Applications
Degree posting is not automatic and all students who wish to have their degree posted must complete an Application for Graduation. This is necessary regardless of intent to participate in the Commencement ceremony. It is the student’s responsibility to submit the following to the Registrar’s Office before the posted deadlines.
Meeting the application deadline is very important to ensure there isn’t a delay in getting your degree posted. Late applications will jeopardize your eligibility to receive awards and participate in Commencement. The application deadlines and fees are listed on this website, academic calendar, and on the graduation applications. Students may only participate in the ceremony at the end of their last semester.
Students who do not complete their degree requirements in the academic year in which they applied will be required to submit a Reapply Graduation Application. If degree requirements were completed at another institution, official transcripts must also be sent to the Registrar’s Office. Re-applicants are not eligible to participate in Commencement.
Application Deadlines and Fee Schedule
The following fee rates are determined by the date the completed Graduation Application is submitted by the student. Late applications will jeopardize your eligibility to receive honors and participate in Commencement. Summer and Fall graduates are eligible to participate in Fall Commencement only, and Spring graduates are eligible to participate in Spring Commencement only.
2026 – 2027 Application Deadlines
| Summer 2026 | Fall 2026 | Spring 2027 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 4, 2026 (deadline to walk in Fall Commencement) | $185 | September 18, 2026 (deadline to walk in Fall Commencement) | $185 | December 4, 2026 (early bird pricing deadline) | $185 |
| Late Applications (after June 4, 2026) | $340 | Late Applications (after September 18, 2026) | $340 | February 5, 2027 (deadline to walk in Spring Commencement) | $215 |
| Late Applications (after February 5, 2027) | $340 | ||||
Graduation Application Fee
All students must submit payment for the Graduation Application Fee at the same time as they submit the application. We accept credit cards, debit cards, exact cash, check, or echeck. This fee is non-refundable and assessed regardless of the student’s intent to participate in the Commencement ceremony.
The Graduation Application Fee covers the administrative time needed to process the application, run a degree audit, track the student’s progress and post the degree to the student’s transcript. It also covers the cost of ordering and mailing the diploma.
Commencement Information
Commencement is a celebration of degree completion and is reserved for students who have completed all of their degree requirements. No student will be allowed to participate who has not completed all of their degree requirements. Graduates may only participate in one Commencement ceremony. Ceremony options are listed on the Graduation Application for each semester. Fall Commencement celebrates Summer and Fall graduates and Spring Commencement celebrates Spring graduates only.
Communication Regarding Commencement
Check your Eagles email frequently, note, and adhere to any deadlines communicated. Late responses will jeopardize your ability to participate in the Commencement ceremony.
Fall Grad Fest & Regalia Pick Up: November 16, 2026
This event is for Undergraduate students who have applied for graduation and indicated that they want to participate in the Fall Commencement Ceremony. Those who fall under this category will receive reminder emails. Come for prizes, academic regalia**, diploma frames, class rings and graduation announcements. Nursing students will receive their regalia separately and will not pick it up from Grad Fest. All students should be checking their Eagles email frequently for this information.
When: Monday, November 16, 2026
Location: Grimm Hall North 302 Conference Center on the Concordia University Irvine campus
1530 Concordia West, Irvine CA 92612
Time: 1:00-3:00 PM
This is a come and go event and you do not need to stay for the duration of the event. No RSVP is required.
*Please see the updated date. Students, please check your Eagles email for more information.
**Regalia will not be issued until proof of degree requirement completion is established (receipt of outstanding transcripts, proof of enrollment, substitution forms, etc). Regalia will be withheld until all financial obligations are met.
Proof of Enrollment
Students who are concurrently enrolled in units at another school must provide proof of enrollment during their last semester after the census date. If they withdraw from the course(s) after submitting the proof, they are obligated to notify the Registrar’s Office and their graduation status must be re-evaluated. No applications for graduation will be accepted without proof of enrollment for all outstanding course requirements.
Degree Posting and Transcripts
Degrees will not be evaluated for verification or conferral and diplomas will not be released until all financial obligations are met. Otherwise, degrees will be posted after all requirements have been satisfied. Degree requirements can be found in the Academic Catalog. Concordia posts degrees three times a year—at the completion of the regular Summer (August), regular Fall (December), and regular Spring (May) terms. Degrees are not posted mid-term, even if a program ends mid-term.
Please allow 4-6 weeks after the end of the regular semester for the final posting of your degree and make future plans accordingly. Transcripts can be ordered through the Registrar’s Office online. Click the button below for more information.
Diplomas
Official diplomas are issued 6-8 weeks after the degree is posted provided that you have no outstanding financial obligations to the University. They are mailed to the address provided on your Graduation Application. Replacement diplomas are available by completing the Diploma Reorder Form. The cost for a replacement diploma is $25 and takes 6-8 weeks to obtain.
Federal Loan Exit Counseling
If you have borrowed money under the Stafford Loan program, federal regulations require you to complete Loan Exit Counseling before graduating. The Financial Aid Office has arranged for you to complete the session online. If you have questions, contact Financial Aid at 949-214-3066.
Regalia
Gowns are sized according to height and weight and are ordered according to information provided by the student on the Application for Graduation. Academic regalia is free of charge and includes a cap, gown, tassel, and stole. Regalia will be withheld until all financial obligations and graduation application requirements are met.
Honors and Honor Cords
Honors are awarded to eligible undergraduate students for the Commencement ceremony. Commencement participants who are recipients will receive honor cords or stoles at the Academic Achievements Ceremony. For the ceremony, honors status will be determined based on the cumulative GPA at the end of the semester prior to graduation term. Once final grades are calculated, honor status will be re-evaluated and may change. This final honors designation will be reflected on students’ transcripts and diploma.
| Cum Laude | 3.70 – 3.79 |
| Magna Cum Laude | 3.80 – 3.89 |
| Summa Cum Laude | 3.90 – 4.00 |
Decorum Policies
- Gown length and style may not be altered. Stoles may not be customized in any way.
- Modest personal embellishments are allowed on the cap, but MUST lay flat, cannot extend over the edge, and must be appropriate.
- Only Concordia University Irvine-approved regalia (including pins, stoles, cords, and medallions) bestowed at the Undergraduate Academic Achievement ceremony and provided by university-sponsored clubs or Concordia University Irvine Veterans Resource Center may be worn at graduation. Decorative items such as costume leis, beads, or sashes may only be worn after the ceremony.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I have to apply for graduation and pay the Graduation Application Fee?
All students who wish to have their degree posted must complete an Application for Graduation. This is necessary regardless of your intent to participate in the Commencement ceremony.
The Graduation Application Fee is non-refundable. It covers the administrative time needed to process your application, run a degree audit, track your progress, post the degree to your transcript, and mail your diploma.
Visit the page for your degree level for more specific information:
How do I order replacement regalia?
If your regalia has been lost or damaged, contact [email protected] to order a replacement. Regalia takes 4–6 weeks to arrive. There is no additional charge if you pick up your regalia; shipping costs an additional $10.
Bachelor’s Degree Regalia
- Gown: $25
- Stole: $20
- Cap: $5
- Tassel: $5
- Everything: $55
Master’s Degree Regalia
- Gown: $30
- Hood: $30
- Cap: $5
- Tassel: $5
- Everything: $70
Submit the replacement regalia order form. A member of the Office of the Registrar will contact you shortly afterward with more information.
When will my degree be posted?
Degrees are posted after all requirements have been satisfied. Concordia posts degrees at the completion of the regular terms; degrees are not posted mid-term, even if a program ends mid-term. Please allow 4–6 weeks after the end of the term for your degree to post, and plan accordingly.
Note: Degrees will not be evaluated for verification or conferral, and diplomas will not be released, until all financial obligations are met.
When and how do I get my diploma?
Official diplomas are issued 6–8 weeks after your degree is posted at the end of the term, provided you have no outstanding financial obligations to the University. They are mailed to the current address on file unless special arrangements are made.
Note: Diplomas are not issued at Commencement ceremonies.
How do I order another diploma?
Whether you changed your name or lost your diploma, replacement diplomas are available by completing the Diploma Reorder Form. A replacement diploma costs $25 and takes 6–8 weeks to obtain.
How do I order transcripts?
You can order your transcripts online.
How do I update my address?
Use this form to update your contact information.
Does Concordia have resources to help me find a job?
Yes. The Center for Career & Vocation helps you determine and fulfill your career goals.
As a graduate, the Alumni Association’s CUI Connect lets you network with other alumni and gives you access to job opportunities, an alumni-to-student mentorship program, a searchable directory, and more.
Get in Touch
Reach out with questions about registration, records, or graduation.
Office of the Registrar
First Floor of Grimm Hall North
1530 Concordia West
Irvine, CA 92612-3203
Phone: 949-214-3078
Email: [email protected]