Masters and Doctoral Graduation Checklist

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.

Program Completion Status

  • Your status on your academics overview page will indicate Pending Completion once you have applied.. 
  • Once your application has been reviewed, your program completion status will be updated to Approved or Denied. Also, a notification will be sent to you.
    • Approved = you have met all degree requirements using in-progress courses, and there is nothing else you need to do at this time.
      • Your status on your academics overview page will indicate Pending Completion
    • Denied = you have unmet degree requirements and/or need to update your academic plan. 
      • If your status is denied, and you have resolved the outstanding requirements and/or corrected your academic plan, you do need to reapply for program completion.
      • Your status on your academics overview page will indicate In Progress
  • Contact the Graduate College if you have questions regarding your program completion status.

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:https://apps.admissions.iastate.edu/forms.php/graduation.

      For additional information or assistance, please see the instructions: https://www.graduation.iastate.edu/event-rsvp-instructions 

      ISU Transcripts

      Diplomas

      • Graduates will receive the digital copy of their diploma(s) on August 15th, 2024. Physical diplomas will arrive 10-18 business days after August 15th, 2024. 

      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 by going tohttps://www.financialaid.iastate.edu/loans/entrance-and-exit-counseling/. 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, or call 515-294-8747.

      Accounts Receivable Office

      • Review your u-bill periodically, 1-2 months after graduation for any late charges.
      • Your transcript will not be released after graduation unless all financial obligations are cleared. For more information, go to 0880 Beardshear Hall or call 515-294-7388.

      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

      Post-Graduation Plans Survey (Available mid-semester)

      For more information

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