Applying for Graduation

Terminology

• Graduation - The Office of the Registrar oversees graduation. Graduation is the academic conferral of a degree after the student completes a program AND all requirements are verified as having been met by the Office of the Registrar. 
• Commencement - The Office of the Provost oversees Commencement. Commencement is the ceremony to celebrate a student’s completion or anticipated completion of a degree. 

NOTE: It is important to note that a student’s participation in commencement doesn’t equate to meeting all requirements to graduate --i.e., achieving academic conferral of an awarded degree. 

Applying for Graduation

Students should apply for graduation by the official deadline for the term in which they intend to graduate. You should apply for graduation by the official deadline even if you do not plan to participate in commencement.

Complete the checklist below to determine what you need to know about graduation.

Graduation Checklist

STEP 1. Review Official Application Deadlines

You should apply for graduation by the appropriate deadline:

• Fall 2025: Friday, October 3, 2025
• Spring 2026: Friday, February 20, 2026
• Summer 2026: Monday, July 6, 2026

Application Process

Undergraduate and graduate students should apply for graduation by the official deadline to initiate the official review of your records. This is a two-step process, whereby the student must pay the graduation application fee AND apply for graduation.

STEP 2: Pay Graduation Fee

When you apply for graduation, you will need to pay a one-time fee based on whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student. That fee is automatically applied to future applications, if needed.

• Undergraduate Students: $75
• Graduate Students: $100

Pay Online

If you are paying online, use your student ID number as the receipt number (also needed for Step 3 below). 

• Pay the undergraduate application fee
• Pay the graduate application fee

Allow the next business day when applying for graduation.

Pay In Person

Pay at the Cashier’s Office between the hours of 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday.  Please use the receipt number provided to you by the cashier when applying.

STEP 3.  Apply for Graduation

Apply (or re-apply) using Bulldog Connection by clicking on: Self-Service > Degree Progress/Graduation > Apply for Graduation. Enter the receipt number for your graduation fee (or student ID number) when completing the application.

Having trouble? Contact the BSU Help Desk at 301-860-HELP.

STEP 4. Review Academic Record for Accuracy

The student must complete the actions below after submitting the graduation application. 

Student Review

Check your records in Bulldog Connection to ensure all information is complete and correct.

• Review your academic record for all courses taken at BSU and all other institutions.
• Make sure your personal information is up to date to ensure that your diploma is printed correctly, and important communications reach you. Review your name, address, email address, and major.
• Need to make corrections? Download the General Forms you need and submit them to the Registrar’s Office. 
  • Changes to your personal data? Use the Data Correction Form and submit the required documentation,
  • Changes to your major? Use the Declaration/Change of Major Form

STEP 5. Read the University Clearance Process AND Check Graduation Status 

University Clearance Process

• Your academic department will review all courses taken and course substitutions to confirm completion of all requirements for the major.
• The Registrar’s Office will review all courses taken to confirm completion of all university requirements for graduation.
• The Student Accounts Office will review student financial records to confirm that all charges have been paid.

Check Your Graduation Status

Notification of graduation review status will be posted to your Bulldog Connection account. 

• After logging into your Bulldog Connection account, click on Self-Service > Degree Progress/Graduation. Statuses will show as Approved, Pending, Review, or Denied based on review. 
  
  
  • Pending meaning you are on-track to graduating and finishing up remaining requirements/waiting on final grades 
  • Approved meaning you are officially cleared for graduation: all grades are posted and all academic requirements are completed.
  • In Review meaning our office is waiting on more information from you your department – communication will be sent to you if there is information that we need from you
  • Denied meaning degree requirements have not been met. Communication outlining next steps will be sent to you if you have a denied status. 
• Statuses will not show as Approved until final grades are posted
• Students will not receive their diplomas until all Academic and Financial obligations have been met.
• Information regarding diploma distribution and final transcripts will be sent out in the weeks following commencement. 

Commencement Participation

For guaranteed approval to participate in commencement, you must have a Pending or Approved graduation status. 

If your status is Denied, you can request permission through Academic Affairs to participate in commencement if you meet the following criteria:

• You have successfully applied for graduation in the term that ceremony participation is being requested
• No more than two outstanding courses are needed (typically 6 credits) for degree completion
• You plan to take the courses in the session immediately following the ceremony

Requests must be reviewed and approved through Academic Affairs. If you believe that you are eligible, reach out to your faculty advisor/department immediately after being notified of your denied status, to discuss this option and next steps. Please note that Monday, December 1, 2025 is the last day that commencement participation requests will be accepted/reviewed for the Fall 2025 commencement ceremony. 

Special Note About Grades/Latin Honors

Because final grades are processed after Commencement, Latin Honors listed in the Commencement Ceremony Program and Cumulative GPAs are tentative, pending the submission of final grades of that semester.