Graduation and Commencement Information

The NC State University Commencement is for all NC State Graduates. Students will be recognized by college, and only Doctoral candidates walk across the stage. The College Ceremony is only for students graduating from The College of Natural Resources. At the college ceremony, every graduating CNR student in attendance will have their name called and walk across the stage. The College of Natural Resources ceremony is on Friday, May 2nd at 8:00 am at Reynolds Coliseum, and the University ceremony is on Saturday, May 3rd at 9:00 am at Carter-Finley Stadium. You must RSVP for each ceremony separately. (Visit https://commencement.ncsu.edu for information on the University-wide ceremony.)

Graduating from college and walking across the stage at your commencement ceremony are two different things, but they are intertwined. College graduation marks the completion of your degree requirements. The commencement celebrates those accomplishments and looks towards the future.

If you plan to finish in the summer, you may be eligible to participate in the CNR May commencement. The policy for allowing summer graduates to “walk” in the CNR spring commencement states that students must have no more than 12 hours remaining to fulfill degree requirements, which they will complete during summer, and a current GPA of 2.0 or higher.

The undergraduate application is due by February 3, 2025 at 11:59 pm for Spring 2025

The graduate application is due by March 19, 2025 at 11:59 pm for Spring 2025

The undergraduate application is due by May 12, 2025 at 11:59pm for Summer I 2025

The graduate application is due by June 27, 2025 at 11:59 pm for Summer II 2025

The undergraduate application is due by July 3, 2025 at 11:59 pm for Summer II 2025

You can apply in MyPack. For detailed instructions visit: https://studentservices.ncsu.edu/your-degree/graduation/apply-for-graduation/

Apply within MyPack. For detailed instructions visit: https://studentservices.ncsu.edu/your-resources/privacy/

A google form will be sent out in the weeks leading up to graduation requesting information needed from graduating students for ceremony preparation. Be sure to spell out your name and write out the pronunciation phonetically to ensure proper pronunciation as you walk across the stage.

Academic honors are based on your cumulative GPA. For commencement recognition purposes, your cumulative GPA at the beginning of your last semester will be used in publications and the ceremony. However, your diploma and official transcript will list the academic honor that you earn once your final grades are posted.

Summa Cum Laude: 3.75 and Higher (GOLD sash)

Magna Cum Laude:  3.5-3.749 (SILVER sash) 

Cum Laude:  3.25-3.499 (WHITE sash)

There are a limited number of accessible parking spots available next to Reynolds Coliseum. If you need to drop someone off at the North Entrance, you may use the turn around on Dunn Avenue and then park in the Coliseum Parking Deck, if Jeter Bay ADA parking is full. See the NC State Campus Parking Accessibility Map for details.

Reynolds Coliseum has accessible seating for those who use wheelchairs. Additional seating will be available for those that cannot climb stairs. Unfortunately, these seats are limited and are on a first-come-first-serve basis. Guests who need accessible seating can enter Reynolds Coliseum through the front doors, or North Entrance, as soon as they open, around 7:15 am. Once inside, go to the left and take the elevators to the second floor to reach the accessible seating area.

There will be nowhere to store personal belongings, so bring minimal necessities and if you’d like to, a sealed water bottle.

Bachelor’s degree candidates drape the tassel on the right side of the cap, and will ‘turn’ it at the conclusion of the University Commencement ceremony. Professional, Master’s, and Doctoral degree candidates drape the tassel on the left side of the cap.

For the Spring CNR ceremony in Reynolds Coliseum, graduating students will enter the East entrance of Reynolds Coliseum in full regalia by 7:00 am. There will be signs and staff directing graduates to check-in tables on commencement day. The Department of Forestry & Environmental Resources and the Department of Forest Biomaterials will check-in in the East Lobby. The Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management and the Center for Geospatial Analytics will check-in in the hall along the North side of the coliseum.

Graduating students will line-up by department, major, and then alphabetically, the same way the names will be listed in the program.

For the Spring CNR ceremony in Reynolds Coliseum, guests will enter through the North Entrance. Doors will open around 7:15 am for guests needing accessible seating, and around 7:30 am for all other guests.

No

About 2 hours is the anticipated ceremony time.