Degree Conferral (Graduation) and Diplomas
The University of Pittsburgh's academic journey culminates in two distinct but related events: the application process for degree conferral (graduation) and the commencement ceremony. The graduation application is an administrative step to officially declare your intent to complete your degree requirements and receive your diploma. The commencement ceremony, on the other hand, is a celebratory event where graduates are formally recognized. For more information on commencement, please visit the commencement website. In addition to the main university-wide commencement, individual schools and colleges may also host their own graduation celebrations. Contact your dean’s office or visit the School & College Celebrations page of the commencement website for more information.
- Applying for Graduation
- To graduate, all eligible students must submit an online application. The following provide directions and key considerations to the process.
- Online Application: Complete the online application by logging into my.pitt.edu and following these instructions.
- Update Information: Be sure to update your graduation address and diploma name when applying. Your graduation address is where you want your diploma sent. Please be aware there is a 35-character (including spaces) limit to diploma addresses. Your Diploma name is the name you want printed on your diploma. This name can be different than your legal name. The deadline for these updates is the beginning of the month of your graduation.
- Multiple degrees: Students pursuing multiple degrees need to apply for each one separately. The only exception is if you're earning a degree in partnership with the Frederick Honors College (FHC); in this case, FHC recognition will be automatically added when you complete your primary graduation application, so a separate application isn't needed.
- Postponing Graduation: If you've applied for graduation and need to postpone, contact your Dean's Office. They will inform you when to apply for subsequent terms.
- Name Consistency: Your name on your graduation application must be identical to how it appears in the University’s student information system: Highpoint Campus Experience (HCX)/PeopleSoft. You'll need to provide legal documentation (such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree, or formal court order) to change your name.
- Financial Standing: You must be in good financial standing with the University to receive your diploma.
- Senior Survey: Please tell the University about your experience at Pitt by completing the University of Pittsburgh Senior Survey.
- Graduation with Honors
Undergraduate students who achieve an outstanding scholastic record may graduate with university honors. To be eligible, a student must complete at least 60 letter-graded credits at the University of Pittsburgh. All degree-related coursework completed at the University is calculated in the grade point average (GPA), and GPAs are not rounded up. Receipt of University honors is based on having obtained the following grade point average at graduation:
- Summa Cum Laude: 3.75
- Magna Cum Laude: 3.50
- Cum Laude: 3.25
The honor status achieved by a student will appear on the student's official University transcript and diploma.
- Diplomas
Paper Diplomas
Paper diplomas will be mailed out at no charge approximately 6-8 weeks after the end of your term of graduation.
Allow 30 days from the advertised ship date to consider a diploma lost for domestic mail, and 90 days for international delivery. To declare a diploma lost, please contact us at graduation@registrar.pitt.edu. All discrepancies should be brought to the attention of the Office of the University Registrar immediately.
Electronic Diplomas
Beginning with graduates in Fall 2025, the University of Pittsburgh is providing a Certified Electronic Diploma (CeDiploma). This digital version of your diploma will be provided free of charge, along with the standard paper diploma. At this time, the CeDiploma is not available for degrees conferred prior to Fall 2025, but we anticipate providing this as an optional service in the near future.
- Reordering a Diploma
Additional or replacement diplomas may be ordered any time after graduation. To begin, please follow the instructions on our order page. Orders must be submitted by the student or graduate personally; third-party requests will not be processed. A credit card is required to complete the transaction.
Pricing and Dimensions
- Standard Diploma (8.5x11 inches): $35.00 plus shipping.
- First Professional Diplomas: Available in standard size ($35.00) or 12x16 inches ($60.00) plus shipping. This applies to the following degrees: JD, MD, DMD, MDS, BSPHR, PharmD, MBA, PhD, and EdD.
- Bachelor of Philosophy (BPhil) Diplomas: Available only in the 14x17 inch size for $60.00 plus shipping.
Important Information
- Non-Receipt Policy: The University will not charge for a replacement diploma if it is reported as not received within 180 days of the student's graduation date. Beyond this 180-day window, graduates must pay the standard replacement fee.
- Recommendation: If you do not receive your diploma within 90 days of graduation, we strongly recommend notifying the Office of the University Registrar immediately.
- Content: Majors are not printed on the diploma.
- Records: The Office of the University Registrar does not maintain physical copies of diplomas on-site.
- Design: Reordered diplomas will reflect the current university style and font, and will bear the signatures of the current administrators.
Shipping and Delivery
Standard diploma re-orders take approximately four weeks for delivery. These are sent via ground shipping and do not include tracking. For an additional fee, orders may be expedited to include tracking and faster delivery times.
