GRADUATION: The official date that all degree requirements are completed. All general education, major, minor, certificates, internships, incomplete grades, etc. must be COMPLETE. Graduation happens three times per year: May, August, & December
COMMENCEMENT: A ceremony celebrating your achievements. Attend the ceremony for your assigned college and major. Students with double majors in separate colleges can choose to attend one or both ceremonies. Commencement only happens twice per year: May & December.
Students must apply for the term in which they will graduate, not the term in which they will participate in commencement, and they should submit their graduation application in the semester prior to their last semester taking courses.
Complete all course requirements and grades posted: | Submit graduation application by: | Apply for graduation term: | Walk in commencement ceremony: |
Spring Term | Prior Fall Term | May | Spring/May |
Any Summer term | Prior Fall Term | August | Spring/May* |
Fall Term | Prior Spring Term | December | Fall/December |
*Students graduating in August will automatically be included to walk and participate in the May commencement ceremony prior to their summer graduation. Their names will also be printed in the digital commencement program under “Candidates for Degrees”.
If a student requests to walk in a different commencement ceremony other than their official graduation, contact graduation@appstate.edu for information on how to approve the request.
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