You're on the finish line. Time to wrap it up. These resources will help.
Questions? Check your Graduate Student Handbook.
Graduate students have two opportunities to 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. Application deadlines are strictly enforced.
For drop and withdrawal dates, please check the E -Services course schedule for each class.
Fall I Graduation |
Fall II Graduation |
Spring I Graduation |
Spring II Graduation |
Summer I Graduation |
Summer II Graduation |
Work to be Completed |
Sept. 3 |
Sept. 17 |
Jan. 21 |
Feb. 4 |
May 13 |
June 24 |
Last day to apply for graduation. |
Sept. 3 |
Oct. 22 |
Feb. 4 |
Mar 4 |
May 13 |
June 24 |
Last day to schedule a Final Defense/Final Oral/Comprehensive Exam. |
Sept. 13 |
Nov. 5 |
Feb. 18 |
Mar. 25 |
May 27 |
July 8 |
Last day to complete Final Defense/Final Oral/Comprehensive Exam. |
Oct. 1 |
Nov. 29 |
Mar. 4 |
Apr. 15 |
June 10 |
July 22 |
Last day to submit Comprehensive Exam results or committee approval form from Final Defense/Final Oral. |
Oct. 1 |
Nov. 29 |
Mar. 4 |
Apr. 15 |
June 10 |
July 22 |
Last day to submit Culminating Project to the Institutional Repository to initiate format review |
Oct. 21 |
Dec. 16 |
Mar. 24 |
May 5 |
June 22 |
Aug. 3 |
Last day to receive final formatting approval of the submitted Culminating project |
Oct. 21 |
Dec. 16 |
Mar. 24 |
May 5 |
June 22 |
Aug. 3 |
Last day for clearance of any incomplete grades. |
Oct. 22 |
Dec. 17 |
Mar. 25 |
May 6 |
June 23 |
Aug. 4 |
Official graduation date. |
Dec. 17 |
Dec. 17 |
May 6 |
May 6 |
n/a |
n/a |
Commencement. |
Dec. 26 |
Dec. 26 |
Mar. 31 |
May 11 |
June 29 |
Aug. 10 |
Last day for reporting grades. |
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.
Deadlines are key. You and your advisor should develop and implement a completion timeline.
Complete the application for graduation online.
It 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 apply for the next available graduation date.
If you do not graduate during the application term, you must contact the office of Records and Registration to request a new term. No additional fee will be required.
Students must be registered for at least one credit in the term in which they graduate.
Intended Graduation | Application Deadline | Graduation Date |
Fall I | Sept. 3, 2021 | Oct. 22, 2021 |
Fall II | Sept. 17, 2021 | Dec. 17, 2021 |
Spring I | Jan. 21, 2022 | March 25, 2022 |
Spring II | Feb. 4, 2022 | May 6, 2022 |
Summer I | May 13, 2022 | June 23, 2022 |
Summer II | June 24, 2022 | Aug. 4, 2022 |
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.
The American Council on Education provides guidance on appropriate academic regalia and its history.
Caps, master's gowns and hoods can be purchased at the Husky Bookstore in Centennial Hall or at 320-308-1489 beginning in November/April.
Doctoral tams and gowns can be rented and the hoods can be purchased at the Husky Bookstore in Centennial Hall or at 320-308-1489 beginning in November/April.
Students wishing to purchase custom-ordered academic regalia should contact the Husky Bookstore. 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 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.