Graduate Resources

Commencement

Get Ready for Commencement

Commencement ceremonies are held in Stewart Hall's Ritsche Auditorium. Once published, commencement ceremonies schedule by college is posted on the commencement homepage. Guests resources including parking information for commencement day can be found on our Guest Resources page.

Use these resources to prepare for your special day.

REGALIA FOR UNDERGRADS

REGALIA FOR GRADUATES

A Graduate's Commencement Day Schedule

Check-in. Check in 45-60 minutes prior to your ceremony time to receive your name card (used to walk across stage) and guest tickets. Give your tickets and all items you do not wish to carry during the ceremony to your guests.
Line up. Go to the Stewart Hall first floor hallway at least 15 minutes prior to your ceremony time. SCSU staff volunteers will direct graduates how to line up.
Guests. Guests with tickets may take their seats in Ritsche Auditorium.
- Guests without tickets may watch from the overflow room. A family room is available for those who need space for small children. Volunteers will provide directions.
The ceremony. The commencement ceremony will last approximately 60 minutes. All graduates in attendance will have their names read as they walk across stage. Master and doctoral students will be hooded during their ceremony.
Post ceremony. At the conclusion of the ceremony, guests and graduates may connect with one another on Atwood Mall or the Atwood Ballroom for photos and mingling.

Academic Regalia and Honors

Black academic regalia is required to participate in commencement ceremonies. Regalia may be purchased online at the St. Cloud State Jostens Store before the Commencement Expo and shipped to home addresses. The ship to home deadline for Spring 2025 commencement ceremonies is April 2, 2025. Regalia may be purchased in person during after after the Commencement Expo. Jostens is our official provider of regalia, however caps and gowns may be purchased elsewhere.

The Husky Bookstore has regalia available to purchase during and after the Commencement Expo in person and will continue to sell these items through the day of commencement ceremonies.

Starting point for your regalia checklist:

Undergraduate Students
- Gown (differs by degree level, required)
- Cap (differs by degree level, required)
- Optional tassel (red/black)
- Optional cords and stoles
- Optional honors cords (colors differs by honor, see below)
Graduate Students
- Gown (differs by degree level, required)
- Cap (differs by degree level, required)
- Hoods (differs by degree type detailed below)
- Optional tassel (colors differ by degree type)
- Optional cords and stoles

If an undergraduate meets the requirements outlined in the Graduation Policy & Procedures, honors will be indicated in the printed commencement program and announced during the ceremony. Since commencement is held before the receipt of final grades, honor status is based on a student's official GPA as of the date the information is pulled. Final semester grades do not factor into honors for the commencement ceremony.

Honor graduates can purchase honor cords to wear with the cap and gown. Husky Bookstore will require a student I.D. at the time of purchase.

To obtain honors you must have 30 upper division credits from St. Cloud State, plus a Cumulative GPA of:

Summa cum laude (3.75 - 4.00) – Gold cords
Magna cum laude (3.50 - 3.74) – Silver cords
Cum laude (3.25 - 3.49) – Red cords

Academic Colors

Graduate degree	Hood/Tassel Color	Degree Programs
Doctor of Psychology	Gold	Applied Behavior Analysis
Doctor of Education/Specialist	Light Blue	Educational Administration & Leadership (Specialist) Higher Education & Student Affairs (Ed.D)
Master of Business Administration	Drab	Master of Business Administration
Master of Engineering Management	Orange	Master of Engineering Management Executive Master of Engineering Management
Master of Public Administration	Peacock Blue	Master of Public Administration
Master of Social Work	Citron	Master of Social Work
Master of Science (Includes PSM and MSEE)	Golden Yellow	Applied Behavior Analysis Applied Clinical Research Applied Economics Biological Sciences Child & Family Studies Clinical Exercise Physiology Criminal Justice Studies College Counseling and Student Development Communication Sciences and Disorders Computer Science Counseling- Clinical Mental Health Counseling- Rehab School Counseling Cultural Resources Management Archaeology Curriculum and Instruction Early Childhood Special Education Studies Educational Administration and Leadership (M.S.) Electrical Engineering English Education Geography, Gerontology Higher Education & Student Affairs (M.S.) History Industrial/Organizational Psychology Information Assurance Instructional Design & E-Learning Interdisciplinary Studies Library Media Specialist Medical Technology Quality Regulatory Affairs and Services Social Studies Education Software Engineering (PSM) Special Education Sports Management Strategic Media Communications Technology Education Technology Integration
Master of Arts	White	Biological Sciences English Studies History History- Public History Interdisciplinary Studies Teaching English as a Second Language

Guest Resources

Guest Tickets

Each graduate will receive six tickets when they check in for their commencement ceremony the day of the event. Graduates will then be able to give those tickets to their family and friends. Seating is first come, first serve. There is no reserved seating.

International Guest Invites

International students wishing to invite family from outside the United States may request a letter from the Center for International Studies at International@stcloudstate.edu.

Domestic students wishing to do the same may make their request by emailing commencement at commencement@stcloudstate.edu. Include the name, birthday, and passport number in your email.

Photographs and Diplomas

Fall 2025 Photographs

Legacies by Laura Photography is partnering with SCSU for the Fall 2025 commencement.

To receive communications regarding your commencement photo(s), you will need to opt-in to receiving communication. Legacies by Laura Photography won't spam you or share your information, and you can opt back out once the images are live.

Click here to opt in

Diplomas

At commencement graduates receive an empty diploma holder. Diplomas are sent by mail about eight weeks after graduation, after grades are finalized and your graduation is confirmed.

Participation in the commencement ceremony does not imply nor guarantee graduation.

CONFIRM DOMESTIC MAILING ADDRESS

REQUEST INTERNATIONAL MAILING OF DIPLOMA

Spring 2025 Photographs

Professional photographs are taken at each ceremony. Lifetouch takes these photos and can be found on the website. You can opt-in to view commencement photos on their website: Galleries by PhotoDay | View your online picture day photos

Spring Commencement Access Code: 228875GY2025

Privacy

Graduates wishing to have their name omitted from the commencement program and/or not released to media outlets need to contact the Office of Records and Registration at least eight weeks prior to the end of the semester.

Office of Records and Registration
Email: registrar@stcloudstate.edu
In person: Administrative Services 118
Phone: (320) 308-2111

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