Application for Graduation

Any student pursuing a degree or certificate from Clayton State University must submit a graduation application to the Office of the Registrar at least two semesters in advance of the anticipated graduation date. The deadlines for submitting an application are:

Graduate Term Final Recommended Graduation Application Deadline
Fall June 1
Spring September 15
Summer January 30

Graduation Application Deadlines also can be found on the Registrar's Graduation Information page.

Students may graduate at the end of any semester in which they fulfill the degree requirements of the University. Degrees will be awarded only to students who have satisfied all the academic and administrative requirements of the University and the college awarding the degree. Students typically must satisfy the curricular degree requirements (the courses and grades required to earn the degree) of the catalog in effect at the time they enter Clayton State University. In some circumstances, revisions may be required to provide more effective programs. Changes in academic regulations, such as the scholastic discipline policy, procedures for removing incomplete grades, and appeals procedures, affect all students, regardless of the catalog edition. 

The University holds commencement ceremonies in the spring and the fall. Summer graduates are eligible to participate in the fall commencement ceremony. Traditionally, the spring undergraduate ceremony is conducted on the first Saturday in May, and the fall undergraduate ceremony is conducted on the first Saturday in December. The President of the University reserves the right to deviate from this tradition.

Because final grades are not reported to the Registrar's Office until after commencement, diplomas are not distributed at the ceremony. Final audits of all graduates are conducted in the weeks following commencement. Diplomas are available approximately eight weeks after the end of the semester. Diplomas not picked up will be mailed to the current address on file.