Graduation and Commencement Ceremonies

• Diploma
• Degree Recipients
• Simultaneous Degree

Graduation

Graduation happens when you fulfill all your degree or certificate requirements.

All students must apply for graduation. The application must be submitted, and the graduation fee paid, by the application deadline to be considered a candidate for degree.

Undergraduate: $35
Graduate: $40

• View Application Deadlines
• Submit Your Graduation Application Online

The application is available for the current semester and the next two semesters.

Simultaneous Degrees

Undergraduate students completing requirements for two majors concurrently are eligible to receive only one degree unless 150 or more hours have been completed*. The degree awarded is the degree for the students primary major. To receive two degrees simultaneously, two different majors are required. The degrees may be the same (e.g., two B.A. degrees) or different (a B.A. degree and a B.S. degree). Simultaneous degrees are for undergraduate 1st bachelor's degree-seeking students only.

In order to receive two bachelor's degrees as the same time, the student would need to submit the Simultaneous Degree Application by the applicable graduation deadline. Learn more

Commencement Ceremonies

Commencement is a ceremony that celebrates your graduation.

Undergraduate students completing degree requirements during the fall semester participate in the winter (December) commencement ceremony.

Undergraduate students completing degree requirements during the spring or summer semesters participate in the spring (May) commencement ceremony. Illinois State does not hold commencement ceremonies in summer.

Honor Cords

For an undergraduate student to graduate with an honor distinction (laude honors), the student must have earned a minimum of 30 semester hours at Illinois State University as well as a cumulative GPA of 3.65 or higher after the last completed semester, as grades and hours for the current semester will not be calculated into the cumulative GPA until after commencement ceremonies. Only ISU course work is included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA. 

Cumulative GPA	Honor Distinction/Honor Cord Color
3.90 – 4.00	Summa Cum Laude/Gold Cord
3.80 – 3.89	Magna Cum Laude/Lilac Cord
3.65 – 3.79	Cum Laude/White Cord

Eligible students will receive an email from the Office of the University Registrar regarding honor cord pick-up approximately four weeks prior to commencement ceremonies.

Graduate Students

Visit the Graduate School website to get graduation, commencement ceremony, and specific application requirements.

Not Currently Enrolled

Complete the paper graduation application. Submit your application and fee in person at Student Accounts or by mail to:

Illinois State University
Student Accounts
Campus Box 1210
Normal, IL 61790-1210