Graduation at Columbus State

Autumn 2023 commencement will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, December 15th at the Celeste Center, 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, OH 43211. It's not too late to participate! Complete a graduation application by Friday, September 22 to ensure your name is included in the program.

Tickets are not required for ceremony attendees, but parking is $5 per vehicle and can be paid by cash, credit card or Apple Pay. There is no limit on guest attendance. Click for driving directions to the Celeste Center.

Graduation Ceremony Livestream

Applying for Graduation

You're reaching the end of your program - congratulations! Columbus State Community College holds Commencement Ceremonies two times a year, on the last Friday of Autumn and Spring Semesters. Complete the graduation application below and follow the steps provided to get ready for graduation!

Application Deadline

Summer Semester 2023

Priority Application Date: Friday, June 09, 2023
Final Application Date: Monday, July 24, 2023
All graduates names appear in the commencement program. Please contact the Graduation Verification Office at graduation@cscc.edu if you prefer to not have your name appear in the program.
Commencement Ceremony: Summer graduates may attend a ceremony in December. Graduate arrival time is 9 a.m. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m.
Diplomas will be mailed to verified graduates six (6) weeks after commencement.

Autumn Semester 2023

Priority Application Date: Friday, September 22, 2023
Final Application Date: Monday, November 27, 2023*
*Last day to have your name included in Autumn Semester 2023 commencement ceremony. If you submit your application after this date, your name will not be included in the Autumn Semester 2023 commencement ceremony.
All graduates names appear in the commencement program. Please contact the Graduation Verification Office at graduation@cscc.edu if you prefer to not have your name appear in the program.
Commencement Ceremony: Friday, December 15, 2023. Graduate arrival time is 9 a.m. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m.
Diplomas will be mailed to verified graduates eight (8) weeks after commencement due to Winter Break.

Spring Semester 2024

Priority Application Date: Friday, February 09, 2024
Final Application Date: Monday, April 22, 2024*
*Last day to have your name included in Spring Semester 2024 commencement ceremony program. If you submit your application after this date, your name will not be included in the Autumn Semester 2023 commencement ceremony program.
All graduates names appear in the commencement program. Please contact the Graduation Verification Office at graduation@cscc.edu if you prefer to not have your name appear in the program.
Commencement Ceremony: Friday, May 10, 2024. Graduate arrival time is 9 a.m. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m.
Diplomas will be mailed to verified graduates six (6) weeks after commencement.

Get Ready for Graduation

1. Apply for Graduation

You may apply for graduation once you've completed all the criteria for your associate degree. Check your progress by running a Degree Audit on CougarWeb (make sure your major is correct.) Once that's done, complete the graduation application.

Graduation Application

Graduation Applications are processed during the semester you select to graduate. After you submit your application to graduate, you will be notified of the status of the Graduation Application via your Columbus State student e-mail. You'll be asked to confirm your address when you apply for graduation - please make sure that address is correct.

If you have submitted a Graduation Application and need more information or have questions you may contact the Graduation Office via email at graduation@cscc.edu

Certificates: If you are completing a certificate, do not submit the Graduation Application. Your certificate is processed by the academic department.

2. Check Your Email and U.S. Mail

We will communicate with you via your Columbus State student email concerning graduation information.

Diplomas will be mailed 6-weeks after the semester ends. Diplomas are mailed via USPS. Please confirm that that your address is correct on your Graduation Application.

3. Order Your Cap & Gown

Order your caps and gown from the Columbus State Bookstore. The cost of the cap, gown and Columbus State tassel is $35.99. There is no charge for cords.

4. The Commencement Ceremony

Autumn Semester 2023 Commencement Ceremony

In-person ceremony will be held Friday,December 15, 2023 at the Celeste Center. Graduate arrival time is 9 a.m. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m.

Diplomas will be mailed to verified graduates six (6) weeks after commencement.

5. Replacement Diplomas

Need to another copy of your diploma? Click to the Replacement Diploma page to order a new one.

6. Graduation Invitation Letter for International Students

Please read and follow the instructions on the document at the link below for International Students to provide a letter of invitation to family and friends to attend the graduation ceremony :

Graduation Invitation Letter Instructions for International Students

Administratively Granted Degree/Auto-Graduation

Most students will complete a Graduation Application during the semester they are finishing their degree requirements. If you missed this important step, we will process your graduation for you. To ensure you receive credit for all your hard work, when your Degree Audit Report (DARs), which is accessible through CougarWeb, indicates that you have completed all degree requirements, your official Columbus State Community College transcript will be updated to reflect that you have graduated.

If you are eligible for graduation through this administrative process, you will receive communication from the Graduation Office notifying you of your graduation eligibility and informing you about the process to receive a diploma and attend the graduation ceremony. If you have questions about this process, please contact graduation@cscc.edu