Graduation and Commencement

Congratulations on getting close to earning your degree! We celebrate your hard work. Remember that while graduation and commencement are related, they are different events.

Graduation is the official granting of your degree. It occurs after you have completed degree requirements and been approved to graduate by Graduation Advising.

• You should apply to graduate one calendar year before your expected graduation term (the semester in which you expect to complete all degree requirements, including courses and internships). The early deadline gives us enough time to carefully review your Degree Progress Report and, if needed, contact you to make changes required to graduate as expected.
• If you apply to graduate on time and are approved, you may receive priority registration as a "graduating senior" in your last semester.

Commencement is the ceremony recognizing your accomplishment (and is sometimes called "walking" in reference to walking across the stage to receive the diploma cover). It occurs once a year in Spring semester. Students participate in the ceremony for the college offering their major; there are also special celebrations for academic and social communities.

• You must have already applied to graduate to be eligible to register for Commencement.
• You should register for Commencement in Spring semester. The Commencement Office will email instructions to your Chico State email account.