Graduation Information

• Students are encouraged to apply for graduation as soon as they register for their final courses, whether those courses are completed through Thomas Edison State University or at another institution.
• Submitting the graduation application and paying the graduation audit fee initiates the graduation review process. Applications must be submitted in accordance with one of the four established graduation deadlines.
• It is not necessary to have all degree requirements completed at the time of application; however, all requirements must be fulfilled, and all final grades and official transcripts received at least one month prior to the graduation date for which you applied.

Final Courses at TESU

• If your final courses are being completed at Thomas Edison State University, graduation audits will be scheduled after final grades have been posted.

Final Courses at Another Institution

• If you are completing final courses outside of TESU, you must ensure that Academic Advising has formally approved your remaining coursework. You should also submit a Request for Supplemental Information Form indicating when TESU can expect to receive your final transcripts.

• Students are strongly encouraged to review their My Progress degree program to confirm that all requirements will be completed at least one month prior to the conferral date. For assistance, please contact the Office of Academic Advising at academicadvising@tesu.edu or call the Advising Expressline at 609-777-5680 (Monday–Friday, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET). You may also schedule an appointment through the Advising Appointment link located in the Tools box when you login to your myEdison.

All students, with the exception of those with the program requirements outlined below, must submit their graduation application through myEdison via your Student Self-Service portal.

How to apply for graduation through Self Service
Students should first determine whether their current program requires one of the below specialized application forms:

Graduate or Undergraduate Certificate

• Students pursuing a graduate or undergraduate certificate (e.g., Graduate Certificate in Clinical Trials Management or Undergraduate Certificate in Accounting) must complete the appropriate certificate application.
  • Students applying for both a degree and a certificate within the same graduation cycle must use the designated certificate application.

Second Degree or Second Area of Study

• Students pursuing a second degree or an additional area of study (e.g., Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Arts, or Bachelor of Arts in Music and Art) must submit the first application through online student services and the second application using the designated form. Students should not apply for their second degree or area of study on Online Student Services as an additional graduation fee will be charged.
• Students may apply for both an associate and a bachelor’s degree for the same graduation date; however, all degree requirements must be completed for both degrees to be eligible. There is no additional fee for a second degree if both degrees are completed and certified for the same graduation date. If only one degree is certified, you must submit a new graduation application and pay an additional graduation audit fee for the second degree.

Graduation Audit Fee

• After submitting your graduation application, you will be prompted to pay the nonrefundable graduation audit fee. The current fee is $298. Please note that your application will not be processed until payment has been received.

Application Deadlines

• Students must ensure that their application is submitted by the published graduation deadline for their intended term.

• Students who miss the graduation application deadline may submit a request to be considered for inclusion in that graduation cycle; however, approval is not guaranteed. Requests are reviewed for up to one month following the application deadline.

How to Submit a Request

• To be considered, you must first apply for the graduation date that is open on the application. You must then submit a Late Graduation Application Petition to request consideration for an earlier graduation date.
• If your request is approved, you will receive instructions to pay the $163 late graduation audit fee. Once payment is received, your graduation application date will be adjusted accordingly. If your request is not approved, no fee will be charged. Please note that the late fee is nonrefundable and required regardless of the final audit outcome; therefore, students should ensure they meet all eligibility criteria before submitting a petition.

Important Considerations

• Before submitting a late graduation application petition, students are encouraged to carefully evaluate whether an earlier graduation date is necessary, considering a fee is required if approved. All graduates, when certified for graduation, receive an official degree certification email and may request an official letter of completion. This letter, along with a Thomas Edison State University transcript reflecting completed coursework, is typically sufficient for employers and graduate schools. They will often use this certification letter and transcript for their records in anticipation of receiving the official transcript once your degree is officially conferred. If this is the case, you may not need to petition to be reviewed early.
• A Late Graduation Application Petition only requests consideration for placement in an earlier graduation cycle than the one for which you officially applied. It does not expedite the audit process or provide an earlier conferral date. The petitions will only be reviewed for one month after the established graduation deadline.
• Submission of a Late Graduation Application Petition does not guarantee graduation. All students must still undergo a complete graduation audit and must meet all degree requirements for the degree to be awarded.

• After submitting your Request for Graduation, you must complete payment of the graduation audit fee within Online Student Services. Applications will not be processed and will be canceled if payment is not received.
• You will receive an acknowledgment email from the Graduation office confirming receipt of your application and the degree program for which you have applied. If you do not receive this confirmation within two business days of submission, please contact the Registrar’s Office.
• Once your application and payment have been received, a graduation auditor will review your academic record to determine your eligibility for graduation. Applications are reviewed in the order in which they are received over a 6-8 week review period.

• A graduation audit is conducted after a student has applied for graduation and submitted the required graduation audit fee. The purpose of the audit is to verify that all degree requirements have been completed.
• A graduation auditor reviews all transcripts submitted by the student, verifying that each transcript belongs to the student and confirming the accuracy of course numbers, course titles, terms completed, and credits awarded.
• The graduation auditor also reviews the student’s degree program to confirm that all degree requirements have been satisfied and that courses/exams are applied accurately to meet the correct degree requirements.
• Finally, the graduation auditor verifies that the student is in compliance with all academic and non-academic policies associated with their degree program, including those outlined in the Graduate University Catalog and the Undergraduate University Catalog.

• Once a graduation auditor has determined that you have met all requirements for your degree program, you will receive a certification email. This email will indicate the degree for which you have been certified and your anticipated graduation date. It is important to review this email carefully and verify that all information is accurate.
• Your name and degree will be submitted to the Board of Trustees for approval on the official graduation date. While degrees are conferred to students after approval by the University’s Board of Trustees, the annual Commencement ceremony for graduates and their guests is held each fall.
• Diploma packages are mailed within 10 business days following the official graduation date, provided there are no outstanding balances or financial holds on your account. Diplomas will not be released until all balances are resolved. For questions regarding your account, please contact the Office of Student Financial Accounts at 609-984-4099 or studentaccts@tesu.edu.
• Students may request a duplicate diploma for a fee.
• Although a student is certified for graduation before the actual graduation date, the degree will not appear as conferred on the Thomas Edison State University transcript until the next business day after graduation.

• Your undergraduate diploma will display the degree you have earned, but it will not list your specific area of study/option. For example, if you graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, your diploma will read “Bachelor of Arts” rather than “Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies.” If you need to show the area of study, a TESU transcript displays that information after degree conferral.

You may receive an email indicating that we need additional documents and that your official transcripts/grades must be submitted by a specified date. This only occurs if the official transcripts/grades are expected to arrive shortly and time will permit another review of your file.

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If you have not met all degree requirements, you will receive an email notifying you that your degree requirements have not been met. In this case, your file will automatically be audited for the next available graduation cycle. You will not need to submit a new graduation application or pay another fee unless you change your degree program.

Several factors can delay or prevent graduation. Common issues include:

1. Graduation Audit Fee Not Paid
   The graduation application and the nonrefundable graduation audit fee are required to begin the graduation review process. Failure to pay the fee will result in your application being canceled, and you will need to reapply.
2. Degree Requirements Not Met
   Carefully review your degree plan in MyProgress. Your program must indicate “0 S.H. remaining” before you can graduate.
3. Missing Official Transcripts or Grades
   All official transcripts and final grades must be received by the deadlines listed for your term. If coursework is not reflected in MyProgress, request that your official transcripts be sent to the Registrar’s Office as soon as possible. Late submissions may delay or prevent graduation.
4. Inactive Enrollment Status
   You must maintain active enrollment until your degree requirements are complete and your graduation application is submitted. If your enrollment status is inactive, you must meet the criteria to apply as an inactive student. More information is available on the Inactive Students Applying for Graduation page.
5. Residency Requirement Not Met
   Certain enrollment plans (e.g., MDCP or Per-Credit Tuition Plan) require students to earn a minimum number of credits through TESU. If you have not met this requirement, you may pay the Edison Accelerate fee to satisfy the residency requirement. Students will not be certified for graduation until residency is fulfilled either through coursework or payment of the fee.
6. Outstanding Financial Balances
   While students may be certified for graduation with a financial balance, the graduation audit fee and the Edison Accelerate fee (if required) must be paid before your degree can be conferred. We strongly encourage you to resolve any outstanding financial balances prior to graduation. Diplomas will not be released until all balances are cleared. For questions, please contact the Office of Student Financial Accounts at 609-984-4099 or studentaccts@tesu.edu.
7. GPA Requirements Not Met
   Undergraduate students must have a minimum overall TESU GPA, English Composition GPA and area of study/option GPA of 2.0 or higher. Graduate students must maintain an overall TESU GPA of 3.0 or higher.