You're on the finish line. Time to wrap it up. These resources will help.
Questions? Check your Graduate Student Handbook.
Graduate students can graduate with a degree or to complete a graduate certificate each semester — fall, spring, and summer. Review the deadlines for your intended graduation term and plan accordingly to meet each applicable deadline. These deadlines are strictly enforced. Not meeting these deadlines will delay your graduation to the next term.
Action to be Completed |
Fall |
Spring |
Summer Graduation |
Last day file an intent to graduate - Submit the Graduation form
|
Sept. 15 |
Feb. 15 |
June 15 |
Deadline to upload the Culminating Project to The Repository (Must have defended, completed corrections and formatted your document prior to submission). |
Nov. 15 |
Apr. 15 |
July 15 |
Exam results or final defense results must be received by Graduate Studies. |
Dec. 15 |
May 15 |
Aug. 15 |
Final formatting approval for publication to The Repository must be received by the student, advisor, and Graduate Records Specialist. |
Dec. 15 |
May 15 |
Aug. 15 |
Intended Graduation | Application Deadline | Graduation Date |
Summer 2023 | June 15, 2023 | Aug. 4, 2023 |
Fall 2023 | Sept. 15, 2023 | Dec. 15, 2023 |
Spring 2024 | Feb. 15, 2024 | May 3, 2024 |
Summer 2024 | June 15, 2024 | Aug. 2, 2024 |
The School of Graduate Studies must certify that all requirements for graduation have been satisfied before your degree can be officially awarded.
It is your responsibility to determine that all requirements for the degree have been met. Please review this list to determine that the requirements pertaining to your program have been fulfilled.
Written Culminating Projects Uploaded to the Repository
Written Culminating Projects Requiring a Final Defense or Submitted Results but no Upload to the Repository
Grade Only Culminating Project
For more information on culminating project options see Culminating Projects Policy/Processes
Deadlines are key. You and your advisor should develop and implement a completion timeline.
Complete the intent to graduate form online.
The form must be completed by the deadline listed for the semester in which you plan to graduate and submitted to Records and Registration (Administrative Services 118) with the $30 application fee for master-level students and $35 for doctoral students.
Applicants not meeting the deadline, will need to select the next available graduation date.
If you do not graduate during the intended term, Records and Registration will move your application to the next available term. No additional fee will be required. The request can be moved twice before you must resubmit the intent to graduate form.
Students must be registered for at least one credit in the term in which they graduate.
Intended Graduation | Application Deadline | Graduation Date |
Summer 2023 | June 15, 2023 | Aug. 4, 2023 |
Fall 2023 | Sept. 15, 2023 | Dec. 15, 2023 |
Spring 2024 | Feb. 15, 2024 | May 3, 2024 |
Summer 2024 | June 15, 2024 | Aug. 2, 2024 |
You can find information online for Commencement.
We encourage students to honor the centuries-old history of academic regalia by wearing the regalia appropriate to their degree and academic discipline.
Wikipedia has more information on the history and symbolism of academic regalia.
Caps, master's gowns and hoods can can be requested for purchase through the St. Cloud State Store at Josten's. Questions can be directed to the Husky Bookstore in Centennial Hall or at 320-308-1489.
The anticipated cost for the Masters Package (Gown, Cap, Tassel, Hood) is $94.75.
Doctoral gowns, hoods and tams can can be requested for purchase through the St. Cloud State Store at Josten's. Questions can be directed to the Husky Bookstore in Centennial Hall or at 320-308-1489.
When ordering online from Josten's please select the "doctoral gown, hood and tam" and list the Major Curriculum as "Education." This will ensure that your hood has the correct Light Blue trim. It can take 5 or more weeks for the regalia to be delivered.
The anticipated cost for the Doctoral Package (Gown, Tam, Tassel, Hood) is $153.44.
If you are Ordering a gown for purchase (select Fine Regalia), you will also want to select a package with a gown, hood and tam and indicate you are receiving a Doctor of Education to ensure the correct light blue trim for the hood. The trim on the gown can be light blue or black velvet in accordance with the discipline. It can take up to 10 weeks for a custom order.
Each College or School hosts a hooding ceremony, where the student's advisor or program faculty member places the hood on the graduating student. Typically these ceremonies occur in advance of the commencement ceremony Fall and Spring.
Dean's offices will send information 3-5 weeks in advance. Contact information for the hooding ceremonies can be found online
Graduating students will receive their diploma in the mail about eight weeks after the end of the semester.
All diplomas are mailed to the diploma address you provide through the Online Service center.
If you experience difficulty in entering your diploma address, contact 320-308-2111.
Students admitted to and completing a graduate certificate program can receive a certificate and have the certificate completion listed on their transcript.
Submit the "Customize My Program of Study" to School of Graduate Studies.
Complete All Course Work on the Program.
Submit Certificate Completion Application.
Receive Certificate
Certificate students are not eligible to participate in Commencement.
I missed the deadline to apply for graduation. Application for graduation deadlines are firm. Please apply for the next available term. Completion letters can be provided by emailing graduatestudies@stcloudstate.edu
I will not be able to hold my final defense/final oral by the deadline listed. You and your chair/advisor can set a date for your final defense/final oral. This does not change the final deadline to submit any written project to the Repository for format review or the deadline to submit a final passing grade and missing those deadlines will delay your graduation to the next term.
When should I complete the final defense/final oral? The date listed in policy requires that the final defense/final oral be completed at least 6 weeks prior to the graduation date. This timeline provides you with sufficient time to make any changes to your culminating project required by your committee, format and submit a written project to the Repository for format review, and graduate in the desired semester. The defense for a written culminating project (dissertation, thesis, creative work, starred paper or field study) must be completed prior to the deadline for Repository submission.
I will be submitting my paper for format review on the last date to submit. Papers are reviewed in the order in which they are submitted and initial format review can take 2-3 weeks. If your formatting is not completed and approved by the listed deadline, your graduation will be moved to the next available graduation date.
As a doctoral student, if I miss the deadline to submit my dissertation for format review or I am unable to meet the formatting approval deadline, can I still participate in Commencement? Yes, if you have completed your final defense and the committee has approved the final version of your dissertation, you may participate in Commencement. Your degree will not be awarded until the final format approval is received.
If my graduation is moved to the next term, will I need to register for 1 graduate credit? Maybe. If you will be using University resources (faculty time for final defense or review of changes, Graduate Studies time for format review, Library resources, etc) you will need to register for the graduation term. If your work is 100% complete in the term in which your registered and your graduation is delayed due to missed deadline(s) and you will not require any University resources beyond those for awarding the degree, you may not need to register. Some programs require registration in the final semester regardless of completion status, please review your program handbook/D2L site.