Steps to Graduation

Undergraduate and Professional Degrees

1. Apply for Graduation

Deadline to apply is March 1, 2024.

Complete Application: The Undergraduate and Professional Degree Application is available online through myWSU student center. If you need help, please see the steps for completing the application.

For the deadline to apply for graduation, check the Graduations Deadlines on the WSU Graduation Calendar.

Name on your diploma: Complete the application with your name as you wish it to appear on your diploma, but your last name must match the last name on your official record. An official name change is made through the University Payroll Services in Pullman.

2. Review Your Degree Audit

After applying for graduation, check your progress towards graduation in myWSU and report any discrepancies to your academic adviser. Students can access their Academic Progress Report through the Academic Advising tile on the Student homepage (Instructions open in a new tab). For Honors requirements, contact the Honors College.

3. Complete Degree Requirements

All academic requirements must be completed at the time of graduation. This includes University, General Education or Honors, and degree program requirements.

4. Update Your Name and Addresses

Please submit a Request for Name Change form to the Student Affairs Office in Spokane if you have changed your name since applying for a degree. Also ask about other steps you must take to update your name in University records.

Update your address in myWSU. Your diploma will be mailed to your permanent home mailing address about two months after your graduation date. If you change your address during that time notify the Registrar’s Office.

5. Settle All Financial Obligations

Review your student account in myWSU, and also check your account 30 days after graduation. Any balance due on your student account will hold your diploma.

Students who have federal Stafford and/or Perkins loans are required to complete exit loan counseling. Live sessions are held on the Spokane campus. Required session may be completed online.

6. Degree Verification and Clearance

The Undergraduate Degree Office will review your degree audit report and your academic records (including transcript and transfer credit report) when grades are available following your last term of enrollment. If you are cleared for graduation, your degree will be posted to your transcript approximately four to six weeks after your graduation date (all transcripts are done through Parchment).

If you are not cleared for graduation, a deficiency letter will be sent to your permanent address by certified mail to notify you of remaining graduation requirements. You will have approximately two weeks to clear any requirements and remain in the graduating class.

Otherwise, you will need to change your graduation date or have your application classified as inactive. If your application is placed in the inactive file, you will have three years to complete remaining requirements. After three years, the file is destroyed and you would need to apply again.

The best way to verify your degree for potential employers or graduate schools is to submit an official transcript of your academic record. Your degree will be posted to your transcript approximately two weeks following your graduation date (if all degree requirements are complete), then on a weekly basis until that class is closed. You may request a transcript before the end of the term and request that it be held until your degree is posted.

If you need to verify the completion of your degree before it is posted to your transcript, you may request a letter from the Campus Registrar at 509-358-7530 or spok.reg@wsu.edu, indicating that you have fulfilled all requirements. The letter will refer to you as a candidate for a degree who has completed all requirements.

Contact the Registrar in the WSU Spokane Student Affairs office at 509-358-7530 or spok.reg@wsu.edu if you have any questions about degree verification or clearance.

Master’s and Doctoral Degrees

1. Apply for Your Degree

Deadline to apply is March 1, 2024.

Apply for your master’s or doctoral degree at least one semester before your final exam is scheduled. The Graduate School will then notify you of any final graduation requirements before you enroll for your last semester.

2. Schedule Your Final Oral Exam

3. Submit Your Thesis/Dissertation to the Graduate School

Make sure that it is formatted in accordance with the Graduate School formatting guidelines.

4. Update your address in myWSU

Your diploma will be mailed to your permanent home mailing address after degrees have been conferred, about two months after your graduation date. Make sure to notify the Graduate School immediately if your address changes during that time.