See below for graduation requirements, candidacy for graduation, commencement information, degrees, transcripts, graduation fees and graduation dates. This information is specific to graduation requirements.
Candidates for Graduation
Students (in concordance with their advisors) are to apply for graduation when it is clear that the coursework currently in progress and their pre-registered coursework will fulfill all requirements of their degree programs. The department must submit all graduation applications in adherence to the scheduled deadlines in order to ensure the timely processing of all documentation.
Student submissions will not be accepted by the Office of the Registrar and will only delay the processing of that student's in formation. Upon receipt of the graduation application and all supporting documentation, the Graduation Audit Team will evaluate the student's academic record for completion of all requirements.
Any applications that are deemed as incomplete or not qualified for graduation will be returned to the student's academic department for correction and/or retention. Any questions regarding a student's pending graduation status should be directed toward that student’s advisor or department.
Commencement
There is no summer graduation ceremony at Norfolk State University. Students who expect to graduate in July should plan to participate in the December ceremony.
The names of July graduates are published in the December commencement program. All activities related to commencement are managed by University Events in the Office of University Advancement.
Degrees
Degrees will be distributed during the commencement ceremony to students that have met degree requirements and have no outstanding financial obligations.
Students must be financially cleared in order to receive degree and/or transcripts. This includes payment of the graduation fees, tuition and all other fees (Cashier's Office, Student Services Center, 2nd floor, Room 209) as well as any outstanding parking (University Police Department) or library fines (Lyman B. Brooks Library Circulation/Reserve Department, 1st floor).
If you are not attending commencement and would prefer to pick up your degree at the Office of the Registrar, please send an e-mail to the Graduation Audit Staff at registrar@nsu.edu from your NSU email account. This e-mail must state your full name and your intent to pick up your degree. You will, in turn, be contacted via e-mail when your degree is ready to be picked up.
All holds, debts, or obligations to the University must be satisfied before your diploma will be released.
Transcripts
Request an official or unofficial transcript from the Office of the Registrar. You may order your official transcript by mail or online. You may request an unofficial transcript in person or by mail, fax or email. - Click here to read more about ordering your transcripts.
General Graduation
Specific Program / Degree Requirements: All students, both undergraduate and graduate, should consult the University Catalog or their departments for complete information about degree requirements for specific programs. Students are responsible for monitoring their own progress toward degree completion and for meeting all graduation requirements.
Prior to the beginning of their final semester, students are strongly encouraged to consult their advisors regarding their progress.
Graduation Dates
There are three graduation dates each year: May, July, and December. Students should plan to participate in ceremonies as follows:
- Students who plan to complete degree requirements at the end of the Spring semester participate in May commencement ceremonies.
- Students who plan to complete degree requirements at the end of the Summer session (s) participate in December commencement ceremonies. (There is no summer commencement ceremony.)
- Students who plan to complete degree requirements at the Fall semester participate in December graduation ceremonies.
Graduation Fees
There is a $30.00 application fee for each graduation application submitted. Each student who has submitted a graduation application will also be assessed a $130.00 commencement fee. Please note these are two separate fees, and they are mandatory.
Graduation Requirements
In addition to the departmental academic requirements of your major, minor, concentration, or degree program, the following requirements must be completed before you can be certified as a graduate of Norfolk State University:
- Prospective graduate meets with academic advisor to review their Academic Evaluation (EVAL) to see if they are ready for graduation.
- Before the graduation application is submitted to the Office of the Registrar, the academic advisor is to make sure that there are no blank lines when reviewing the Evaluation. All Incomplete (I) grades and In Progress (IP) grades from a previous semester must be completed prior to submitting graduation application.
- The Academic Department is to only submit the completed graduation application and an EVAL with no blank lines to the Office of the Registrar for processing. Any incomplete applications will be sent back to the Department Chair.
- Taking courses at another institution, be it by way of Cross Registration (Virginia Tidewater Consortium) or transfer, during the semester that you intend to graduate, can adversely affect graduation as all grades must be posted by the Norfolk State University senior grade due date. Note: NSU has no control over when other institutions submit grades for NSU students.
- Grades for students graduating are due the Wednesday of the last week of the semester to the Office of the Registrar.