Graduation
Who Should Apply for Graduation?
If you are scheduled to complete the requirements for your program of study in the upcoming semester, you must submit a graduation application by the appropriate deadline. You must agree to allow the $35 graduation application fee to be assessed to your student account in order for your submission to be complete. An application is required regardless of whether you intend to participate in the commencement ceremony. If you are seeking more than one degree or certificate, you must submit a separate application and application fee for each.
For more information on how to submit a graduation application and the application fee, please consult the Graduation Application Policy. To ensure a successful graduation process, follow the steps outlined in the Graduation Checklist.
Graduation Application Deadlines
Graduation applications submitted after the published deadline will not be accepted. If you miss the published deadline, you will need to apply for the next available term.
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Fall June 1 Final deadline* for fall graduation |
Spring September 15 Final deadline* for spring graduation |
Summer January 30 Final deadline* for summer graduation |
*If the deadline falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the deadline will be extended to the following Monday.
Commencement Ceremony
Commencement*
Friday, December 6, 2024
Saturday, December 7, 2024
Friday, December 6, 2024
3:00 PM
Saturday, December 7, 2024
9:00 AM
12:00 PM
*Information regarding registration for commencement will be communicated via CSU student email approximately six weeks prior to the date of the ceremony. During registration, you will be able to select which ceremony to attend. Once a ceremony reaches capacity, it will no longer be open for registration. Graduate and undergraduate ceremonies will be combined; there will be no separate ceremony for graduate students.
General Commencement Information for All Students
Graduation is the process of being awarded a degree, and commencement is the ceremony that is held to celebrate the achievement of graduation. While applying to graduate is a requirement to obtain a degree, participating in commencement is optional, but encouraged!
The University holds commencement ceremonies in the spring and the fall. Summer graduates are eligible to participate in the fall commencement ceremony. Traditionally, the spring undergraduate ceremony is conducted on the first Saturday in May, and the fall undergraduate ceremony is conducted on the first Saturday in December. The President of the University reserves the right to deviate from this tradition.
To participate in the ceremony, you must register via the electronic reservation system during the allotted time. You only are eligible to participate in the ceremony for which you register; you will not be eligible to walk in a different or future ceremony unless you earn a new degree.
All communications regarding the commencement ceremony, including registration times and reminders, are sent to the CSU student email account. Be sure to monitor your CSU student email account to receive all important updates.
For more information regarding commencement and parking, please review the Graduation Ceremony FAQ.
Diplomas
Because all final grades will not be reported to the Registrar's Office until after commencement, diplomas will not be distributed at the ceremony. Final audits of all graduates will be conducted in the weeks following commencement.
Your legal name on record at Clayton State University will be the name printed on your diploma. Verify your name on the DUCK by navigating to Student Services; Student Records; and Academic History. If your name appears incorrectly, please submit a name change request to the Registrar's Office.
Diplomas will be available approximately four weeks after the date of the ceremony. You will be notified via your CSU student email account and USPS mail when your diploma is ready. To ensure that you receive all communications, please verify that the mailing address listed on your DUCK record is valid, and deactivate any address that is either incorrect or not current.