Although the words are often used interchangeably, there is a difference between graduation and commencement. Graduation is completing your academic requirements to earn your degree. Commencement is the ceremony to celebrate your graduation and accomplishments. You will find information to assist you through the process of applying for graduation as well as participating in commencement.
| Graduation Term | Application Deadline $25 Before; $60 After |
|---|---|
| Spring 2025 | Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 |
| Summer 2025 | Friday, May 9, 2025 |
| Fall 2025 | Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 |
Note: Fees are non-refundable. Academic Certificates do not incur a late fee.
Graduation fees are not billed until the term of your graduation and after your application has been conditionally approved by the Office of the Registrar. The fee amount is based on the date your application was originally submitted, not the date your application is conditionally approved.
Application Checklists
Complete each step in order.
- Verify your degree(s), major(s), minor(s) and catalog year(s) are accurate on your Student Profile. If they are not, you must first request to Change My Major and wait until your record is accurate.
- Check Degree Audit on your Student Profile and meet with your academic advisor to ensure outstanding requirements will be met.
- Select Apply to Graduate on your Student Profile. If you are applying for more than one degree (e.g. B.S. and B.A.), you must file a separate application for each degree.
- Your application will be sent electronically to your college dean's office for review. After college approval, your application will be routed to the Office of the Registrar for final review.
- When your application is fully processed, your student account will be billed. Fees are non-refundable once billed.
- Select Ceremony Reservation and Hometown on your Student Profile to confirm your ceremony attendance and hometown information. You may revise these items as needed throughout the semester.
- Fill out the Graduating Student Survey once you receive the link in VandalMail. It arrives the day after you apply to graduate.
- Fill out Career Services' Outcome Survey once you receive the link in VandalMail. It arrives about a month prior to graduation.
Other Important Information
- You will receive notifications through VandalMail at each step of the application process.
- Review your application status at any time in your Student Profile under Graduation Information.
- Graduation applications are valid only for the term applied for.
- If you wish to cancel your application, contact your college dean's office or Graduation Services. Fees are non-refundable once billed. You must submit a new application for the new graduation term.
- See more information about Finishing Your Requirements.
- You must have an approved Study Plan in Degree Audit before applying for graduation.
- Verify that your degree, major, catalog year and thesis/non-thesis options are accurate on your Student Profile. If they are not, you must file a Change of Curriculum form with the Office of the Registrar.
- Check Degree Audit on your Student Profile and work with your Major Professor to resolve any outstanding issues. To remove or add classes to your study plan, go to the Degree Audit Plans tab. Copy, edit and resubmit your updated plan (see tutorials below).
- Select Apply to Graduate on your Student Profile. If you are applying for more than one degree (e.g. M.Arch. and B.S.Arch.), you must file a separate application for each degree.
- Your application will be sent electronically first to your Major Professor and then to the College of Graduate Studies for review and approval. Your application will then be routed to the Office of the Registrar for final review.
- When your application is fully processed, your student account will be billed. Fees are non-refundable once billed.
- Select Ceremony Reservation and Hometown on your Student Profile to confirm your ceremony attendance and hometown information. You may revise these items as needed throughout the semester.
Other Important Information
- You will receive notifications through VandalMail at each step of the application process.
- Review your application at any time in your Student Profile under Graduation Information.
- Graduation applications are valid only for the term applied for.
- If you wish to cancel your application, contact the College of Graduate Studies or Graduation Services. Only binding fees are refundable for a cancelled application; application fees are non-refundable once billed.
- Consider waiting to apply for graduation until you are scheduled to defend your thesis/dissertation to avoid multiple application fees.
- If you have not already done so, you must officially declare your Academic Certificate. Undergraduate students can declare academic certificates using the Change My Major link on Student Profile. Graduate students must complete and submit the Change of Curriculum form to declare academic certificates.
- Check Degree Audit on your Student Profile and work with the academic department to resolve any outstanding issues.
- Select Apply to Graduate on your Student Profile. If you are applying for more than one academic certificate or a degree and academic certificate (e.g. B.S. and Certificate in Cybersecurity), you must file a separate application for each degree/certificate.
- Your application will be sent electronically to the academic certificate college dean's office for review. After college approval, your application will be routed to the Office of the Registrar for final review.
- When your application is fully processed, your student account will be billed. Fees are non-refundable once billed.
Other Important Information
- You will receive notifications through VandalMail at each step of the application process.
- Review your application status at any time in your Student Profile under Graduation Information.
- Graduation applications are valid only for the term applied for.
- If you wish to cancel your application, contact your college dean's office or Graduation Services. Fees are non-refundable once billed. You must submit a new application for the new graduation term.
- Verify your degree, emphasis area and catalog year(s) are accurate on Student Profile. If they are not, you must file a Change of Curriculum form with the Office of the Registrar.
- Select Apply to Graduate on your Student Profile. If you are applying for more than one degree (e.g. J.D. and M.S.), you must file a separate application for each degree.
- Your application will be sent electronically to the College of Law dean's office for review. After college approval, your application will be routed to the Office of the Registrar for final review.
- When your application is fully processed, your student account will be billed. Fees are non-refundable once billed.
- Select Ceremony Reservation and Hometown on Student Profile to confirm your ceremony attendance and hometown information. You may revise these items as needed throughout the semester.
Other Important Information
- You will receive notifications through VandalMail at each step of the application process.
- Review your application status at any time in your Student Profile under Graduation Information.
- Graduation applications are valid only for the term applied for.
- If you wish to cancel your application, contact the College of Law dean's office or Graduation Services. Fees are non-refundable once billed. You must submit a new application for the new graduation term.