14150SCHOOLS
  • Reapply after any term off18
  • About one term21
  • About two terms62
  • Three to four terms22
  • Five terms or more7
  • No stated limit2
  • Varies4
  • Not stated14
builders — campus scenes

Most active builder scenes

Verified groups per campus.

HackathonFounder clubStartup centerHard-tech team
directory — all schools
Directory

All 150 schools

Checked Oct 22, 2026. Dates are our best estimate of when each school’s official pages last changed.

#1University of Colorado BoulderSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202699#2University of Washington (Seattle)Winter Quarter 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202699#3Purdue University (West Lafayette)Spring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202698#4University of Toronto (St. George)Winter 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202698#5Florida Institute of TechnologySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Jul 202696#6University of ArizonaSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202696#7University of California, RiversideWinter Quarter 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202696#8Chapman UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Sep 202695#9Florida Atlantic UniversitySpring 2027 · Update date unclear95#10Florida International UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202695#11Georgia Institute of TechnologySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202695#12Massachusetts Institute of TechnologySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202695#13University of FloridaSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202695#14Brigham Young University (Provo)Winter 2027 semester (BYU's Jan-Apr semester) · Likely updated ~Aug 202694#15Carleton UniversityWinter 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202694#16Iowa State UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Sep 202694#17Oregon State UniversityWinter Quarter 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202694#18San José State UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202694#19University of Illinois ChicagoSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202694#20University of South FloridaSpring 2027 · Update date unclear94#21Virginia TechSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202694#22Auburn UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202693#23Cal Poly San Luis ObispoSpring 2027 (semester) · Likely updated ~Oct 202693#24Northeastern UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202693#25University of Alabama in HuntsvilleSpring 2027 · Update date unclear93#26University of California, Los AngelesWinter Quarter 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202693#27University of California, San DiegoWinter Quarter 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202693#28Arizona State University (Tempe)Spring 2027 (Session C, full semester) · Likely updated ~Oct 202692#29Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach)Spring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202692#30Indiana University BloomingtonSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Jul 202692#31Michigan State UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202692#32The Ohio State UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Jun 202692#33The University of Texas at DallasSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202692#34University of CalgaryWinter Term 2027 · Update date unclear92#35University of Central FloridaSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202692#36University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202692#37University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) - LSAWinter 2027 (Winter Term) · Update date unclear92#38University of RochesterSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202692#39Colorado State UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202691#40University of British Columbia (Vancouver)Winter Session 2026/27 Term 2 (Jan-Apr 2027) · Update date unclear91#41University of GeorgiaSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202691#42University of WaterlooWinter 2027 · Update date unclear91#43Boston CollegeSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202690#44Florida State UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202690#45Simon Fraser UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Sep 202690#46University of California, DavisWinter Quarter 2027 · Update date unclear90#47University of IowaSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202690#48University of PittsburghSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202690#49Carnegie Mellon UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202689#50Elon UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Jun 202689#51University of AlbertaWinter Term 2027 · Likely updated ~Apr 202689#52University of ChicagoWinter Quarter 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202689#53University of Southern CaliforniaSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202689#54Wake Forest UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202689#55Binghamton University (SUNY)Spring 2027 · Update date unclear88#56Michigan Technological UniversitySpring 2027 · Update date unclear88#57Southern Methodist UniversitySpring 2027 · Update date unclear88#58University of OttawaWinter 2027 · Update date unclear88#59Worcester Polytechnic InstituteSpring 2027 (C-Term + D-Term) · Update date unclear88#60Cornell UniversitySpring 2027 · Update date unclear87#61Drexel UniversityWinter Quarter 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202687#62Emory UniversitySpring 2027 · Update date unclear87#63New York UniversitySpring 2027 · Update date unclear87#64Pomona CollegeSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Sep 202687#65Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202687#66Tufts UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202687#67University of CincinnatiSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202687#68University of MiamiSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202687#69Washington University in St. LouisSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202687#70Yale UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Sep 202687#71Colorado School of MinesSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202686#72New Jersey Institute of TechnologySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202686#73Queen's UniversityWinter 2027 · Likely updated ~Sep 202686#74Syracuse UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Sep 202686#75University of VirginiaSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Sep 202686#76Rutgers University-New BrunswickSpring 2027 · Update date unclear85#77Harvard University (Harvard College)Spring 2027 · Update date unclear84#78Johns Hopkins UniversitySpring 2027 · Update date unclear84#79Missouri University of Science and TechnologySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202684#80Santa Clara UniversityWinter Quarter 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202684#81Stony Brook University (SUNY)Spring 2027 · Update date unclear84#82University of DelawareSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Jul 202684#83California Institute of TechnologyWinter Quarter 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202683#84Williams CollegeSpring 2027 · Update date unclear83#85Bowdoin CollegeSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202682#86Brandeis UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202682#87University at Buffalo (SUNY)Spring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202682#88Boston UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202681#89Bucknell UniversitySpring 2027 · Update date unclear81#90University of California, MercedSpring 2027 · Update date unclear81#91University of UtahSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202681#92George Washington UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202680#93Georgetown UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202680#94Lehigh UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202680#95University of San DiegoSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Aug 202680#96Columbia University (Columbia College and SEAS)Spring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202679#97Harvey Mudd CollegeSpring 2027 · Update date unclear79#98Princeton UniversitySpring 2027 · Update date unclear79#99Brown UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202678#100Fordham UniversitySpring 2027 · Update date unclear78#101North Carolina State UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Aug 202678#102Tulane UniversitySpring 2027 · Update date unclear78#103Villanova UniversitySpring 2027 · Update date unclear78#104Case Western Reserve UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202677#105Rice UniversitySpring 2027 · Update date unclear77#106Saint Louis UniversitySpring 2027 · Update date unclear77#107University of PennsylvaniaSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Sep 202677#108Babson CollegeSpring 2027 · Update date unclear76#109Creighton UniversitySpring 2027 · Update date unclear76#110University of California, Santa CruzWinter Quarter 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202676#111Université de MontréalWinter 2027 (Hiver 2027) · Likely updated ~Sep 202676#112American UniversitySpring 2027 · Update date unclear75#113Gonzaga UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Sep 202675#114Northwestern UniversityWinter Quarter 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202675#115Vanderbilt UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Sep 202675#116Duke UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202674#117Pennsylvania State University (University Park)Spring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202674#118Pepperdine UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202674#119Stanford UniversityWinter Quarter 2027 · Update date unclear74#120Texas A&M University (College Station)Spring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202674#121University of Minnesota Twin CitiesSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202673#122University of Notre DameSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202673#123Dartmouth CollegeWinter Term 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202672#124Kettering UniversityWinter 2027 (term) · Update date unclear72#125Rochester Institute of TechnologySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202672#126The Cooper UnionSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202672#127University of ConnecticutSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202672#128University of Wisconsin–MadisonSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202672#129Yeshiva UniversitySpring 2027 · Update date unclear72#130Baylor UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202670#131Clemson UniversitySpring 2027 · Update date unclear70#132Stevens Institute of TechnologySpring 2027 · Update date unclear69#133University of Massachusetts AmherstSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202669#134University of Texas at AustinSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202669#135University of Maryland, College ParkSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202668#136Olin College of EngineeringSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202666#137Texas Christian UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202665#138University of California, Santa BarbaraWinter Quarter 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202665#139University of MissouriSpring 2027 · Update date unclear65#140University of North Carolina at Chapel HillSpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202664#141Marquette UniversitySpring 2027 · Update date unclear63#142University of California, BerkeleySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202663#143Rutgers University–NewarkSpring 2027 · Update date unclear61#144Rose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyWinter Quarter 2026-27 (spans Nov 30, 2026 - Mar 1, 2027); Spring Quarter starts Mar 8, 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202657#145University of California, IrvineWinter Quarter 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202656#146William & MarySpring 2027 · Update date unclear53#147Rutgers University–CamdenSpring 2027 · Update date unclear51#148Howard UniversitySpring 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202648#149Western UniversityWinter 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202638#150McGill UniversityWinter 2027 · Likely updated ~Oct 202630
checklist — before you decide

Before you decide

Check on the following…

  • Will my spot be held?Check how long your school keeps your place and whether you have to apply to come back.Ask: Registrar
  • Will I graduate later?A term off can push back your graduation. Ask which required classes only run in the spring.Ask: Academic advisor
  • Is there a deadline to ask?Some schools want your leave request before January. Find out the exact date and the form.Ask: Dean’s office or registrar
  • What happens to my scholarships and aid?Ask whether your scholarships and grants pause while you’re away or end, and what you need to do to get them back.Ask: Financial aid office
  • When would I have to start repaying loans?Student loans usually stop being deferred when you’re not enrolled. After a short grace period, often six months, payments can start.Ask: Financial aid office
  • Will I still have health insurance?A student health plan usually needs you to be enrolled. Make sure you’re covered from January to April.Ask: Student health office
  • What about my housing?Ask whether you can leave your housing contract without a penalty and whether you’ll get housing when you come back.Ask: Housing office
  • I’m on a student visa. Does this affect it?For F-1 students, not enrolling usually ends your visa status. Talk to this office before anything else.Ask: International student office
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