Day: December 11, 2025

In order to complete a degree at Michigan Tech, all students must submit a Graduation Application and let the Graduate School know their plans to attend commencement. This post will explain the difference between graduation and commencement and explain how to submit the Graduation Application.

Graduation vs. Commencement: Understanding the Difference

Graduation is the official act of completing all academic requirements and earning your degree. Your actual diploma will be shipped to you approximately six weeks after the semester you complete your degree. You must complete all of your curricular requirements and apply to graduate in order to receive your credential.

Commencement is the celebratory ceremony. It is an opportunity for friends and family to acknowledge your hard work. Students who attend the commencement ceremony receive a diploma cover when they walk across the stage. The Graduate School hosts a single annual commencement ceremony at the close of spring semester. A commencement application is required to participate. You can read more about this later in the blog.

Graduation is the official act of completing all academic requirements and earning your degree. Commencement is the celebratory ceremony. It is an opportunity for friends and family to acknowledge your hard work.

All students must Submit a Graduation Application to graduate and earn their credential. See our first blog post for information about that process. If you indicate that you will or might attend commencement, we will need additional information that wasn’t collected in the Graduation Application. You will provide us that information by completing the Commencement Application.

View your Academic Audit and click the refresh button above your student M number so the latest, most accurate information appears in your audit.