Graduation FAQs

Visit the Campus Solutions Student Center to apply for graduation, view your graduation status or pay your graduation application fee.

Learn more about how to apply for graduation.

Degree Seeking:

• Undergraduate students can apply for graduation when they are within 12 hours of degree completion.
• Master's students can apply for graduation when they are within six hours of degree completion. Master's students must be degree complete prior to ceremony to be eligible to attend.

The graduation applications will be canceled if the student does not meet these eligibility requirements to apply for graduation.

Certificate WITH degree: If you are pursuing a certificate and degree program, both will be evaluated upon receipt of the graduation application for the degree.

If you require your certificate PRIOR to degree conferral, please follow instructions for Certificate Only below.

Certificate Only: If you are pursuing only a certificate, please do not apply for graduation for the certificate when you have finished the requirements. Your advisor should submit the appropriate paperwork for processing certificates.

You may wish to apply for both degrees, but it is not required for you to apply for the associate degree (provided the associate and bachelor's are for the same program). However, you do need to apply for the associate degree if you do not want it posted at the same time and with the same date as the bachelor’s degree. The graduation application fee is charged for each application.

You are given a choice of multiple Worldwide terms, including the current month. Choose the most appropriate one for your situation. The Graduation Team will post your degree with the correct term using the Degree Conferral guidelines.

Undergraduate students - $100

Master's students - $100

Additional Diploma - $65 per copy

Graduation applications submitted at the same time should be charged only one graduation application fee, but diploma fees will be added on every application that a duplicate diploma was requested.

These charges will be applied to your account and are non-refundable. Fees are payable through Campus Solutions. Submission of multiple graduation applications may result in multiple charges.

The graduation application fee covers the cost of processing, printing and mailing of one diploma. Additional diplomas may be requested at an additional cost of $65 per diploma. Regalia for students is not included in this fee.

Graduation applications are valid for one year from the date of application. Applications older than one year will be cancelled. You will need to reapply for graduation, paying the current graduation fee. Your original fee will not be refunded or applied to the new fee.

Upon initial review, your graduation application may be cancelled if you are not eligible to apply or have applied for graduation for a certificate. If your graduation application has expired, it will also be cancelled.

Degrees and certificates are conferred on either (1) the last day of the month that you apply for graduation or (2) on the last day of the month in which the term ended for the last course completing the degree or certificate requirements, whichever is later. Degree conferrals will not be backdated, so you should apply for graduation in a timely manner. If you do not apply for graduation for your associate degree, it will be posted with the same date as your bachelor's in the same program.

When you apply for graduation, your records are reviewed and your degree will be posted if complete. If you’re not degree complete at that time, your graduation application is placed in a review status.

At the end of each term, the Graduation Team begins a daily process of reviewing a report of posted grades and checking those students for completion. Your degree cannot be posted until all grades for the term have been finalized by faculty. Generally, degrees are posted within five business days of the final grade being posted, but processing time may vary depending on the size of the term and holidays.

No, an associate degree will not be added for the same degree program after the degree is conferred. An associate degree should be declared prior to you submitting your graduation application. 

No, minors will not be added after the degree is conferred. All minors should be declared prior to or when you submit your graduation application.

Your degree cannot be posted if you have not finished all the requirements for the bachelor’s degree and any minors.

For bachelor’s degrees only, graduation honors are awarded in accordance with the following criteria:

• You must have completed at least 45 credit hours in residence at Embry-Riddle. 

• Your cumulative grade point average (CGPA) for all Embry-Riddle courses determines the level of graduation honors based on the below chart:

  • Summa cum laude: 3.900-4.000 CGPA

  • Magna cum laude: 3.7000-3.899 CGPA

  • Cum Laude: 3.500-3.699 CGPA

• The honors level will appear on your diploma and academic transcript with the degree information. 

For master's degrees only, students are recognized through the inclusion of the notation “With Distinction” in accordance with the following criteria:

• You must have completed your graduate studies with a CGPA of 4.000, based on grades received in all Embry-Riddle graduate coursework. 

• “With Distinction” will appear on your diploma and academic transcript with the degree information.

You need to apply for graduation through Campus Solutions to be reviewed for Undergraduate or Master’s degree completion. Once all your degree requirements have been met and there are no financial obligations to the University, it will be mailed to the address that you provided on your graduation application.

Certificate Only: If you are pursuing only a certificate, please do not apply for graduation for the certificate when you have finished the requirements. Your advisor should submit the appropriate paperwork for processing certificates.

• Your Name: You are able to enter the name you would like on your diploma, but it must be some version of your legal name. Proper documentation is required for name changes prior to diploma printing, or a duplicate may need to be purchased once documentation has been provided. Titles and/or military ranks are included.
• Degree Name: Only the main program name will appear on your diploma; no specializations or minors will appear. Separate certificates are not provided for specializations or minors.
• Degree Honors: If you earn honors, they will be listed below the degree name.
• Term Date: This is the same date shown in the Degrees Awarded section on your transcript. Please see the Degree Conferral section for how this date is determined.

Master's and Undergraduate diplomas are standard paper size: 8½” x 11”.

Diplomas are printed every week. As long as you do not have a balance or financial hold on your account, it will be mailed out the afternoon that diplomas are printed.

Duplicate diplomas can be ordered online. There is a $65 fee for each duplicate diploma. Be sure to select the Worldwide Campus so the Graduation Team receives your order.

This is not a substitute for the graduation application. If you have not completed the program you are requesting a duplicate diploma for, please apply for graduation.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University offers a digital diploma to students following graduation, at no additional cost.

The digital diploma complements the paper diploma and can be accessed immediately upon receipt of the notification, so it’s a great way to share your accomplishment with your family, friends and potential employers.

Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree recipients will receive a digital diploma. Certificates will not be issued digitally at this time.

Upon completion of a degree, graduates will receive an email and text notification with instructions for electronically claiming their digital diploma. Follow these simple steps:

• Check your email and text messages for the award notification.
• Follow the link to set up your Parchment digital credentials account.
• Share your digital diploma on Facebook and LinkedIn via a verified link, or download a secure PDF version.
• Your digital diploma will always be accessible online through your Parchment account. You can login to your Parchment account and download or share your digital diploma at any time in the future.

All diplomas are mailed to students using the address you provided on your graduation application. Diplomas are not presented to students during a graduation ceremony.

When you apply for graduation, you should select your ceremony location. If you need to change locations, or choose to attend after degree completion, please ask the Graduation Team for assistance.

If you were unable to attend a ceremony and want to attend after degree completion, please contact the Graduation Team for assistance.

Academic Ceremonies: Attire and Regalia 

Commencement exercises and other formal academic ceremonies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University uphold traditional scholarly customs of significant value. This document provides guidelines for appropriate student attire at important academic ceremonies.

Academic Ceremony Attire

Students participating in academic ceremonies, such as honor society inductions, research presentations, or official university functions, should wear business casual or business attire unless otherwise specified. Students will be informed in advance by the organizing committee if regalia is required.

Academic Regalia and Ornamentation at Commencement

Students participating in commencement exercises are required to wear the designated graduation gown, mortarboard (cap), and tassel. While mortarboards may be decorated, no additional accessories—including jewelry, corsages, or other embellishments—may be attached to the approved gown beyond the permitted academic and ornamental items listed below. Any decorations on the mortarboard must remain flat on the top and should not obstruct the view of others or interfere with the ceremony. Only the official university-issued tassel is allowed to dangle from the cap.

Ceremonial Ornamentation: Medallions, Honor Cords, Pins, Stoles, and Sashes

All ceremonial adornments must adhere to university standards. Graduates who have earned academic honors or participated in recognized academic or student organizations may wear officially issued or university-approved ceremonial items with their academic regalia. These include:

• Medallions awarded in recognition of a university honor;
• Honor cords signifying membership in an approved academic honor society or national organization;
• Stoles denoting participation in a university-recognized honor society, student organization, or study-abroad program;
• Pins representing an academic achievement or affiliation with a university-recognized professional association
• Religious or cultural attire;
• Military uniforms or insignias. 

Candidates for master’s and doctoral degrees are only permitted to wear university-issued regalia and approved ornamentation. Any medallions, stoles, pins, sashes, or other accessories obtained during undergraduate studies—whether at Embry-Riddle or another institution—may not be worn with graduate-level academic regalia.

Requests for new ornamentation, including those featuring university trademarks (such as logos or seals), must receive approval from the Office of the Provost at least two months preceding the commencement ceremony. 

Students wearing unauthorized or inappropriate attire or adornments at university academic ceremonies may be required to remove or cover them prior to participation. Students who do not comply with university standards will not be allowed to participate in the ceremony.

Graduation Team

Phone: 866-393-9046, Option 2
Email: wwgrad@erau.edu