Submit an Application for Graduation

Meet Graduate College Deadlines

As you complete your graduate studies at Iowa State University, there are specific deadlines and requirements associated with graduation. Visit the Graduate College Website for a list of current semester deadlines.

Application Decisions

You will receive a Workday notification once your application has been reviewed and your program completion status has been updated. The notification will indicate any next steps you may need to take.

Approved

If you are notified that your application status has been approved, you have met all degree requirements using in-progress courses. There is nothing else you need to do at this time. This status on your Academics Overview screen will say "Pending Completion."

Evaluation Deferred

If you are notified that your application status is "Evaluation Deferred:"

  • Graduate Students
    • Your degree will remain in "Evaluation Deferred" status until the Graduate College confirms that you have met all degree requirements. The Graduate College must review your record before the Office of the Registrar awards your credentials. This status is standard for all graduating students and will change to "Approved for Completion" only after the Registrar's Office has received confirmation that the degree is ready to confer.
    • You do not need to do anything at this time or reapply for program completion The Graduate College will reach out if any additional actions are needed.
    • The status on your Academics Overview page will say "Pending Completion until your degree requirements are fully reviewed. The status will change to "Complete" when the Registrar's Office has conferred the degree.
  • Professional Students
    • You have unmet degree requirements (including honors program, minor(s), endorsement(s), certificate(s), etc.) or degree requirements that won't be resolved until after grades post, you need transfer work evaluated, or you need approval of transferred courses. Reach out to your advisor for help resolving the issue.
    • You do not need to reapply for program completion
    • The status on your Academics Overview page will say "Pending Completion."

Denied

If you are notified that your application status is denied:

  • Graduate Students
    • You have unmet degree requirements that will not allow you graduate, and you will need to update your expected completion date. This decision could also mean that you are trying to make a program of study change or you need to update your academic plan. Contact the Graduate College for assistance.
    • You must reapply for program completion.
    • The status on your Academics Overview page will say "In Progress."
  • Professional Students
    • You have unmet degree requirements that will not allow you to graduate, and you will need to update your expected completion date. This decision could also mean that you are trying to make a program of study change
      • Examples of a program of study change are: adding or dropping an additional major or minor
    • You must reapply for program completion
    • The status on your Academic Overview page will say "In Progress."

Outstanding Graduation Requirements

  • Check your academic requirements in your Academic Progress tab in Workday for accuracy.
  • Please resolve any outstanding degree requirements with your graduate program or the Graduate College.
  • You can review any Fail, Not Pass, Non-report and/or Incomplete grades via your Academic History tab. These grades will prevent graduation.

Diploma Mailing Address 

1. Once your program completion application is submitted, a To-Do will appear in your inbox to complete the Diploma Delivery Selection Questionnaire.

  • Select how you would like your diploma delivered:
    • Mailed to your Home (Primary) address
    • Pick up from the Office of the Registrar (214 Enrollment Services Center), once you receive notification from the Graduation Office that the diplomas are available for pick up.
  • Hit the Submit button

2. If you select the mailing option, a To-Do will appear in your inbox to review and/or modify your primary home mailing address (Your Home (Primary) mailing address is where your diploma will be mailed to).

  • Click the Change My Home Contact Information button
  • Review the address that is noted as Primary = Yes
    • If the address is accurate, please hit the Submit button at the bottom of the page.
    • If the address needs to be modified, please click on the pencil icon on the Address card and make the updates. After doing so, please hit the Submit button at the bottom of the page.
  • Once you have reviewed and/or modified your Home (Primary) address within the Home Contact Information section of your student profile, hit the Submit button on this To-Do within your inbox. You must submit the To-Do so other graduation processes can trigger within your inbox.

Ceremony Attendance Information

For those graduating in the current semester, please complete the RSVP form for commencement.

For additional information or assistance, please see the Commencement RSVP Instructions.

The RSVP form is only valid for the current semester's commencement ceremony. Access to the form depends on your graduation term:

  • Spring Commencement: Open to students graduating in Spring or Summer.
  • Fall Commencement: Open to students graduating in Fall only.

If you are an early degree conferral graduate, or wish to participate in a ceremony outside your graduating term, please contact us at graduation@iastate.edu.

ISU Transcripts

Diplomas

  • Summer 2025 graduates will receive the digital copy of their diploma(s) by end of day on August 20, 2025. Physical diplomas will arrive 10-18 business days after digital diplomas have been received.
  • Digital diplomas are available immediately once issued. For domestic mailing addresses, the physical copy is expected to arrive 10-18 business days after issuance. For international mailing addresses, the physical copy is expected to arrive within 4 to 6 weeks after issuance.
  • If you selected the pick-up option for your diploma, you will need to bring your Iowa State University ID card, or another form of identification, and come to 214 Enrollment Services Center during our office hours. You will receive an email when the diplomas are available for pickup.

Financial Information

Financial Aid Exit Counseling Session

  • An exit counseling session is mandatory if you have borrowed through the Federal Direct Stafford Loan Program (either subsidized or unsubsidized).
  • Complete your exit counseling online form. If you have questions, please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid, 0210 Beardshear, or call 515-294-2223.

Loans Receivable Exit Counseling Session

  • An exit counseling session is mandatory if you have borrowed from the Disadvantaged Student Loan, Federal Perkins Loan, Health Profession Student Loan or University Long Term Loan programs.
  • If you have questions, please contact Loans Receivables, 0880 Beardshear Hall, or call 515-294-8747.

Accounts Receivable Office

  • Review your bill periodically, 1-2 months after graduation for any late charges.

ISU Email After Graduation

After you graduate or leave Iowa State, your account remains active for one semester before being suspended/expired. You will want to forward messages from your ISU account to a different e-mail account, or create an Alumni Association Account. 

Also, you will want to update or confirm your non-ISU email in Workday. To do so:

  1. Log into Workday, and go to your profile
  2. Click on the Personal tab
  3. Choose Contact from the top header
  4. Scroll to find Email Addresses section
  5. Enter or confirm your non-ISU email

For more information

Contact the Graduation Office, 214 Enrollment Services Center, phone 515-294-1840, or email graduation@iastate.edu.

Report Your Post-Graduation Plans

To comply with state and federal requirements, Iowa State University must report on the outcomes of its graduates. This data, collected by Career Services each graduation, is crucial for accreditation and continuous improvement. It also provides valuable insights for prospective and current students exploring majors and career prospects, as well as faculty, employers, and donors.

To report your outcome:

  1. Login to CyHire.
  2. Navigate to your homepage.
  3. Select "+ Report Status" under Outcomes.

Your response is only reported externally in aggregate form.