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Graduation Requirements

For your degree/certificate to be reviewed for graduation you must complete a graduation application. If you wish to attend the Commencement ceremony, you must APPLY to graduate using the link below.

Commencement Female

Apply to Graduate

Graduation Application Form

Application Process

To have your degree or certificate reviewed for graduation, you MUST complete a graduation application. This application is also necessary to participate in the annual Commencement ceremony. Click the link above to apply! 

Before applying to graduate, ensure that all course substitutions, transfer credits, and other relevant changes are reflected on your academic record. 

Initial Evaluation

  • After submitting your application, the Registrar's Office will conduct an initial evaluation to confirm that all graduation requirements are satisfied, pending, or incomplete. You will receive an update via your MassBay email. 

Final Review

  • Following the official conferral date, degree evaluations will be reviewed to ensure all requirements have been completed. This process may take 4-6 weeks due to high volume. You will receive notification via your MassBay email once your application has been reviewed.
  • Diplomas will be mailed after the Registrar’s Office completes a final review of all graduation applications. Once awarded, diplomas are sent via USPS by our diploma vendor and typically arrive 8–12 weeks after the awarding date.

Students can apply to graduate for December (Fall), May (Spring), or August (Summer) award dates. Note that the Commencement ceremony is held once per year in May.

Graduation Application Deadlines:

Fall 2025 Graduation Application Deadlines

Early Review Application Submission: November 1, 2025

Final Deadline to Submit Application: December 21, 2025

Spring 2026 Graduation Application Deadlines

Early Review Application Submission: April 1, 2026

Final Deadline to Submit Application: May 17, 2025

2026 Commencement Ceremony: May 28, 2026

Summer 2026 Graduation Application Deadlines

Final Deadline to Submit Application: August 15, 2026

Fall 2026 Graduation Application Deadlines

Early Review Application Submission: November 1, 2026

Final Deadline to Submit Application: December 23, 2026

Spring 2027 Graduation Application Deadlines

Early Review Application Submission: March 31, 2027

Final Deadline to Submit Application: May 16, 2027

2027 Commencement Ceremony: May 27, 2027

Questions?

Email graduationstatus@massbay.edu

Graduation vs. Commencement

Commencement is a celebration for students who have completed or are expected to complete all degree or certificate requirements by the end of the academic year. The ceremony is held annually in May. 

Graduation refers to the completion of all degree requirements. Students can officially graduate at the end of the Fall (December), Spring (May), or Summer (August) semesters, but only one Commencement ceremony occurs in May. 

Important Notes

  • It is recommended to meet with your academic advisor during your last semester to ensure all graduation requirements are met.
  • Participation in the Commencement ceremony does not guarantee the awarding of a degree at that time. A final degree audit by the Registrar's Office will confirm if a degree can be officially awarded after the ceremony.
  • Students who have 2 or fewer courses remaining to complete in the Summer semester are eligible to participate in the Commencement ceremony. To participate you must enroll in these summer courses and submit a graduation application for Summer (August) by the last day of Day/Evening Final Exams for the Spring (May) semester. 

For more information about the ceremony, including cap and gown details, visit the MassBay Commencement Webpage .

Graduation Requirements

To qualify for graduation, candidates for all degrees and certificates must fulfill both academic and non-academic requirements:

  • Application for Graduation: Complete a Graduation Application online or at the Registrar’s Office.
  • Program Requirements: Meet all program requirements, including required credit hours and GPA.
  • Coursework at MassBay: At least 25% (one quarter) of the coursework must be completed at MassBay.
  • Cumulative GPA: Maintain an overall cumulative GPA of 2.000 or higher.
  • Program Specifications: Course requirements for graduation are detailed under your specific program of study. 

Important Notes 

  • Incomplete Grades: Whether for courses applied to graduation or not, all incomplete grades must be resolved before a degree or certificate will be awarded.
  • The College reserves the right to confer degrees and certificates once all requirements are met.  

Application Deadline 

Students must submit a Graduation Application by the specified deadline. Applications submitted after this deadline will be reviewed for the following semester.

Please refer to the Academic Calendar for specific dates

MassBay Academic Calendar

Frequently Asked Questions

MassBay requires that students first:

Apply for Graduation →

Once you've submitted your graduation application, a confirmation email will be sent to your MassBay email account. The Registrar’s Office will use this email to communicate with you about the status of your application.

Important details:

  • Please allow 4-6 weeks for your application to be initially reviewed
  • If you do not receive communication after sic (6) weeks, contact: graduationstatus@massbay.edu

After the semester conferral date has passed:

  • The Office of the Registrar will conduct final degree evaluations of applicants to ensure all program requirements have been met.
  • Due to volume of applications, final reviews may take 4-6 weeks. 

Students may apply to graduate in one of the following terms:

  • Fall (December)
  • Spring (May)
  • Summer (August)

Note: The Commencement Ceremony is held only once per year in May.

To find the exact date of the ceremony, please refer to the Spring Academic Calendar. Additional details about the Commencement ceremony,including caps and gowns, tickets, and event details, will be available on the Commencement Webpage later in the spring semester.

Students can complete the online Graduation Application →

Yes, you may apply to graduate from more than one program (degree/certificate) as long as you are currently active in each program during the semester in which you are applying.

Students enrolled in a certificate or degree program should submit a graduation application in one of the following time frames:

  • During the semester they expect to complete all program requirements, or
  • In the semester prior to their anticipated graduation

To ensure you're ready to apply for graduation, you can:

  • Meet with your assigned Academic Advisor
  • Visit the Advising Office (in-person/virtually) to speak with an Academic Advisor
  • Review your program requirements using your MyMap on your Bay Navigator account

 

MassBay recognizes academic excellence by awarding the following honors to associate degree candidates based on their cumulative grade point average (GPA):

Highest Honors: Cumulative grade point average is 3.700 or above.

High Honors: Cumulative grade point average is 3.500-3.699.

MassBay officially graduates students three times per year, based on when all program requirements are successfully completed:

Term Completed                                       Conferral Awarding Begins                                           Diplomas Mailed

Spring (May)                                        Completion of Semester (May)                              Between July-August

Summer (August)                                Completion of Semester (August)                          Between October-November

Fall (December)                                   Completion of Semester (December)                    Between March-April

Diplomas will be mailed after the Registrar’s Office completes a final review of all graduation applications. Once awarded, diplomas are sent via USPS by our diploma vendor and typically arrive 8–12 weeks after the awarding date.

If you resolve your financial hold after your diploma has already been ordered, please be aware:

  • The Registrar’s Office does not receive automatic notifications when holds are cleared.
  • It is your responsibility to contact the Registrar’s Office to request the release of your diploma.

For assistance, email: registrar@massbay.edu 

Students who have 2 or fewer courses remaining to complete in the Summer semester are eligible to participate in the Commencement ceremony.

To participate, students must:

  • Register for summer classes
  • Submit a Summer (August) graduation application by the last day of Day/Evening Final Exams for the Spring semester

The Registrar’s Office will review your academic record and notify you via your MassBay email once the review is complete.

Please refer to the Academic Calendar for the last day of Day/Evening Final Exam dates.