Skip to Content

University of Colorado Boulder
Office of the Registrar

Main menu

  • Home
  • Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Alumni
  • About
University of Colorado Boulder
Search

Search

Office of the Registrar
Part of Academic Affairs
Office of the Registrar

Main menu

  • Home
  • Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Alumni
  • About

Secondary Menu

  • Accessibility

Mobile menu

  • Home
  • Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Alumni
  • About
  • Accessibility
  • Academic Calendar
  • Buff Portal
  • CU Boulder Class Search
  • Request Student Data
  • Schedule & Catalog Archive
  • University Catalog
Graduation & Commencement

Graduation & Commencement

    Graduation

    You must apply to graduate through Buff Portal for the semester in which you'll officially and successfully complete all requirements for the degree(s) and major(s) you're pursuing. Degrees are conferred at the end of the fall, spring and summer semesters.

    • Apply for Graduation
    • Review Your Application Status
    • Update Your Diploma Name or Address
    • Change Your Graduation Term

    Complete the following steps before the applicable submission deadline (see the graduation & diploma calendar):

    1. Follow this link to Buff Portal's apply for graduation card (you may be prompted to log in).

    2. Select "Apply for graduation."

    3. For your academic institution, select "CUBLD."

    4. For your expected graduation term, choose the term in which you expect to complete your degree requirements.

    5. Select "Select Program."

    6. Select the link for the academic program you're applying to graduate from. (Note: You can't apply to graduate from a certificate or licensure program. If you're pursuing a dual degree, submit a separate application for the each program.)

    7. Review your academic information. If it's accurate, select "Information Is Correct."

    8. Select "Apply for Graduation."

    9. Review your name. If you want to modify it, select "Change Name," then "Add Name." Once you save it, this new name will be your diploma name.

    10. Once you're happy with your name, select the "Approve Diploma Name" checkbox.

    11. Review your address. Diplomas are mailed approximately eight weeks after the commencement ceremony. If the address shown won't be correct at that time, select "Change Address" to create a new diploma address. The post office will not forward your diploma if your address changes.

    12. Once you're happy with your address, tick the "Approve Diploma Address" checkbox.

    13. Review your information. If it's accurate, select "Apply for Graduation."

    Your application status will likely remain as "In Review" until after the degree conferral date for your graduation term.*

    At that time, your department will review your records, determine whether you've completed your graduation requirements, and change your status to either "Accepted" or "Denied."

    • If your status is "Accepted," then you've successfully completed your degree requirements and have graduated from CU Boulder.

    • If your status is "Denied," then you haven't completed your degree requirements and have not graduated from CU Boulder. Please contact your advisor for more information.

    *If your status is changed to "Accepted" before the end of your graduation term, that means the department has received your application, but has not confirmed whether you've met your degree requirements.

    1. Follow this link to Buff Portal's apply for graduation card (you may be prompted to log in).

    2. Select "Apply for graduation."

    3. In the graduation application status table, select "View Application."

      • To change your name, select "Update Diploma Name."

      • To change your address, select "Update Diploma Address."

    To change your graduation term, you must cancel the current application and submit a new one.

    1. Follow this link to Buff Portal's apply for graduation card (you may be prompted to log in).

    2. Select "Apply for graduation."

    3. In the graduation application status table, select "View Application."

    4. Select "Cancel Application," then "Yes."

    5. Follow the instructions above to submit an application with your new graduation term.

    Commencement

    • Spring Ceremony
    • Commencement Program

    See the CU Boulder commencement website for information about upcoming conferral, recognition and commencement activities.

    The commencement program lists the names of students who either graduated (fall semester) or applied to graduate (spring or summer semester) in that academic year. For example, students listed in the 2020–21 commencement program will have done one of the following:

    • Graduated in Fall 2020
    • Submitted their Spring 2021 graduation application by April 1, 2021
    • Submitted their Summer 2021 graduation application by April 1, 2021

    Students who submit a Fall 2020 graduation application will be listed in the following year's commencement program.

    If you’re expecting to complete your degree requirements in spring or summer, submit your graduation application by the publication deadline (April 1) to have your name included in the commencement program.

    Diplomas & Certificates

    We'll mail your complimentary paper diploma and/or certificate approximately eight weeks after the end of the semester in which you complete your degree requirements. If you didn't establish a separate diploma address when you applied to graduate, your diploma will be mailed to your home address (note: the post office will not forward your diploma if your address changes).

    Note: Your diploma will only be mailed if you've satisfied all your financial obligations within one year after graduation. Students who resolve their financial hold after the allotted time must instead order a replacement diploma.

    Learn More About Diplomas & Certificates

    Questions?

    See our Graduation & Diploma FAQs.

    About

    • Announcements
    • Academic Calendar
    • Registration
    • Degree Planning
    • Graduation & Commencement
      • Electronic Diplomas & Certificates
      • Graduation & Diploma FAQs
    • Privacy & Third-Party Access
    • Tuition Classification
    • Transcripts
    • Withdraw from the Semester
    • Your Information & Records

    Contact Us

     diplomas@colorado.edu

    Resources

    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Commencement Website
    • Commencement Programs
      • 2020–21
      • 2019–20
      • 2018–19

    Graduation Calendar

    See more...

    Footer menu

    • Academic Calendar
    • Buff Portal
    • CU Boulder Class Search
    • Request Student Data
    • Schedule & Catalog Archive
    • University Catalog

    Office of the Registrar

    Regent Administrative Center, room 101
    20 UCB
    Boulder, CO 80309
    Phone: 303-492-6970
     

    More Contact Info    Staff List

    Fall & Spring Hours
    – Email, Phone & LiveChat: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. MT
    – Front Desk: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. MT
     
    Summer Hours
    Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. MT

    University of Colorado Boulder

    University of Colorado Boulder
    © Regents of the University of Colorado
    Privacy • Legal & Trademarks • Campus Map

    Return to the top of the page