Graduation

 
When to Apply

Applications should be submitted during the first four weeks of the term in which you plan to graduate. J-Term graduates who are planning to participate in the fall commencement ceremony must follow the fall application deadlines. Summer graduates who are planning to participate in the spring commencement ceremony must follow the spring application deadlines. Listed below are the deadlines for the term in which you plan to graduate.  

Graduation Deadlines

Graduation Term: Fall 2026

• Deadline if participating in commencement ceremony: Sept. 25, 2026
• Deadline if NOT participating in commencement ceremony: Nov. 6, 2026
   

Graduation Term: J-Term 2027

• Deadline if participating in commencement ceremony: Sept. 25, 2026 (attending fall 2026 ceremony)
• Deadline if NOT participating in commencement ceremony: Nov. 6, 2026 
   

Graduation Term: Spring 2027

• Deadline if participating in commencement ceremony: Feb. 12, 2027
• Deadline if NOT participating in commencement ceremony: April 2, 2027
   

Graduation Term: Summer 2027

• Deadline if participating in commencement ceremony: Feb. 12, 2027 (attending spring 2027 ceremony)
• Deadline if NOT participating in commencement ceremony: April 2, 2027

Deadline Dates for Degree Conferral

These are the dates that all coursework needs to be into the Registrar's Office, by 4:30 p.m., to receive that term's conferral date.

• Term: Summer 2025-2026 (1268), Date: Sept. 11, 2026
• Term: Fall 2026-2027 (1272), Date: Jan. 22, 2027
• Term: J-Term 2026-2027 (1274), Date: Feb. 12, 2027
• Term: Spring 2026-2027 (1276), Date: June 18, 2027
• Term: Summer 2026-2027 (1278), Date: Sept. 10, 2027

Degrees and Diplomas

• Fall graduates will receive a diploma by late February.
• J-Term graduates will receive a diploma by mid-March.
• Spring graduates will receive a diploma by mid-July.
• Summer graduates will receive a diploma by mid-October.

Diplomas are mailed to the home address indicated on the eSIS system. All holds with the university must be removed before a diploma or requested transcripts will be mailed out. Holds can be checked on the eSIS system.

Need a duplicate diploma? Order a diploma

Graduation Honors

At graduation, three types of merit awards are recognized: Senior Merit, Cum Laude and completion of the Honors Program.

Grade points determining the academic merit awards are calculated during the student's final semester. Upon calculation of final grades, students who then meet the merit criteria will also receive the award. Students who did not meet the merit award criteria prior to graduation but meet the criteria after final grades are submitted will also receive the academic merit award.

Latin honors are awarded to graduating seniors who have completed a minimum of 45 credits at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls. Graduation honors are determined using the cumulative GPA earned in coursework completed at UWRF only. Transfer credits are not included in the GPA calculation for graduation honors.

The requirements for the honors were passed by the Faculty Senate, March 2026. (Motion 2025-2026/37)

Requirements for Honors:

Commencement Information

For more information about Commencement, visit our Commencement webpage.