George Mason University

Graduation is not an automatic process. Students should apply to graduate no later than the application deadline. You must be in good financial standing with the University to receive your diploma.

• Graduation Process
• Degree Evaluation
• Diplomas
• Graduation Forms
• Graduation Timelines
• University Honors and Honor Cords
• Withdraw Graduation Application

Ceremony Information

• For information on the ceremony events, please go to University Events Graduation.
• Caps and gowns are available at the GMU campus bookstore. Please contact the bookstore for more information.
• Ceremony Program Information

Important Information for Students

• You must be actively enrolled in the semester you graduate.
• If permission was granted to Study Elsewhere (ZREG 101), please make sure that transcripts are sent to the Office of the University Registrar. You cannot graduate with active ZREG hours. If no classes were taken, please complete the Study Elsewhere Removal form.
• All in-progress grades (IN, IP, NR), even if they are not applicable to the degree, must be resolved within six weeks after a conferral date. If you are unable to finish the course work during this six-week period, you must withdraw your current application to graduate and re-submit for the next scheduled graduation.

Don’t be surprised later! Read on for more information on the most common graduation questions and how to avoid any stumbling blocks.

FAQs on Graduation

I thought I graduated previously but I just learned that I did not graduate. What do I do?

If you completed all degree and University requirements within 6 weeks of your date of requested graduation, but your degree was never officially conferred, you may submit a Retroactive Graduation Request. To qualify, there may be no changes or additions to your record since the time of the requested graduation date. You must submit the Retroactive Graduation Request Form to your academic department for preliminary review and approval, then forward the form to the Office of the University Registrar for processing. If an academic action such as a substitution or waiver, or dropping a minor or second degree is required to meet graduation requirements, please contact the Office of the University Registrar for guidance at degree@gmu.edu.