Graduation Audit Information

• Graduation Application Period: Oct. 16 – Jan. 15
• Graduation Application and Fee Deadline: Jan. 15
• Deadline for External Transcripts and Fees: Feb. 1
• Graduation Audits Begin by: Second week of January
• Degree Conferral Date: March 13, 2026

• Graduation Application Period: Jan. 16 – Apr. 15
• Graduation Application and Fee Deadline: April 15
• Deadline for External Transcripts and Fees: May 1
• Graduation Audits Begin by: Second week of April
• Degree Conferral Date: June 12, 2026

• Graduation Application Period: April 16 – July 15
• Graduation Application and Fee Deadline: July 15
• Deadline for External Transcripts and Fees: Aug. 1
• Graduation Audits Begin by: Second week of July
• Degree Conferral Date: Sept. 12, 2025

• Graduation Application Period: July 16 – Oct. 15
• Graduation Application and Fee Deadline: Oct. 15
• Deadline for External Transcripts and Fees: Nov. 1
• Graduation Audits Begin by: Second week of Oct.
• Degree Conferral Date: Dec. 12, 2025

After a student applies for graduation and pays the graduation audit fee, a graduation audit is conducted. The purpose of the audit is to confirm that the student has met all requirements necessary for the degree to be conferred.

During this process, a graduation auditor reviews all transcripts submitted by the student. Each transcript is verified to ensure it belongs to the student and that all courses have been accurately entered into the student’s academic record. This includes confirming the course number, course title, term completed, and credits awarded.

The auditor also reviews the student’s academic evaluation to confirm that all degree requirements have been satisfied and that courses or examinations have been appropriately applied to the correct requirements within the evaluation.

Finally, the auditor verifies that the student is in compliance with all applicable academic and nonacademic policies related to the degree program, as outlined in the Graduate University Catalog or Undergraduate University Catalog.

Graduation applications are reviewed in the order they are received once the graduation audit period begins. The review process typically takes 6–8 weeks to complete.

The graduation application period for each cycle is listed in the chart above. Students who apply earlier in the application period will generally be reviewed before those who apply later.

Priority is given to students whose academic evaluations indicate that all academic requirements for their intended degree have been completed.

All students who submit a graduation application and pay the graduation audit fee during the application period will have their records reviewed.

A certification letter confirming your degree cannot be issued until your official graduation audit has been successfully completed. Please refer to the question above for information on the expected timeline for completion of your graduation audit.

If you need documentation showing your current degree requirement status, you may provide a copy of your official academic evaluation to the individual or organization requesting verification. Once your degree has been certified for graduation, you will receive instructions on how to request an official certification letter.

To help ensure your graduation audit proceeds as efficiently as possible, please review the following steps:

• Submit the Request for Supplemental Information form if you have not already done so. This allows any additional relevant information to be included in your graduation audit.
• Review your academic progress in MyProgress within Online Student Services to confirm that all degree requirements have been completed.
• Complete the Second Area of Study/Degree Request Form if you plan to be audited for an additional degree or area of study during the current graduation cycle.
• Confirm credit-hour residency requirements. If you must meet a required credit-hour residency and plan to satisfy it by paying the Edison Accelerate fee, contact the Office of Student Financial Accounts at 609-984-4099 as soon as possible to coordinate payment and avoid delays in your audit. Residency information can be viewed in MyProgress under the “Show Program Notes” section, which lists the courses applied toward residency and the total credits earned.
• Resolve any outstanding balance with the University. If you have a balance due, contact the Office of Student Financial Accounts at 609-984-4099 to make payment promptly. Diplomas cannot be released until all financial obligations to the University have been satisfied.

All materials related to graduation, including external transcripts and applicable fees, must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the deadline listed above for each graduation cycle.

Official transcripts should be sent to transcripts@tesu.edu. Please do not send transcripts directly to a graduation auditor’s email address, as they will not be accepted.

Graduation materials are reviewed in the order they are received, so it is important to submit all required documents as soon as possible. If materials arrive after the stated deadline, it may be too late for them to be considered for the upcoming graduation cycle.

If you are completing remaining coursework or submitting additional transcripts, be sure to indicate these plans on your Request for Supplemental Information form so the graduation audit team is aware of your anticipated credits.

Once your graduation audit has been completed, you will receive an email from your graduation auditor with the outcome, regardless of the result. Please check your inbox regularly for updates regarding your graduation status.

If your audit is successful:
You will receive an email confirming that you have been certified for graduation. This confirmation, along with a letter of completion (if requested), is often sufficient documentation for employers or other institutions as proof that your degree has been certified and is pending conferral.

If you need a mailed letter of certification, please email registrar@tesu.edu to request one.

A member of the Registrar’s Office will also contact you by phone, typically within 1–2 weeks after certification, to confirm your status and answer any questions you may have about graduation.

If additional requirements remain:
If your audit indicates that academic or financial requirements are still outstanding, your auditor will notify you by email and outline what still needs to be completed. You may be advised to work with Academic Advising to develop a plan to fulfill these requirements.

If degree requirements are not satisfied:
You will automatically be considered for the next available graduation cycle. Your graduation auditor will provide additional information and next steps by email.

Once it has been determined that you have satisfied all degree requirements, your name will be submitted to the Board of Trustees at its next scheduled meeting for approval of degree conferral. The date of this meeting serves as the official graduation and degree conferral date.

Although students are certified for graduation prior to the official conferral date, the Thomas Edison State University transcript will not reflect the awarded degree until the next business day following conferral by the Board of Trustees.

Once your degree has been officially conferred, a final student copy of your transcript indicating the awarded degree will be mailed to you, along with the University diploma, provided there is no outstanding balance or financial hold on your account. Diplomas will not be released until all financial obligations have been satisfied. For questions regarding account balances, please contact the Office of Student Financial Accounts at 609-984-4099 or studentaccts@tesu.edu.

Please note that the undergraduate diploma does not list your area of study. Diploma packages are mailed within two weeks following the graduation date to students with no outstanding financial obligations.

If you would like a transcript sent to another institution or employer after your degree is conferred, you may request one through the transcript request process, and it will be sent automatically once the degree is posted.