Office of the Registrar

Undergraduate Students

Currently enrolled undergraduate students who have earned 86+ hours are considered eligible to apply for graduation. Students will receive an email at the beginning of the term alerting them that the application for graduation is open along with instructions on how to apply through their AppalNet.

Graduation Terms: Spring, Summer and Fall

Undergraduate students are highly encouraged to apply for graduation in the term immediately preceding the one in which they will complete all coursework and requirements for graduation (including internships, study abroad, etc.). This will allow the college to send information about remaining graduation requirements before students register for their final semester. 

Graduate Students

Graduate students should contact the Grad School directly and visit here https://graduate.appstate.edu/enrolled-students/graduation-faqs for deadlines and information.

Once you have applied to graduate, the Advising and Student Records Specialists of your college and major will review your academic record. You will be notified about your progress toward meeting the requirements for your specific degree and major. Access Degree Works for monitoring of students' academic progress toward degree completion.

The Dean’s office will clear students that have met the requirements for graduation. This must happen before the official conferring and awarding of degrees by the Registrar’s Office. If a student has not met all degree requirements for that term, the graduation application will either be rolled to the next graduation date or it will be removed. 

Yes. The graduation application must be submitted by the given deadline for each term in order to have your degree awarded and receive your diploma. You can view your application by going to your Student Profile in AppalNet, look under “Graduation Information” and click on “Active 1”. If you need to make changes to your application, including diploma delivery address, please email graduation@appstate.edu and include your Banner ID.

Walking in Commencement is not synonymous with Graduation. We do hope you choose to participate in the ceremony. Please visit the App State Commencement Website for all the details.

Undergraduate Students

A $15 fee will be applied to your student account for each graduation application. A separate application should be submitted for each degree/major. Select the term that you plan to complete all requirements, not just the term you plan to participate in commencement. If a graduation application has to be removed due to incompletion, we are unable to refund that fee.

Graduate Students

Please visit Graduate School Graduation Information for graduation fees and information.

Undergraduate Students

If you need to make changes to your application, including diploma delivery address, please email graduation@appstate.edu and include your Banner ID.

Graduate Students

Contact gradschool@appstate.edu or visit https://graduate.appstate.edu/students/graduation for any changes you need to make regarding your graduation application.

To be eligible for graduation with Latin Honors, an undergraduate student must complete, in residence at Appalachian, a minimum of 30 semester hours:

• Minimum grade-point average of 3.45 is required for graduating cum laude;
• Minimum grade-point average of 3.65 is required for graduating magna cum laude;
• Minimum grade-point average of 3.85 is required for graduating summa cum laude.

Distribution of Cords and Stoles

• Latin honor cords are distributed by the Office of the Registrar and will be available for pickup approximately two weeks prior to commencement or on the day of the ceremony. An email will be sent to eligible graduates with information and instructions.
• University, college and departmental honor medals are provided to graduates in person upon completion of their honors thesis and/or courses.
• Military cords can be picked up in the Student Veteran Resource Center in Plemmons Student Union prior to commencement, or at the check-in table on the day of the ceremony. Contact the SVRC with questions.
• Other cords and stoles are handled via the individual clubs and organizations to which a graduate belongs, and inquiries about how to obtain them should be directed to the club or organization.

Cord and Stole Guidelines 

• Gold cords are reserved for students graduating with Latin honors — defined as those graduates who have earned a designation of cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude.
• University, college and departmental honor cords are awarded to those graduates who successfully complete a series of honors courses and a senior honors thesis.
• Red, white and blue cords are reserved for graduates who are serving or have served in the United States Armed Forces.
• Alternate cord colors are permissible with approval of the Office of Campus Activities for other recognized honor programs and societies.
• Sashes and stoles may be worn by members of recognized international student organizations, athletic teams, service and service/academic organizations, and Greek-letter organizations so long as they follow these guidelines:
  • Sashes/stoles may not be wider than 5 inches. The length is optional.
  • Sashes/stoles imprinted with the organization's name, initials and achievements may not display any derogatory or offensive language, nor should they draw undue attention to an individual person or group that would detract from the occasion.

It is a policy of the State of North Carolina that diplomas may be withheld until all financial obligations to the university, other than student loans, are paid in full.

Graduating students should contact the following areas to ensure that their accounts are clear:

• Student Accounts Office (828-262-2113)
• Library (828-262-2818)
• University Bookstore (828-262-3070)

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.

*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.