PASSWORDMANAGEMENT
Preparing to Graduate
Graduation Eligibility
You must apply for the term (fall, spring or summer) in which you plan to complete your degree program through Student Center in . If you don’t apply for the correct graduation term, you may risk not receiving an enrollment date to register for classes. Once final grades are posted, your record will be evaluated and your diploma will be sent to you via USPS first-class mail to the address posted in MyCSUSM.
Graduation applications and diplomas are processed by the Office of the Registrar.
You won’t receive a diploma at your commencement ceremony. Confirmation of degree completion won’t occur until official grades are posted. For more information on obtaining your diploma, visit the Office of the Registrar's website.
Students eligible to participate in December 2025 commencement are those who have completed their degree program at the conclusion of the fall 2025 semester.
Students eligible to participate in May 2025 commencement are those who expect to complete their degree requirements at the conclusion of the spring 2025 or summer 2025 semesters.
Checklist
- Step 1: Apply to Graduate
To apply for graduation, log in to Student Center in , locate the “Apply for Graduation” field and follow the prompts for the appropriate graduation term. You must have a minimum of 85 semester units before you can apply. You must be fully classified in your major before applying for graduation (no pre-major status). You must apply to graduate by the deadlines below. If you don’t apply by the deadline, you might not receive your Tassel, our third party website, commencement registration link.
Graduation Application Deadline Degree Level Fall Deadline Spring Deadline Summer Deadline Undergraduate student (bachelor's) Nov. 1 March 15 March 15 Graduate student (master's) Nov. 1 March 15 March 15 Note: For undergraduate students who have not completed 85 units, your graduation application will be canceled, which may delay the period when you receive your enrollment date.
When you apply to graduate, this does not automatically register you for commencement. If you apply after the noted graduation application deadlines:
- You might not be notified about commencement.
- You might not receive a link to register for commencement.
- Your name might not be in the digital program.
- You will need to notify the Commencement Office of your late graduation application submission.
- You can still request registration link from Tassel (our third party website for managing commencement tickets and communications), and the request may be granted if your ceremony hasn’t reached venue capacity.
- Your request to receive a Tassel commencement registration late might affect your number of ticket requests (due to venue capacity), the ability of a professional voice artist to record your name and the ability to obtain a digital/physical copy of your Stage Pass. You might have to visit the help desk at graduate check-in on commencement day.
For more information on applying to graduate, visit the Office of the Registrar's website.
- Step 2: Register to Attend Your Ceremony
All participating graduates must register to attend their ceremony. You will receive an email in your CSUSM account with instructions on how to access Tassel (formerly MarchingOrder, which is a third-party platform that manages commencement tickets and communications).
Registering for commencement will help us in the planning process to ensure that we are abiding by the state's event permits and venue requirements, and that there’s enough staffing and accommodations for all registered graduates and guests.
Ceremonies may reach capacity, and late registrations are not guaranteed a spot. Stay informed by regularly checking your CSUSM emails (including the spam folder), the commencement website, and . You also responsible for notifying the Commencement Office via email if you didn’t receive a registration link or other communications before the registration deadline.
Commencement Registration Deadlines
- Spring commencement: April 14, 2025, 11:59 p.m.
- Fall commencement: November 7, 2025, 11:59 p.m.
For questions regarding commencement, email the Commencement Office.
- Step 3: Do Your Graduation Audit
Check your Academic Requirements Report (ARR) by logging in to The ARR tracks the completion of all degree requirements. The report lists all courses completed at CSUSM, courses in progress and any transfer course or test credit completed off campus that has been submitted. You must have at least 120 total units to graduate. Check that all grades and/or incomplete grades from previous semesters are posted accurately and that all transfer work appears. If there are any discrepancies on your ARR, contact the Office of the Registrar as soon as possible.
Your ARR will note "Applied for Graduation" under the “Graduation Status” section (once your graduation application has been submitted) and will not be updated until your degree has been conferred (awarded).
- Step 4: Verify Your Name and Mailing Address to Receive Your Diploma
It’s your responsibility to verify in that your primary name is spelled correctly and your mailing address is up to date; this is the name that will be printed on your diploma, and your diploma will be mailed to this address once your degree is awarded. Your primary name also will be your display name on the screen as you walk across the stage and what will be noted in the digital program.
If you don’t update your address and your diploma is mailed to your former address, you will be held responsible for any re-processing and mailing fees. Name change requests made after the commencement registration deadline might not be reflected in Tassel (our third party website for managing commencement tickets and communications) and/or the digital publications in time for commencement.
Name change requests made after your diploma has been mailed will incur an additional re-processing and mailing fee. For name or mailing address changes, follow the instructions noted on the Office of the Registrar's website.
- Step 5: Pay All Balances on Your Student Account and Clear All Holds
Check to see if you owe any fees to the university, including parking and library fines. Please make the full payment before the end of the term. Email questions to Student Financial Services.
You won’t receive your diploma until all balances are cleared. Visit the Office of the Registrar's website to learn more about holds and the Student Financial Services website for how to make a payment.
Any holds placed on your student account must be cleared for you to receive your diploma. If you clear a hold after commencement, it's your responsibility to notify the Office of the Registrar to have your diploma printed and mailed.
- Step 6: Attend GradFest
GradFest for Spring Commencement
- March 26-27, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the USU Ballroom
GradFest for Fall Commencement
- Nov. 20, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Dome Terrace
This is your first opportunity to shop for all your graduation gear and accessories, including:
- cap and gown
- diploma frames
- graduation announcements
- kukui nut leis
- college rings
- Alumni Association membership
Special bundle pricing may be available only during GradFest.
Can't make it to GradFest? No worries! Visit the online or in person after GradFest.
- Step 7: Visit the Career Center
The mission of the Career Center is to empower students and alumni to design and manage their career paths with clarity, competence and confidence. Career Center services include:
- self-assessment instruments
- resume and cover letter assistance/critiques
- mock interviews
- job search assistance
- career counseling
- job fairs and networking events
- career workshops and info sessions
- graduate school advising
You can receive all Career Center services for free within six months after graduation. Following the six-month period, you can continue to receive services through a membership with the .
For more information, go to the Career Center website.
- Step 8: Complete your CSUSM Exit Survey
As an eligible graduate, you will receive an email in your CSUSM inbox on April 29 inviting you to take an exit survey about your plans after graduation. Your responses will be applied toward improving and implementing programs and initiatives that support students and alumni in their career development.
If you complete the survey before the date specified in the email, you can pick up a commemorative CSUSM alumni pin at your commencement ceremony.
Email the Office of Institutional Planning & Analysis with any questions.
- Step 9: Join the Alumni Association
Our vibrant Alumni Association is your place to stay connected. Whether it’s connecting with fellow graduates through campus traditions, exclusive member benefits, or engaging activities, your membership and involvement will help us create even more opportunities for our alumni community.
- Step 10: Embrace the Day With CSUSM Leisan orchid lei, flower bouquet or CSUSM-branded kukui nut necklace. They look great in pictures! Items purchased are available to be picked up on the day of your commencement ceremony. Tents will be located on the Mangrum track and in the parking lots.
- Step 11: Receive Your Diploma
You will receive only a diploma cover at commencement, not your actual diploma. Diplomas are typically mailed to graduates 8-12 weeks after final grades are posted and your degree has been conferred.
Degree conferral emails are sent to your CSUSM account around mid-January for fall graduates, mid-June for spring graduates and mid-September for summer graduates. Your degree conferral email also can be accessed via the Communication Center in . Once you receive the conferral email, your diploma is delivered via USPS first-class mail. Make sure that your mailing address is correct in MyCSUSM and that your mailbox can hold an oversized envelope (about 9x12), especially if you live in a community where the mailboxes are in a centralized area. If your mailbox cannot accommodate oversized envelopes, your diploma may be returned and you will be held responsible for any re-processing and mailing fees.
Additional information can be found at the diploma details page.
Please note: Commencement is voluntary and is open to all eligible graduating students who would like to participate, regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.