FAQs

Graduation is the completion of all degree requirements as recorded on the official transcript. 

Commencement is the ceremony that celebrates the completion of a degree. To walk at the University Commencement Ceremony and College Ceremony, a student must apply for graduation.

Yes, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, was the last day to apply for Spring 2024 graduation with no late fee. Students can still submit their graduation application but will be subject to a late fee. Applications should be submitted online through Self Service. Click here, for instructions on how to apply for graduation.   

After submitting your graduation application, you will be added to the commencement mailing list and will begin getting commencement-related emails as your commencement date approaches.

Students planning on completing their coursework by the end of the Summer II term should fill out and submit their summer graduation application by Friday, Feb. 9, to have their degree conferred in the summer. Summer graduates are eligible to walk in the Spring Commencement ceremonies.

Honors that are recognized at commencement ceremonies are based on the student’s cumulative grade point average available at the beginning of the semester of graduation.

Actual graduation with honors is calculated after the final semester’s grades have been received and certified and will be indicated on the diploma and official transcript. Honor stoles may not be exchanged if Latin Honors change after final grade processing.

All students eligible to wear an academic honor stole at commencement will receive an email, from the Office of the Registrar, notifying them of eligibility along with instructions on how to purchase their stole. If a student did not receive an email and believes that they might be eligible, please email graduation@coastal.edu.

Latin Honors:

Summa cum Laude: a cumulative GPA of 3.95 or higher
Magna cum Laude: a cumulative GPA of 3.75 - 3.949
Cum Laude: a cumulative GPA of 3.5-3.74

All students eligible to wear an academic honor stole at commencement will receive an email from the Office of the Registrar, notifying them of eligibility along with instructions on how to purchase their stole. If a student did not receive an email and believes that they might be eligible, please email graduation@coastal.edu.

Visit the regalia page for more information.

The University Commencement Ceremony is a campus-wide celebration of all the students graduating from the University’s academic colleges. The ceremony kicks off with a parade of graduates processing into Brooks Stadium by their academic colleges. While each college holds an individual ceremony, the University President is the only person who can confer the actual degrees. As part of the University Commencement Ceremony, each dean steps forward to request that the president confer degrees on the college’s candidates as they stand to be recognized en masse. Other traditional customs include University recognitions and formal addresses from the University President, board of trustees, the commencement speaker - The Honorable Clifton Newman, a South Carolina Circuit Court Judge, and CCU alumni. Tickets are not required for this event.

Visit the University Commencement Ceremony page for more information.

The ceremony should last approximately one hour. To ensure a quick and safe exit, graduates are urged to make arrangements before commencement to meet family and friends outside of Brooks Stadium after the ceremony at a designated location.

Brooks Stadium will open one hour before the start of the ceremony (5 p.m.).

Graduates are to check in at the Gate 1 entrance into Brooks Stadium no later than 5 p.m. to prepare for the ceremony.

Accessible seating will be available throughout the stadium and will be marked by blue and white tape. Due to high demand, patrons using accessible seating may have one companion accompany them in the accessible seating areas. As space permits, families and friends are welcome to sit near or behind individuals using accessible seating. However, it is important to note that accessible seating areas, like all commencement seating, are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Event staff will be available to assist guests with accessible seating prior to and during the ceremonies.

Visit the accessibility page for more information.

No, tickets are not required for the University Commencement Ceremony; however, tickets are required for the College Recognition Ceremonies.

Visit the tickets page for more information.

The College Recognition Ceremonies, held in the HTC Center, are unique in nature to reflect the personalities of each of the academic colleges at CCU, but all include addresses from guest speakers and presentation of degrees. The dean of the college presides over the ceremony, and it is at this ceremony that the graduates’ names will be announced as they cross the stage and receive their diploma covers.  Tickets are required for these ceremonies.

Visit the College Recognition Ceremonies page for more information.

For a complete listing of undergraduate degrees within each academic college, click here.

For a complete listing of graduate degrees within each academic college, click here.

The ceremony should last approximately an hour and a half; however, the length of ceremonies may vary due to the size of the graduating class within each college.

Graduates need to arrive at the HTC Center and check in at the Gate 3 entrance no later than one hour before the start of their college ceremony.

Accessible seating is available in the first row of each bleacher section, which is designated by white and blue tape. Due to high demand, patrons using accessible seating may have one companion accompany them in the accessible seating areas. As space permits, families and friends are welcome to sit near or behind individuals using accessible seating. However, it is important to note that accessible seating areas, like all commencement seating, are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Event staff will be available to assist guests with accessible seating before and during the ceremonies.

Please visit the accessibility page for details.

Yes, general admission tickets are required for the College Recognition Ceremonies at the HTC Center (for guests ages one and older). Guest seating is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Graduates do not need a ticket.

Visit the tickets page for more information.

Coming soon.

Visit the tickets page for more information.

After initial tickets have been claimed and the number of available seats has been established, an email will be sent to eligible graduates with more information on how to obtain additional tickets online. Additional tickets are not guaranteed but are subject to seating availability. Visit the tickets page for more information.

No, graduates do not need a ticket. However, graduates are responsible for claiming and distributing their guest tickets. Visit the ticket page for more information.

Guests ages one and older will need a ticket to attend a College Recognition Ceremony.

No, graduates are the only ones who can claim tickets for their College Recognition Ceremony, and it is their responsibility to distribute the tickets to their guests before the ceremony.

No, tickets for the College Recognition Ceremonies are general admission tickets. Guest seating is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Office of the Registrar will review graduation applications once final grading is complete. Depending on the number of graduation candidates, the final audit process can take up to six to eight weeks to be completed. Once a final determination has been made on your application, you will receive an email from the Registrar's Office detailing that decision. Diplomas will be mailed six to eight weeks after the date of the ceremony. Diplomas will be mailed to the diploma mailing address specified on your graduation application.

If anything related to your graduation changes, including program of study, diploma name, diploma mailing address, or anything else, please contact graduation@coastal.edu.

Please visit, https://www.coastal.edu/registrar/diplomainformation/, for more information.

Email graduation@coastal.edu for assistance if your diploma was damaged upon arrival or if you have additional questions about diplomas.

The Office of the Registrar will review graduation applications once final grading is complete. Depending on the number of graduation candidates, the final audit process can take up to six to eight weeks to be completed. Once a final determination has been made on your application, you will receive an email from the Registrar's Office detailing that decision.

To be eligible for graduation, the student must meet all course requirements, all “in residence” requirements, all departmental or program requirements, and have submitted a graduation application. Graduates must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 (3.0 for Graduate level students) on all work attempted at Coastal Carolina University, and have earned the minimum hours as determined by the degree (120 earned hours minimum for Undergraduates). If a student has received a grade of I (incomplete) for any of his or her classes for the current term (or have an “I” from a previous term), he or she must have completed all coursework and turned it in to the instructor by the end of the term.

All graduates will automatically receive a one-year membership to the CCU Alumni Association. Visit coastal.edu/alumni/alumnibenefits/ to view all the included membership benefits. Your official CCU Alumni Association membership card will be mailed to the address you supplied on your graduation application. Be sure to use the Alumni Association as a resource for any questions that you may have after graduation, and stay connected by sending them an email anytime at alumni@coastal.edu or calling 843-349-ALUM.