Graduation Application
Required for all credential-seeking students
What is the Graduation Application?
The Graduation Application is required before a degree will be posted to a student's academic record. The application informs the Office of the Registrar (and other College offices) of the term a student intends to graduate. Seniors should apply to graduate at the beginning of the term in which they expect to complete all of their degree requirements. The application provides the Office of the Registrar with critical information about a student's chosen academic program; including degree, major, (concentrations, minors, etc. if applicable), expected graduation year and term. It also establishes a diploma address* and adds the graduation fee to the account of the applicant.
The Graduation Application also puts the student's name on the Office of the Registrar's graduation (diploma order, degree posting) and commencement** (commencement program, ceremony tickets) lists. Failure to complete the application promptly can result in a delay in both degree posting and diploma ordering. It can also result in the student's name being omitted from the commencement program and other commencement lists.
*Address where the diploma will be mailed after graduation **Participation in commencement is assumed and encouraged, however, it is not mandatory. Commencement information can be found on the Commencement Website.
Undergraduate Certificate-Seeking Students
Students completing an undergraduate certificate must complete and submit a graduation application before the credential is posted to a student's academic record. The application informs the Office of the Registrar (and other College offices) of the term a student intends to complete their certificate. Students should apply to graduate at the beginning of the term they expect to complete all of their certificate requirements. The application provides the Office of the Registrar with critical information about the student’s chosen certificate program; including their expected completion year and term. It also establishes a certificate mailing address* and adds the graduation fee to the account of the applicant. Failure to complete the application promptly can result in a delay in posting the certificate and certificate ordering. Undergraduate certificate students do not participate in the commencement ceremony.
*Address where the certificate will be mailed after the term ends.
How Do I Apply For Graduation?
Applying to graduate is a simple process that is done online through MyPortal. Click When to Apply for application deadlines.
- Login to MyPortal
- Click on the Graduation Application Tile
- Select Apply to Graduate. Follow the on-screen instructions.
- Be sure to review your application for accuracy before submitting it. Click the SUBMIT REQUEST button to activate your application. You will see a Graduation Application Confirmation page which will confirm that your application has been submitted (you will not get an email). You can click Submitted Graduation Applications from the Graduation Application tile to view your submitted application(s). If you have more than one curriculum you'll need to go back and apply for it as well if you intend to complete it in the same term.
The Graduation Application can be submitted only once per program of study (aka: curriculum). If you have two (or more) majors and they are listed separately on the application, please follow the directions for applying carefully. Contact the Registrar's Office if assistance is needed. Please note that your complete program of study (including degrees, majors, minors, concentrations, etc.) must be properly declared before you apply to graduate.
What if I encounter problems?
The Banner Self-Service on-line graduation application deadlines are October 1 for fall; February 1 for spring; and March 16 for summer. See the Late Application paragraph below for more information. See "When to Apply" below for dates* of availability. If you encounter problems when you apply or if you have questions about your graduation application, please send an email to graduation@cofc.edu for assistance.
How to change my graduation application (once submitted)
Students needing to change any graduation information (i.e. expected graduation term, diploma mailing address, modification to program of study, etc.) after submission of graduation application must complete the Graduation Update (PDF) form to inform the Office of the Registrar of such changes. Note: Students are not eligible to register for classes past the expected graduation term.
Late Application (after deadline)
Students who miss the deadline for applying via MyPortal may still apply by submitting a hard-copy Late Graduation Application form. The form is available in the Office of the Registrar, or may be requested via e-mail. Please note that a $25.00 late fee is charged to the account of late applicants, in addition to the regular graduation fee. Both fees are non-refundable and non-transferable to another term. Students should review their degree audit and/or confer with their advisor to be sure they are on track to graduate as planned before submitting the late application.
Graduation Fee
During the graduation application process, a Graduation Fee will be added to the student's account. Contact the Treasurer's Office if you have questions about payment options or deadlines. The Graduation Fee is a one-time, non-refundable fee that must be paid when the application is submitted, regardless of whether or not a student participates in commencement activities. Summer applicants may not be charged or billed for their graduation fee until mid-April. More information can be found on the Graduation Fee page.
Multiple Majors
Students completing multiple majors may need to complete the Graduation Application for each major. If the majors are contained in the same school (i.e. French and German are both in the School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs) only one application is needed. Apply for the term in which your entire program of study (all majors) will be completed. If you apply for more than one major in differing schools, you may be charged an extra $25 fee; the extra fee will be credited after the deadline date for application. Not sure which School offers your major? Please consult the Academics website.
If you intend to complete your two separate programs in two separate terms (i.e. I am finishing my English, BA in the spring and my Spanish, BA in the summer), please contact our office for assistance.
Multiple Degrees
Students entering under or using the 2008/09 catalog or subsequent year's catalog who plan to pursue more than one degree should review the Undergraduate Academic Catalog. Please see the Second Bachelor's Degree Policy under Academic Regulations.
When to Apply?
Graduation application is term driven (i.e., you must apply in the term you plan to complete your requirements). There are three (3) graduation terms:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer (The Summer term includes Maymester and all summer sessions.)
There are three degree conferral dates (when degrees are awarded/posted):
- Fall is in December
- Spring is in May
- Summer is in August (regardless of the summer session in which requirements are completed).
The exact dates vary but coincide with the end of each term. Commencement eligibility differs from graduation and depends on the term in which a student intends to graduate (e.g., you can graduate in fall but not participate in commencement until the following May). Information concerning commencement eligibility can be found on the Senior Information Website here: Commencement Eligibility
Students should apply to graduate online via MyPortal during their senior year, no later than the graduation application deadline. A Graduation Application is REQUIRED before a degree will be awarded.
| Expected Graduation Term | Apply Beginning*** | Deadline for Applying via MyPortal/Banner Self-Service*** |
| Fall 2022 | August 12, 2022 | October 3, 2022 |
| Spring 2023 | December 19, 2022 | February 1, 2023 |
| Summer 2023 (includes Maymester and all summer sessions) | February 8, 2023 | March 15, 2023 |
Failure to complete the Graduation Application in a timely manner will result not only in a $25.00 late fee, but may also cause delays in posting a student's degree and ordering his/her diploma. It may also result in the omission of the student's name from the Commencement Program and other important graduation lists. To avoid these issues, students are urged to apply before the deadline!
***Dates of operation are subject to change without notice. Contact the Office of the Registrar with any problems.