The university commencement ceremony is for all NC State graduates. Students will be recognized by college, and only doctoral candidates will walk across the stage.

The College of Natural Resources commencement ceremony is for graduating CNR students. At this ceremony, every graduating CNR student in attendance will have their name called and walk across the stage.

You must RSVP for each ceremony separately. Visit commencement.ncsu.edu for information about the universitywide ceremony.

Graduating from college and walking across the stage at a commencement ceremony are two different but closely related milestones. Graduation marks the completion of your degree requirements, while commencement celebrates those accomplishments and looks toward the future.

Students completing their final credits over the summer have two commencement options:

1. Participate in both the CNR and university fall commencement ceremonies.
2. Walk early in the CNR spring ceremony. Summer graduates are not eligible to participate in the university’s spring commencement ceremony.

To participate in the CNR spring ceremony, students must:

• Be actively enrolled with 12 or fewer summer credit hours remaining.
• Have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
• Register for their remaining summer courses.
• Submit the spring RSVP form by the deadline.

Students who do not register for their remaining summer courses may be ineligible to participate in the CNR spring ceremony.

See deadline details here.

• The fall 2026 undergraduate application is due by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 23.
• The fall 2026 graduate application is due by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 30.
• The spring 2027 undergraduate application is due by 11:59 p.m. Feb. 8.
• The spring 2027 graduate application is due by 11:59 p.m. March 26.

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

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

A Google form will be sent in the weeks leading up to graduation. The form will request information needed to prepare for the ceremony. Be sure to spell out your name and include a phonetic pronunciation to help ensure that your name is pronounced correctly as you walk across the stage.

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

• Summa Cum Laude: 3.75 and higher GPA (GOLD sash)
• Magna Cum Laude: 3.5-3.749 GPA (SILVER sash) 
• Cum Laude: 3.25-3.499 GPA (WHITE sash)

Accessible parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis in the McKimmon Center lot. Spaces are located beside the building, between the Joyner Visitor Center and the McKimmon Center. For more information, view the NC State Campus Parking Accessibility Map.

The ceremony will be held in Room 1 on the first floor of the McKimmon Center. Accessible seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Doors will open at approximately 1:15 p.m. for guests who need accessible seating and at 1:30 p.m. for all other guests. CNR staff will be available to assist and create space for wheelchairs as needed.

There will be no place to store personal belongings, so please bring only essential items. You may also bring a sealed water bottle if you wish.

Bachelor’s degree candidates wear the tassel on the right side of their cap and move it to the left at the conclusion of the university’s commencement ceremony. Candidates for professional, master’s and doctoral degrees wear the tassel on the left side of the cap.

Graduates should enter the McKimmon Center through the main entrance in full regalia by 1:15 p.m. Signs and CNR staff will direct them to their check-in locations.

Assembly locations:

• Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources: Room 3
• Department of Forest Biomaterials: Room 4
• Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management: Room 6
• Center for Geospatial Analytics: Room 5

Graduates will line up by department, major and last name in the order listed in the program.up by department, major and then alphabetically, matching the order of names in the program.

Guests will enter through the main entrance of The McKimmon Center. Doors will open at 1:15 p.m. for guests needing accessible seating and at 1:30 p.m. for all other guests. 

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The ceremony is expected to last about 90 minutes.