Preparing for Graduation

Commencement 2021: May 15 & 16 at XL Center in downtown Hartford. Learn more.

Congratulations! We can't wait to celebrate your achievements.

Before we celebrate at Commencement, there are a few steps you need to take.

Steps to Commencement

Application Process

When you are nearing completion of your program, you need to file a degree application with the Registrar’s Office in order to graduate. Paper degree application forms are available from your school evaluator. A fillable electronic version is available here Degree Application (PDF).

Once you have completed all sections of the application, submit it to your school/college evaluator for approval (see below for a listing of school/college evaluators). After the degree application has been signed by the evaluator, it must be turned in to the Registrar’s Office. The evaluator may send it to this office.

There are three graduation periods each academic year:

September
January
May.

Deadline dates for filing your degree application are in July, October, and February, respectively.

Application Fees

There is a fee for graduate students and part-time undergraduate students of $208, which is payable at the time the degree application is submitted. The fee for applications received after the filing deadline is $225.

If the degree candidate has paid the fee and does not graduate at the end of the initial semester of eligibility, the fee will be held and credited as payment for graduation during either of the following two consecutive semesters, including the summer session. If the candidate has not completed degree requirements during this time period, no refund will be granted. The candidate will need to file a new degree application, and a new fee will be charged.

Late Submissions

Students who submit their degree applications late may be omitted from the Commencement program, may have delays in the delivery of their diplomas, and may be unable to obtain a cap and gown for Commencement.