Office of the Registrar

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: The ceremony to celebrate a student’s achievements. 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 completing all coursework in August may choose to walk in the following December commencement ceremony; however, students applying for August graduation will have their names appear in the prior May Commencement Ceremony program. Contact the dean’s office for information.

Please make sure any fees, including your application for graduation fee and any other outstanding balance, is paid by the end of the semester in which you are graduating. 

It is a policy of the State of North Carolina that neither diplomas nor transcripts can be released if the student has an unpaid account with the University. 

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)

Note: Students who have received a federal loan (Perkins or Stafford) are required to have an "exit interview" prior to graduation. Please contact the Financial Aid Office (828-262-2190) for assistance.

For teacher candidates who anticipate applying for Teacher Licensure, information regarding the process will be provided by the Reich College of Education's Office of Field Experiences during your student teaching semester.  

Do not apply for Teacher Licensure any earlier than your student teaching semester when you receive this information. For more information, visit https://rcoe.appstate.edu/students/licensure-certification.

To be eligible for graduation with honors, an undergraduate student must complete, in residence at Appalachian, a minimum of 48 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.

The GPA used to recognize candidates for Latin honors (during the ceremony) is the cumulative GPA earned through the immediately preceding (not the current) semester. Candidates for Latin, University, College or Departmental honors will be recognized during the ceremony. Diploma and transcripts will indicate Latin honors earned after a student’s final GPA is determined.

Note: Credit for which a grade is not awarded will not be used in the determination of honors.

Note: Students that have been granted forgiveness are not eligible to graduate with Latin honors.

Distribution of Cords and Stoles

For information about eligibility for honor cords, please review “How do I graduate with Honors?” on the Office of the Registrar website.

• 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.
• Military cords can be picked up in the Student Veteran Resource Center (SVRC) in Plemmons Student Union prior to commencement, or at the check-in table on the day of the ceremony. Contact the SVRC with questions.
• University, college and departmental honor medals are provided to graduates in person upon completion of their honors thesis and/or courses.
• 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.
• Other cord colors are permissible with approval of the Registrar 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.

Undergraduate Students

Email graduation@appstate.edu if you need to make any changes to your degree application after it is submitted.

If the term you will meet your graduation requirements changes, you must contact the graduation team to have your current application moved to another available term. 

Graduate Students

Visit https://graduate.appstate.edu/enrolled-students/graduation-faqs.

Undergraduate Students

A $15 graduation application fee will be applied to your student account for each term you apply to graduate and for each distinct degree. 

You should select the term that represents when you will complete ALL requirements for graduation, not the term you plan to participate in commencement. 

Please make sure any fees, including your graduation application fee and any other outstanding balances, are paid by the end of the semester in which you are planning to graduate.

Graduate Students

Please visit https://graduate.appstate.edu/enrolled-students/graduation-faqs for fees and information.

Yes. Students who do not submit an application for graduation will not have their degree awarded and will not receive a diploma. 

Walking in the Commencement Ceremony is not synonymous with graduating; however, we hope you will choose to participate. Please visit Appalachian’s Commencement site for ceremony details. 

Based on your formal application to graduate, the Dean’s Office of your major college will review your academic record and notify you whether you have met the requirements to be awarded your degree.

If you have not met all degree requirements for that term, your application will be rolled to the next available term. 

Your degree will not be awarded until you have been cleared by the college as meeting the requirements for graduation, and have an active graduation application for the term in which you are cleared. 

The graduation check-out is what prompts the Registrar's Office to award your degree once the college confirms all requirements have been met.

Undergraduate Students

Currently enrolled undergraduate students who have enough earned hours to be eligible to apply for graduation will receive an email at the beginning of the term alerting them that the application for graduation is open. The email will also provide detailed instructions on how to apply through your AppalNet account. 

Undergraduate students must 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 colleges to send information about remaining graduation requirements before students register for their final semester. 

Graduate Students

Graduate students should visit https://graduate.appstate.edu/enrolled-students/graduation-faqs for deadlines and information.

Students Completing Degree Requirements in Summer

Students completing degree requirements in the summer are permitted to walk in May Commencement.  

Note: Only students who have applied for graduation by the deadline in the correct term will have their names printed in the Commencement program.