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Graduation

Graduation is not automatic. To graduate, all students (undergraduate, graduate, and medical) must apply no later than the graduation application deadline for the term in which graduation is planned.

The graduation division of the Office of the University Registrar works closely with the college offices to coordinate the conferral and denial of degrees and certificates. In addition, the division prepares the student information used when printing the commencement program and handles new and replacement diplomas.

Students that have requested confidentiality of their educational records must release the confidentiality hold in order to be included in the commencement program.

If you need assistance, contact Registrar Services, first floor, Chubb Hall, or your regional campus student services office.

The online application for graduation for Spring Semester 2023-24 is now Closed. 

Students who want to graduate Spring semester but fail to apply for graduation by the deadline date (February 19, 2024) will need to contact the Registrar’s Office directly to make a late graduation application over the phone.  Students  who submit an application after the deadline must pay a $100 fine in addition to the $50 graduation application fee to have their graduation application processed.

Students who wish to walk in Spring Commencement and will complete requirements in Summer Semester 2023-24 will need to select “Will complete later” , and choose "Summer Semester 2023-24" .

 Information for the commencement ceremonies can be found on the  commencement website (opens in a new window) .

Graduation Deadlines and Fees

Term Application Deadlines (apply by) Degree Granting Dates 
Spring 2023-24  
February 19, 2024 Graduates: May 3, 2024
Undergraduates: May 4, 2024
Medicine: May 11, 2024
Summer 2023-24
July 15, 2024 Graduates: August 17, 2024
Undergraduates: August 17, 2024
Fall 2024-25
September 30, 2024 Graduates: December 14, 2024
Undergraduates: December 14, 2024

Graduation Application Fees

For all degrees... $50
Standalone Certificates...$25

Reapplication - any degree... $5 Late Graduation Application Processing Fine - $100

  • fees are subject to change
  • not applicable for associate and baccalaureate students in The OHIO Guarantee
  • fees will be assessed to your student account. All fees and balances must be paid by the end of semester term to allow diploma to be shipped. 

Last Day to Accept Late Graduation Applications - Late fine applies.

Students who want to graduate Spring semester but fail to apply for graduation by the deadline date will need to contact the Registrar’s Office directly to make a late graduation application over the phone.  Students  who submit an application after the deadline must pay a $100 fine in addition to the $50 graduation application fee to have their graduation application processed.

No Exceptions, Will not be in the Commencement Book

Term Deadline
Spring 2023-24 May 3, 2024
Summer 2023-24 August 16, 2024
Fall 2024-25 December 13, 2024

Last Day to Change Diploma Name and Address

Change of name procedure on our Registrar webpage.

Change of Address request must be emailed to graduation@ohio.edu from your OHIO email before deadline.

Term Deadline
Spring 2023-24 May 17, 2024
Summer 2023-24 August 30, 2024
Fall 2024-25 December 13, 2024

The Graduation Process

GRADUATION IS NOT AUTOMATIC.To graduate, apply no later than the published graduation deadline. The graduation application, for all degrees and certificates, is available beginning on the first day of the term, in your  MyOHIO Student Center .

The name that appears in University records will be printed on the diploma. When applying, the student must indicate the major(s), minor(s), and certificate(s) that he/she intends to complete. If you need assistance, contact Registrar Services or your regional campus student services.

Apply for Graduation

Please select one of the options to complete your graduation application.

Option 1:Direct website link: Apply for Graduation 

Option 2:Sign in to your MyOHIO Student Center and select " other academic " and follow steps provided:

Choose "Apply for Graduation OHIO."

  1. You will be taken to the graduation application.
  2. Respond to the questions and complete the fields in the application. Click "Save and continue" to progress through the application. Your application is not complete until you have clicked "Complete Application" on the page that summarizes all of your application details. This will finalize your application and you will not be able to make any changes after this step. 
  3. Within the application you may optionally "Save" your application prior to completing it. For example, if you don’t have time to complete it at once or need to gather information prior to finalizing you can log out after you have clicked one of the "Save and continue" buttons. Your application will be saved and you will be able to log on before the deadline to complete the other items and finalize your application by clicking "Complete Application." If you have initiated but not completed the application process, you will receive an email a few days before the application deadline reminding you to finalize your application. If you don’t finalize your application by clicking "Complete Application," you will not be considered for graduation, your name will not appear in the commencement program, and your account will not be assessed a graduation application fee.
  4. Fees will be assessed to your student account in your MyOHIO Student Center. Please allow 24 hours for charges to apply.   Balances must be paid to have the diploma/certificate ordered and shipped. 
  5. You will receive an email with a confirmation number for your application for graduation. If you do not have a confirmation number then your graduation application has not been submitted. Once you complete the application, any changes must be made by sending an email to graduation@ohio.edu .


    Graduation Application Processing Timeline


    Application Review (Preliminary)

    After the application deadline, a list of candidates is sent to each college. Colleges review and verify the candidate information provided, including college, degree, major(s), minor(s), and certificate(s).

    Graduation Requirement Verification (Preliminary)

    Colleges receive a degree audit report (DARS) for the candidates and verify the completion of degree requirements within the college. Academic departments may also be involved in the verification process. Degree requirement questions from candidates should be directed to the appropriate college office representative. Colleges notify candidates of any degree requirement issues that may result in the denial of their degree for that particular semester.

    Final Graduation Approval/Denial

    Two weeks after the close of the term, a candidate list and updated DARS reports are sent to the college for a final review of degree requirements. The colleges confer or deny each degree and notify the Office of the University Registrar. Students who are denied graduation must re-apply by the posted deadline for the term in which they will complete their requirements.

Correctional Education Students

Correctional Education students can request a paper graduation application form from their academic advisor.

Graduation Latin Honors

To be eligible for honors, you must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours (48 quarter hours for those students that graduated under the quarter system) of bachelor's degree courseworkwith letter grades that affect your GPA in residence at Ohio University. The honors printed in the commencement program are tentative, based on the most recent GPA prior to the final semester. Final honors will be determined after grades are processed.

If you receive a bachelor's degreeand you graduate with an accumulative grade point average (GPA), you will automatically be awarded Latin Honors.  Graduation with honors does not apply to associates or graduate degrees. 

Accumulative GPA Latin Honors Cord Color
3.500 to 3.749
Cum Laude Bronze
3.750 to 3.899
Magna Cum Laude Silver
3.900 to 4.000
Summa Cum Laude Gold

Degree-bearing Transcript and Degree Verification Availability

Availability  Degree-bearing Transcript/Degree Verification
Spring 2023-24 May 31, 2024
Summer 2023-24 September 11, 2024
Fall 2024-25 January 16, 2025 

Degree-bearing Transcript

Degree-bearing transcripts will not be available until four to six weeks after graduation. A copy of your transcript will not be mailed with your diploma, but transcript may be ordered online, in person, by fax, or through the mail. If you wish your transcript(s) to indicate your recently conferred degree, you must specifically indicate this on your request. Please note, same day transcripts processes immediately and may not include grades or degrees. If you have questions concerning your transcript, please contact the Office of the University Registrar, 740.593.4200 or transcripts@ohio.edu .

Degree Verification Letters

Once degrees are awarded, students may print a degree verification letter. Please visit the Enrollment/Degree Verification webpage for more information and the types of verification letters available. The verification letters are free for students to print or email. Students must have an active OHIO student account to obtain verifications.

Diploma/Certificate Availability

Availability  Diplomas Mailed
Spring 2023-24 June 14, 2024
Summer 2023-24 September 23, 2024
Fall 2024-25 February 3, 2024

Your diploma/certificate will be mailed to you approximately eight weeks after graduation to the address supplied on your graduation application. The Office of the University Registrar receives the graduation conferral/denial lists from the college offices indicating the graduation status of each candidate. Diplomas are mailed First Class. Diplomas will not be mailed for students with financial or other obligations to the University until the holds are released. 

Diplomas/Certificates are issued by Ohio University in the following sizes: 

  • Certificate 11W x 8.5H
  • Associate Degree 11W x 8.5H
  • Bachelor's and Master's Degree 14W x 11H
  • Doctoral and Medical 15W x 12H.

If your diploma mailing address changes or you have questions concerning your diploma, please contact the Graduation Department, 740.593.4196 or graduation@ohio.edu .

CeDiplomas/CeCertificates
Register/download your CeDiploma (Spring 2016 graduates or after)
Registrar/download your CeCertificate (Fall 2019 graduate or after)
Replacement Diploma

Commencement Ceremonies

Ohio University Event Services emails commencement ceremony information to all graduation applicants to announce which ceremony to attend, based on the student's college. Students who apply for graduation are listed as "Candidates for Degrees" in the commencement program since final approval of the degree is completed after the close of the semester. Students that have requested confidentiality of their educational records must release the confidentiality hold in order to be included in the commencement program. 

Please note:  Graduation Department only handles the graduation application process.  For information regarding the commencement ceremony, ordering of cap and gown (regalia) and frequently asked questions regarding the ceremony will be posted on the commencement website. If you have additional questions not provided on their webpage, please email commencement@ohio.edu

Commencement Details

Commencement Ceremony Dates

Spring Semester 2023-24

Student Level Commencement Ceremony Date
Graduate Friday, May 3, 2024
Undergraduates (2 ceremonies) Saturday, May 4, 2024
Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine Saturday, May 11, 2024

Summer Semester 2023-24

Student Level Commencement Ceremony Date
Graduate Students are invited to attend fall commencement ceremony in December 14, 2024
Undergraduates Students are invited to attend fall commencement ceremony in December 14, 2024

Fall Semester 2024-25

Student Level Commencement Ceremony Date
Graduate Saturday, December 14, 2024
Undergraduate Saturday, December 14, 2024

Graduation Reception

Receptions are held by each college for those students participating in the annual commencement. The locations and dates of the receptions are determined by each college. Please contact your college for details.

Cap and Gown Information (Regalia)

Information about the commencement ceremony and cap and gown sales is available at the commencement website

For questions, contact commencement@ohio.edu or call the office of Event Services at 740.593.4020.

Graduation Announcements

Graduation announcements are available through Ohio University Printing Services .

The local bookstores also have graduation announcements and diploma frames available for purchase.

Graduation Department

Office of the University Registrar
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