A candidate for a bachelor's degree should submit an Application for Graduation when two semesters remain to complete the requirements for the degree and when 90 units have been completed so that a graduation evaluation of credit can be provided prior to registration for the student's final term.

A candidate for a doctoral/master's degree should submit an Application for Graduation in the first two weeks of a term or, the first week of a summer session in which the work is to be completed.

A student who applies for graduation, but does not meet all degree requirements for the term requested, will be required to reapply for graduation for the term in which all requirements will be satisfied and pay a reapplication fee in order to be eligible for continued enrollment.

Application for Graduation | Apply now

Filing Deadlines for Undergraduates

See Graduate student dates

Term in which you complete your degree requirements Priority Deadline to receive Graduation Approval Form prior to last registration Fee for Graduation Application Form
Fall 2023 February 22, 2023 $60
Spring 2024 September 18, 2023 $60
Summer 2024 September 18, 2023 $60
Fall 2024 March 29, 2024 $60

Apply & Begin the Graduation Process

Bachelor’s Degree Applicants

A candidate for a bachelor’s degree should submit, via email, an Application for Graduation to Enrollment Services when two semesters remaining to complete requirements for the degree and when 90 units have been completed so that a graduation evaluation of credit can be provided prior to registration for the student’s final term.

Once a graduation evaluation is completed, a student who requests a change in the major, minor, or concentration will be required to reapply for graduation by completing an Application for Graduation and pay a $10 re-application fee.

A student who does not meet all degree requirements for the term requested will be required to reapply for graduation for the term in which all requirements will be satisfied and pay a $10 re-application fee.

To apply and begin the Graduation process, complete the Application for Graduation form and follow the steps below:

  1. Log on to your MyStanState, click on Student Services Center
  2. Click the green make a payment/view e-bill box
  3. Select Registration Fees on the right side of the screen
  4. Select Fall Future Fees
  5. Enter 60.00 in the Price box if it is your first time applying or 10.00 if you are reapplying, and Graduation Application in the Description box
  6. Click Add to Basket and proceed to complete payment

Enrollment Services will verify the payment has been posted prior to processing the form. If you do not have access to your MyStanState--Student Services Center, please mail the form along with a $60 or $10 check or money order to the address below:

Stanislaus State
Attn: Cashiers
One University Circle Turlock, CA 95328

Graduation Application Process

  • Upon receipt of the Application for Graduation, your evaluator will review your Stan State academic record, including any transfer courses. This process may take up to 8 weeks, as the number of students that apply for graduation is significant.
  • Upon completion of the review, your evaluator will send a Graduation Approval Form (GAF) to your major advisor via email and will copy you (the student) in the email.
  • Your major advisor or major department chairperson will contact you to review your GAF via zoom or phone. Please note, each department handles the GAF process slightly differently.
  • Upon review of your GAF with your major department, and the documentation of classes remaining for the degree, the GAF will be forwarded to the Academic Success Center for a review of General Education and University Requirements. (College of Business Administration students: the entire GAF process will be handled by the Student Success Center.)
  • The reviewed GAF, including the remaining courses for graduation, will be sent to your evaluator in Enrollment Services.
  • Please note, in all cases, electronic signatures will suffice.
  • To track the progress of your GAF, log into your myStanState and click on ‘My Academics’ or ‘STAN Degree Progress’ in the top left corner. Your status will be displayed under the label ‘Graduation Status’. The status options are:
    • Applied for Graduation—this status indicates that your application has been received, but your evaluator has not yet completed the graduation evaluation.
    • In Review—indicates that the GAF has been sent to your Major Department Advisor.
    • Pending—indicates that Enrollment Services has received your signed GAF and is waiting for the final grades of your graduation term to be posted to begin the final review of your degree.

Master's/Doctoral Degree Applicants

Please visit the Graduation and Thesis/Project/Dissertation pages for more information.

Faculty Approval

Approval of the major advisor, department chair, and the Director of Academic Advising is required before the University may award a degree.

Graduation Honors

Graduation honors are awarded to students earning baccalaureate degrees at commencement on the basis of both their overall and Stanislaus State grade point averages achieved in their undergraduate work. Projected or estimated grade averages for degree candidates are excluded from grade point average calculations. Honors designation for Spring and Summer candidates in the Commencement program is based on grades earned by the end of Winter Term. GPAs are not rounded up and exceptions are not made. To receive an honor, both averages must meet the standards as follows:

Cum Laude 3.40-3.59
Magna Cum Laude 3.60-3.79
Summa Cum Laude 3.80-4.0

Graduation FAQs

  • Graduation is the conferral of a degree and the issuance of a diploma. A student graduates when he/she has filed an application for graduation and has fulfilled all the requirements for their degree. Students who have applied for graduation may participate in the Commencement ceremony, but this participation does not imply that they have graduated or that they have completed degree requirements.
  • Commencement is the formal ceremony that is held each May to recognize and honor the achievements of degree candidates, graduates, and teaching credential recipients.
  • Each spring the Commencement brochure includes students who graduated the previous fall and applicants for the current spring and summer. If you do not fall into the above group, your name will not appear in the commencement brochure.

Refer to the University Catalog for the academic year in which you were admitted under BA requirements to your degree program for details regarding your particular major and unit requirements. No more than 70 units taken at a community college or another two-year college may be applied to this total.

Yes. Notify your academic advisor to receive advisement and to complete a Declaration or Change of Degree Objective. You may submit this form to Enrollment Services prior to your graduation date to inform us of your intention to pursue a minor/certificate.

  • The award of a minor/certificate will be reflected on your transcript but not on your diploma. Your minor can only be awarded at the same time as your Bachelor's degree and not afterward.
  • If you have already applied to graduate and which to add a minor/concentration you must reapply to graduate.

You may complete two major programs simultaneously, but both major programs must be completed by your graduation date. See the policy for multiple major and/or minors in the catalog.

No. However the second major will be noted on your academic transcript.

You will need to re-submit an Application for Graduation, along with the processing fee, to the Cashier's office.  Registration in the term following the anticipated date of graduation is not permitted unless an Application for Graduation form and fee is received and processed by Enrollment Services.

You will NOT receive a new Graduation Approval Form (unless you are changing your major, adding a concentration, or minor). Use the first form received when you filed your first application and obtain the required signatures as normal.

Yes. However, this requires careful planning with your major advisor or evaluator.

Depending on the number of graduates this process can take up to 6-8 weeks after grades have been posted.

Diplomas are ordered only after all graduates have cleared. We will send notice of the anticipated date diplomas will be mailed along with the verification of graduation letter.

Transcripts are the formal verification of degree(s) earned. You can obtain official transcripts online at www.studentclearinghouse.org, by mail by submitting a Request for Transcript form to the Enrollment Services Center in the Mary Stuart Rogers Building, Suite # MSR 120. Make sure to indicate on your request form "when degree is posted."

more information on transcript requests

You will be notified by mail with a copy of your outstanding degree requirements.  You may need to change your graduation term and complete the remaining requirements.

You can attend classes only if you have reapplied and have been admitted as a graduate student. Please see the graduate school regarding application deadlines and procedures.

For degree requirements, you should contact your major department. If you have questions about the graduation process, contact the Enrollment Services office.

Updated: March 05, 2024