Apply to Graduate
*Please note; the application for graduation is required for all students who wish to complete their degree and receive a diploma, regardless of whether or not a student participates in Commencement. The application and associated fee initiate the process of degree verification and conferral, and the printing and mailing of the diploma. Graduates do not need to wait for a Commencement ceremony in order to apply for graduation.
Students should apply for graduation by logging into SalukiNet. The graduation application fee is non-refundable, and is applied to degree verification, printing and mailing your diploma, and other administrative expenses, in addition to the commencement ceremony. Graduation application fees do not include regalia rental. Graduation application deadlines are available on the Registrar web site.
Graduate students, please make sure you speak with your advisor before applying for graduation to ensure all your requirements will be fulfilled by the appropriate deadlines.
If the on-line application does not work for you, you will need to submit the paper version of the graduation application form.
- Undergraduate students may obtain their application form from the Graduation Office within the Office of the Registrar or the Registrar's web site. The completed application with a check or money order should be sent to: Graduation Office, Student Services Building, Room 0251, Mail Code 4701, Carbondale, IL 62901.
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- Master’s and doctoral degree candidates may obtain their application from the Graduate School or click here to download. The completed application with a check or money order can be sent to: Graduate School, Student Services Building, Room 0310, Mail Code 4716, Carbondale, IL 62901.
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- Law students may obtain their application form from the Law School Registrar’s Office. The completed application with a check or money order should be sent to: Law School Registrar’s Office, 138 Lesar Law Building, SIU School of Law, Mail Code 6804, Carbondale, IL 62901.
When do I need to apply for graduation?
Spring Semester
Candidates intending to complete their degree requirements in May 2024 must submit graduation applications by Friday, February 9, 2024. Applications will be accepted until Friday, February 23, 2024 with an additional fee. Summer 2024 candidates who wish to walk in the May 2024 commencement must submit graduation applications by Friday, February 23, 2024 (see more information below).
Summer Semester
Candidates intending to complete their degree requirements in August 2024 must submit graduation applications by Friday, June 21, 2024. Applications will be accepted until Friday, July 5, 2024 with an additional fee.
The non-refundable fee to apply for graduation is $50.00. This fee does not include regalia rental. For future graduation application deadlines please refer to the Registrar webpage.
August graduates
August graduates receiving bachelor's and Master's degrees may choose to participate in the May Commencement exercises. No application or approval is required, but graduates should indicate the May ceremony in their graduation application.
Names of August graduates will not appear in the May commencement program (but will be read as candidates cross the platform in the ceremony). August graduates' names will be printed in the following December commencement program. August graduates who do not attend the December commencement, may request a copy of the December commencement program for their records. Commencement programs can be requested online.
Regalia Rental
Regalia is required to participate in Commencement. The cap, tassel, and stole (stole applies only to undergraduates) are yours to keep. The gown and hood (hood applies only to graduate students), are rentals and must be returned.
Doctoral students must order hood and regalia.
Deadline to order regalia for pick up at the University Bookstore at the SIU Student Center is Monday, April 1, 2024 by 10 p.m. Orders placed for pickup at the University Bookstore will arrive on or before May 6th.
Regalia may be ordered online with a ship-to-home option until Tuesday, April 16, 2024 by 10PM.
Please note; graduate application fees do not include regalia rental fees. Regalia rental is a separate fee.
Stoles
Students are welcome to wear honor, organization or other affiliation stoles; however, SIU stoles and cords should be displayed above all others. Undergraduates who rent regalia from the University Bookstore or online through Herff Jones will receive a maroon “stole of gratitude”, to be worn at Commencement. After Commencement, according to tradition, the stole is then presented by the graduate to someone who has provided help or support to them while they earned their degree.
Active Military, Police Officers and Firefighters
SIU Commencement permits active duty military, police officers and firefighters to wear their dress uniforms instead of traditional cap and gown regalia.
See more details regarding Commencement Regalia.
Orders placed for pick up will be available in the week prior to commencement. To contact the University Bookstore, call 618-536-3321.
For more details on rental regalia, please see Commencement Regalia.
Stoles
Students are welcome to wear honor, organization or other affiliation stoles; however, SIU stoles and cords should be displayed above all others. Undergraduates who rent regalia from the University Bookstore or online through Herff Jones will receive a maroon “stole of gratitude”, to be worn at Commencement. After Commencement, according to tradition, the stole is then presented by the graduate to someone who has provided help or support to them while they earned their degree.
Active Military, Police Officers and Firefighters
SIU Commencement permits active duty military, police officers and firefighters to wear their dress uniforms instead of traditional cap and gown regalia.
See more details regarding Commencement Regalia.
Reader's Cards
Reader's cards (also called name cards) are used to announce a graduate's name as they cross the stage at the commencement ceremony. Graduates will be led to the stage by a marshall; the reader/name card is given to the person at the microphone just before walking across the stage.
Reader's cards will be available for pick up in the week prior to the commencement ceremony. The cards will also be available on commencement day at the Banterra Center, in the First-Mid Lounge. Marshals on the floor will have a supply of blank cards. Please be sure to fill in an email address, so you can receive information regarding graduation photos taken during commencement.
