Frequently Asked Questions
Commencement 2024
Commencement ceremonies are held once a year at the end of the spring term for students who graduated in fall of the previous year, and candidates for graduation in spring and summer of the current year.
Enrolled students must apply to graduate online through my.SDSU during the open application filing periods by selecting the “Application for Graduation” menu option through the “Academic Records” tile. Additional information for undergraduates can be found on the Apply to Graduate website. For graduate students, please review the Graduation Information website under Applying for Graduation.
If you graduated in fall 2023 or have applied to graduate for spring 2024 or summer 2024 during the open application filing period, you will be eligible to participate in the May 2024 commencement ceremonies.
If you applied to graduate after the spring and summer graduation application filing period had closed, you must verify with your College Commencement Coordinator if you are eligible to participate or if you must wait until the following commencement ceremony in May 2025.
Master’s and doctoral students should visit the Graduate Studies website for more information on graduation.
The graduation fee covers the costs of the diploma, diploma cover and administrative graduation conferral and processing. The fee also partially funds the commencement ceremony.
If you have graduated in fall 2023 or applied to graduate in spring 2024 or summer 2024, you will be eligible to participate in the May 2024 commencement ceremonies and your name will be listed in the digital program.
Candidates’ names will be listed whether or not they elect to participate in commencement. The presence or absence of your name in the digital program does not, in itself, indicate whether you have completed degree requirements.
Your name will not be listed in the digital commencement program if you have placed a confidential hold on your record. To remove your confidential hold, log in to your my.SDSU account and follow the instructions to release your information or contact the Office of the Registrar. Failure to remove your confidential hold by Monday, April 15 date may result in your name not being included in the digital program.
Updates will be posted on the SDSU Commencement website as they become available. Students will receive information via their official SDSU email account (@sdsu.edu). Students are encouraged to check their official SDSU email account frequently.
Graduation with honors is granted to undergraduate students who achieve high grade point averages. Excellence is recognized at three levels:
- Cum laude (3.50-3.64)
- Magna cum laude (3.65-3.79)
- Summa cum laude (3.80-4.00)
For determination of eligibility, two grade point averages are computed; both must satisfy the minimum grade point average for appropriate honors designation. They are the GPA calculated on all units taken at this institution (a minimum of 24 graded units), and the overall (cumulative) grade point average (including both SDSU and transfer units).
Only summa cum laude students will be awarded an honors cord to be worn during the commencement ceremony. Students will be notified via email in April by the Office of the Provost regarding instructions on summa cum laude honors cord distribution.
For questions about your honors status, please contact the Office of the Registrar.
SDSU is partnering with MarchingOrder to provide candidate registration and prerecorded, professional name reading.
Applying for graduation and registering to attend your commencement ceremony are two different but related activities. Applying and paying your graduation fee ensures that your degree will be evaluated after coursework is complete for the semester in which you applied to graduate and your degree will be conferred if appropriate. Registering for attendance at your ceremony ensures that tickets will be issued for your guests. Attending commencement is not, in itself, indicative of all degree requirements being met.
Candidates will receive an email to their @sdsu email account on Monday, March 18 with a MarchingOrder registration link. Candidates can also register directly on MarchingOrder on or after March 18.
All candidates planning to participate in Commencement 2024 at Viejas Arena must register in advance in order to attend.
Registration to attend your ceremony is required by Sunday, April 14.
Students who graduated in Fall 2023 or applied for Spring/Summer 2024 graduation by the January 30, 2024 filing deadline will have the opportunity to claim a limited number of guest tickets for commencement ceremonies taking place at Viejas Arena. All guest tickets are complimentary and will be digital/mobile tickets.
Read more about guest tickets.
All guests who are 1 year of age and older are required to have a ticket to attend commencement. The only exception to this rule are babies under the age of 1 who must be seated on an adult’s lap.
Read more about guest tickets.
SDSU’s annual GradFest event is held prior to commencement where graduates will receive special pricing on regalia and diploma frames, as well as information regarding photography and other graduation-related items.
This year GradFest will be held March 26 - 28 from 9:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. in Montezuma Hall on the SDSU campus.
Regalia can also be ordered online through the SDSU Bookstore beginning March 29.
Diplomas are not distributed at commencement. The diplomas are issued by the University after verification that all degree requirements have been completed and degree has been conferred. Graduates will be mailed their diploma from SDSU vendor, Michael Sutter, approximately 3-4 weeks after their degree has been granted. For more information about diplomas, please visit the Undergraduate Diploma webpage for Undergraduates and the Graduation Information webpage for Graduates.
Diploma frames are available through the SDSU Bookstore.
Diploma covers are traditionally distributed at commencement and will be handed to you as you cross the stage.
If you will be completing a bachelor's degree, please contact the Office of the Registrar to request a graduate candidate letter.
If you will be completing a master's or doctoral degree, please reach out to the SDSU College of Graduate Studies for official documentation regarding your graduation status. The CGS team can be reached 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday - Thursday, in person at Student Services East (SSE) 1410, via phone at 619-594-5213 or via email at [email protected].
Please email [email protected] with any additional questions.
