Graduation

Congratulations! Graduation is a significant milestone for you, your family, and the faculty and staff who have supported you throughout your time at Charlotte. We eagerly anticipate celebrating your achievement at the Commencement ceremony, a cherished tradition for us all.

The information provided on this page will guide you through the graduation process. Please review and follow these steps carefully. If you need any assistance, the Graduation Services team in the Office of the Registrar is ready to support you as you transition from student to alumni.

Contact the Graduation Services Team

Apply For graduation

Degree Candidates: Degree candidates must apply for graduation for degree awarding and are eligible to participate in the Commencement Ceremony for the term in which they anticipate completing all requirements. Summer candidates will participate in the fall commencement ceremony.

All students intending to graduate must apply for graduation regardless of whether they intend to participate in the commencement ceremony. Students who do not apply for graduation will not have their degree(s) or certificate(s) awarded and will not receive their diploma. Students must apply by the Graduation Application deadlines listed below.

Undergraduate students who are enrolled in Fall and will be graduating in Fall/December will have their annual awarded loan amount prorated for their final term.  It is in your best interest to notify the Office of the Registrar and Office of Financial Aid by submitting your graduation application before your student loan has disbursed at the beginning of the term.

Graduation Application Dates
Graduation TermApplication OpensApplication DeadlineDegree Conferral Date
Fall 2024Oct. 1, 2023Sept. 19, 2024Dec. 12, 2024
Spring 2025March 1, 2024Feb. 13, 2025May 8, 2025
Summer 2025Nov. 1, 2024July 1, 2025Aug. 8, 2025
*Summer Candidates will participate in the Fall commencement ceremony.

What if I miss the application deadline? Late applications may be accepted. If you missed the deadline, undergraduate students can email graduation@charlotte.edu and graduate students can email their college liaison to request a late graduation application. Please note, students who apply late for graduation risk not having their name included in the Commencement Program.

How to Apply for Graduation
  1. Log in to MyCharlotte
  2. Select Student Self Service under Quick Links.
  3. Under Student Records, select Apply to Graduate.
  4. For Curriculum Selection, the graduation application is asking for your last term of enrollment, not the term in which you wish to graduate. If you are currently enrolled in classes, you will select the current semester.
  5. Select the Program and click Continue. Only one curriculum may be selected at a time.
  6. Select your Graduation Date and then click Continue.
  7. Enter your name as you wish it to appear on your diploma. You can choose your current name from the drop down or enter a new name. Click Continue.
  8. Using the drop-down menu, select the mailing address you want your diploma to be mailed to, or select new to add a new address. Click Continue.
  9. Review your graduation application summary to verify all information is correct; if yes, click Submit Request. If you need to make changes, click Back.
  10. Review the Acknowledgement for the submission of your graduation application. The Acknowledgement page confirms your graduation application was submitted successfully.
  11. For additional questions, Undergraduate students can email graduation@charlotte.edu and Graduate students can email their college liaison.

Additional Notes

  • During the Graduation Application process, students will be asked to verify the name to be printed on their diploma and/or graduate certificate, and to provide the address where their diploma and/or graduate certificate will be mailed after degrees and graduate certificates are conferred.
  • Students who are graduating with dual degrees (ex. Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Science or Master of Business Administration & Master of Accountancy) must apply for graduation twice. Dual degree students will receive two diplomas. Students who are pursuing a double major for the same degree (ex. Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics) must also apply for graduation twice. Double major students will receive one diploma with both majors listed.

After applying for graduation

Once you have submitted your application for graduation you are now on the list of degree candidates. Please consult your academic advisor or graduate program director for guidance on any remaining requirements that need to be fulfilled for graduation. Additionally, pay close attention to your UNC Charlotte email account for important information about missing degree requirements, Commencement and diplomas.

The Acknowledgement page following submission of the graduation application confirms successful submission. You may also confirm your graduation application by reviewing the Pending Graduation Application(s) listed in the header of your DegreeWorks audit. Graduation Services sends a confirmation email after the graduation application deadline has officially closed for that term.

Confirming Your Graduation Application Submission

There are several ways to confirm your graduation application submission and details:

  • Students may view their Graduation Application in Self-Service Banner.
    • Log in to MyCharlotte
    • Select Student Self Service under Quick Links
    • Under Student Records, select Student Profile
    • Under Graduation Information, if active graduation applications exist, click on the link to view your active graduation application(s)
  • Review the Pending Graduation Application(s) listed in the header of your DegreeWorks audit.
  • Graduation Services sends a confirmation email after the graduation application deadline has officially closed for that term.

To update your graduation term, diploma name or diploma address, Undergraduate students can email graduation@charlotte.edu and Graduate students can email their college liaison. Please include your Student ID and the details of your request.

Connect with the UNC Charlotte Alumni Association by signing up for the GOLD Alumni Network and checking out the New Grad Resources.

Commencement

Commencement is one of Charlotte’s most cherished traditions. Commencement is held in Halton Arena annually in fall (December) and spring (May) to recognize our graduates.

  • You will participate in the commencement ceremony for the term in which you complete your degree requirements.
  • If you complete your degree in the summer or fall terms, you will participate in the December Commencement Ceremonies.

Visit the Commencement website and monitor your University email for information about your commencement ceremony.

Degree audit

The Graduation Services team in the Office of the Registrar is responsible for auditing undergraduate degree records for degree completion and awarding degrees after graduation. Your degree audit is reviewed, at minimum, three times prior to graduation to ensure all requirements are met. If you are missing degree requirements, you will be notified via your UNC Charlotte email account. You can view your degree audit in DegreeWorks – the official university degree auditing system.

DegreeWorks

DegreeWorks is an online tool that the University uses to determine if you have met the requirements of your degree for graduation. You can utilize it to see program requirements and track degree progress. DegreeWorks also provides:

  • What-If Audit to show how a change of major, minor, concentration or catalog year could impact your degree progress
  • Future Classes feature to see if a requirement could be fulfilled
  • GPA Calculator to see what is needed to achieve your desired GPA

Although DegreeWorks is a great online tool, it does not replace the need to work with your academic advisor. It is helpful to check your degree worksheet at the end of each term and also when registering for future terms.

  • To access DegreeWorks, log in to MyCharlotte, then click on the DegreeWorks icon under Quick Links.

Need Assistance?

Audit Review
Audit ReviewReview Process
Initial ReviewThe Initial Review process begins after students register for their intended term of graduation.

It is likely that all students who have applied for graduation will receive audit results prior to the end of the first week of classes of their intended graduation term. However, students who applied in the term preceding their intended graduation term will receive priority in the review process.
Comprehensive ReviewThe Comprehensive Review process begins after the add/drop period for full-term courses in the intended graduation term. This review is initiated by Graduation Services and completed by the student’s academic department or program. Students who are not meeting requirements will be notified via their UNC Charlotte email account. If requirements are not met by midterm of the intended graduation term, students will be notified by Graduation Services and instructed to update their graduation application to the next term.

The Degree Works audit should reflect 98% or 100% degree completion and all degree requirements should indicate complete or in-progress for graduating students, once they have registered for their final semester.
Final Review & Degree AwardingThe Final Review process begins the week after graduation when final grades are posted. Students who are meeting all degree requirements will have their degree formally awarded 6-8 business days after commencement. Students who are not meeting requirements may be deferred to the next term and will be notified by Graduation Services.

To confirm your degree has been awarded, check your unofficial transcript in MyCharlotte. The conferral date will be listed once the degree is awarded.

Summer graduates, regardless of degree completion in H1 or H2, will be awarded degrees at the end of the full summer term (August) after final grades have been posted.

Graduation Information updates

Updating your Graduation Term, Diploma Name, or Diploma Mailing Address: If you determine that you will not graduate in the term for which you applied or need to update your diploma name or diploma mailing address, Undergraduate students can email graduation@charlotte.edu and Graduate students can email their college liaison.

  • Students who update their diploma mailing address or diploma name must contact the Graduation Team at least one week prior to graduation. Updating your permanent or mailing address in Student Self-Service will not update your diploma mailing address.

Graduation with distinction

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte awards baccalaureate degrees with different levels of distinction.

To be eligible to graduate with distinction, a student must be in good academic standing and have a grade point average computed on at least 48 credit hours completed in residence at UNC Charlotte. Students who have fewer than 48 credit hours completed in residence at UNC Charlotte may submit an academic petition to receive graduation with distinction. Students enrolled in a degree completion program at UNC Charlotte for which there are less than 48 credit hours required for the major are exempt from this credit hour requirement and are not required to file a petition.

Baccalaureate degrees are awarded with distinction based on the following grade point average range for all courses attempted:

  • 3.400 – 3.699 GPA – Cum Laude (“With Honor”)
  • 3.700 – 3.899 GPA – Magna Cum Laude (“With Great Honor”)
  • 3.900 – 4.000 GPA – Summa Cum Laude (“With Highest Honor”)

Because grades are not official until after the commencement ceremony, the initial graduation distinction designation is based on the student’s GPA at the end of the semester prior to the graduating semester. Students who have not met the GPA requirements to be designated as graduating with academic distinction at the time of commencement will not be allowed to walk as an honors recipient or to purchase honors cords from the University Bookstore. Official graduation with distinction designation will be determined after the commencement ceremony when term grades are official, and the institutional GPA is recalculated. GPA calculations are generally reported to three decimal places and should be truncated when shortened, never rounded up. For example, a GPA of 3.489 would be written as 3.489, 3.48, or 3.4. Students who graduate with distinction will have their honors status (cum laude, etc.) notated on their official academic transcript and their diploma.

Graduation policies

Graduation policies support the academic integrity of the university while promoting student success. All students applying for graduation should review and understand the various policies governing degree conferral.

graduation faqs

What is the difference between “graduation” and “commencement”?

Graduation: The official date that all degree requirements are completed. All general education, major, minor, certificates, internships, education abroad, incomplete grades, etc. must be COMPLETE. Graduation happens three times per year: May, August, & December

Commencement: The ceremony to celebrate a student’s achievements. Commencement only happens twice per year: May (Spring) & December (Fall).

Do I need to apply to graduate if I don’t plan to attend commencement?

Yes, students who do not apply for graduation will not have their degree awarded and will not receive a diploma. 

Walking in the Commencement Ceremony is not synonymous with graduating; however, we hope you will choose to participate. Please visit UNC Charlotte’s Commencement site for ceremony details.

When should I apply for graduation?
  • Review your DegreeWorks audit and meet with your academic advisor/department before applying.
  • Students must apply for graduation by the deadline posted in the Academic Calendar for the term in which they will complete their requirements.
  • Students may apply for graduation three terms prior to the term in which they plan to graduate. For example, a student planning to graduate in Spring 2024 may apply as early as Summer 2023.
  • Be sure that you have declared your full program (Majors, Minors, Concentrations) but do not wait for program updates to be made before applying. Graduation Services will update your graduation application with the approved program updates.