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Graduation at Columbus State

Applying for Graduation

APPLICATIONS FOR GRADUATION SHOULD NOT BE SUBMITTED UNTIL THE FINAL SEMESTER OF YOUR DEGREE PROGRAM AT COLUMBUS STATE.

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 2025

  • Priority Application Date: Friday, June 6, 2025
  • Final Application Date: Monday, July 14, 2025
  • 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.
  • Diplomas will be mailed to verified graduates eight (8) weeks after the conclusion of the semester.

AUTUMN SEMESTER 2025

  • Priority Application Date: Friday, September 26, 2025
  • Last day to request an International Student Graduation Application Verification Letter: Wednesday, November 19, 2025. 
  • Final Application Date: Monday, November 17, 2025*
    • * Last day to have your name included in Autumn Semester 2025 commencement ceremony. If you submit your application after this date, your name will not be included in the Autumn Semester 2025 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 19, 2025. 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.

SPRINg Semester 2026

  • Priority Application Date: Friday, February 13, 2026
  • Last day to request an International Student Graduation Application Verification Letter: Wednesday, April 15, 2026. 
  • Final Application Date: Monday, April 20, 2026*
       * Last day to have your name included in Spring Semester 2026 commencement     ceremony program. If you submit your application after this date, your name will not be included in the Spring Semester 2026 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 15, 2026. Graduate arrival time is 9:00 a.m. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m.
  • Diplomas will be mailed to verified graduates eight (8) weeks after commencement.

Get Ready 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.

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

Diplomas will be mailed 8 weeks after the semester ends. Diplomas are mailed via USPS. Please confirm that that your address is correct on your Graduation Application.

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.

Autumn Semester 2025 Commencement Ceremony

In-person ceremony will be held Friday, December 19, 2025 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 eight (8) weeks after commencement.

 

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

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. Students must request these letters by the deadline :

  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

Past Graduation Ceremonies

Spring 2025 Graduation- May 9, 2025

Autumn 2024 Graduation - Dec. 13, 2024

Spring 2024 Graduation - May 10, 2024

Autumn 2023 Graduation Ceremony - Dec. 15

Spring 2023 Graduation Ceremony - May 12

Graduation Ceremony Dec. 16, 2022

Graduation Ceremony Programs

 

 

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