Records & Registration ~ Graduation

Application to Graduate

As an undergraduate student, you must file your graduation application during the appropriate filing period and pay the $40 application/diploma fee at the same time. CSUMB establishes a priority application filing period for each semester to allow you to receive an official degree audit report before the end of  the registration period of your final semester of enrollment.  If you file your application after the priority filing deadline  you will be charged a late processing fee of $20 in addition to the $40 application/diploma fee. Late applicants may not receive their official graduation evaluation prior to the end of the registration period for their final semester at CSUMB.

Records & Registration provides an explanation of the official graduation application process, current filing deadlines, filing fees, and links to required forms on the CSUMB.EDU/admissions website under Graduation.

The application process requires a meeting with your academic advisor to finalize your Individual Learning Plan (ILP). Following submission of all the required materials, you will receive a Graduation Evaluation (degree audit) that summarizes the outstanding requirements that you must fulfill before the awarding of your degree.

If you are a graduate student, you must meet all deadlines for applications, petitions, and pay application/diploma and late/processing fees the same as undergraduate degree candidates. You may not need to submit an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) with your graduation application (check with your program advisor) and you will not receive a degree audit from the Office of Records & Registration prior to Final Degree Check processing.

Graduation Application Filing Period

See the Applying to Graduate webpage for specific filing dates and fee information for the current academic year.

General Filing date information:

Applying to Graduate in Spring (May) or Summer (August) Terms
  • Priority Filing Period runs from approximately April 1 of the prior academic year to September 1 
  • Late Filing Period with Late/Processing Fee runs from approximately September 2 to February 1 
Applying to Graduate in Fall (December) Term
  •  Priority Filing Period runs from approximately December 1 to May 1 of the prior academic year
  •  Late Filing Period with Late/Processing Fee runs from approximately May 2 of the prior academic year to September 15
Diplomas

CSUMB issues diplomas following the Final Degree Check processing period for each official graduation term.  Your diploma will be mailed to the diploma address on file with Records and Registration unless you make arrangements for pickup in writing  before the end of your graduation term.

Commencement Ceremony

CSUMB holds its annual commencement ceremony each year during the month of May. Participation in this celebration of educational achievement is voluntary and CSUMB diplomas are NOT distributed during this event.  Graduation applicants who are candidates for baccalaureate or graduate degrees during the fall, spring, or summer term of the same academic year are eligible to participate in the May commencement ceremony.  Students are asked to participate in only one ceremony during your academic career.  Teacher credential candidates may participate in the campus commencement ceremony and are also recognized through a program developed and sponsored by the College of Professional Studies.