Steps to Senior Success

Graduation is the term in which you have successfully completed all of your degree requirements. 

Commencement is the college ceremonies in May. Any student who receives a Cal Poly Pomona degree during the academic year (fall, spring and summer) is automatically eligible to participate in that year’s Commencement ceremony. Visit the Commencement website for up-to-date information.

• You're an active student.  

• You're going to complete all of your remaining degree requirements in the next term, based on your curriculum sheet, your unofficial transcript and your Degree Progress Report. If something doesn't look right on your DPR, use this tool to troubleshoot. 

• You've worked with your academic advisor to ensure you're going to complete all of your remaining degree requirements. You can find the advising directory here.

• You have a minimum 2.0 overall, major, and Cal Poly Pomona GPA. 

• You've taken at least 30 semester units or 50 quarter units in residence (at Cal Poly Pomona). 

• You will complete any internship or senior project requirements for your major by the end of the term. 

You can apply for graduation in your BroncoDirect Student Center. Watch the how-to video below for instructions.

You can submit an application if you either have senior standing now, will have senior standing at the end of the current term, or have graduate standing. If you are not eligible for graduation, the Apply for Graduation link will not be visible. If you think you are eligible to apply, but you don’t see the link, contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@cpp.edu.

After you apply for graduation, you'll receive a confirmation at your CPP email address. 

There are specific timeframes for graduation in each term. See below for specific dates for upcoming terms. 

If you miss the online graduation application period, email the Bronco Advising Center. Do not apply online if you do not see the semester you need to apply for.

• The Registrar's Office will review your application. You'll get a communication when this happens. You will also see an update at the top of your Degree Progress Report.

• After you get this communication, you can pay your graduation fee. It will be added as a charge to your account balance. 

• Keep tabs on your CPP email. The Registrar's Office will communicate any updates to you. 

• Review your personal information in BroncoDirect. Make sure that everything is up to date. Your diploma will have your Primary Name, which is on your official documents. Find more info about updating your name on your diploma here. 

• Keep in touch with your academic advisor. You can work with your academic advisor to ensure that you're on track to graduate.  

• Turn in any outstanding paperwork. You must turn in any transcripts, petitions, and other paperwork ASAP.

• Work hard to pass your last courses. The Learning Resource Center has subject and writing tutoring for many different courses. Think about starting a study group, and make sure you attend instructor office hours if you have any questions about a course. 

• You complete your final requirements in your graduation term. This includes passing your classes, completing any internship or senior project requirements, finishing your residency units, and keeping your cumulative and CPP GPAs at or above a 2.0. You should also make sure you send in any transcripts if you're taking final classes at other institutions or submit any outstanding AP or IB scores. 

• You will also receive a registration hold for the following term. Review the hold details if you have additional questions. 

• After final grades post for the term, the Registrar's Office will begin awarding degrees. The Registrar's Office begins the degree awarding process the week following the final grade deadline. It takes time for each Transfer and Graduation Advisor to review each student's academic record. If something is missing or cannot account for all of your requirements, the Registrar's Office will send you an email.

• Meanwhile, you should submit any outstanding paperwork. This includes petitions, transcripts, or other paperwork your advisor has recommended that you submit. 

• When your degree is awarded, the Registrar's Office will send you two emails: a congratulatory email and a senior exit survey. At this point, your official transcript will reflect that you have graduated. 

• You'll receive a copy of your diploma in the mail within 3-4 weeks. You should confirm that all of your personal information is up-to-date in your Student Center. 

If you need an official letter of expected graduation, email the Bronco Advising Center at bac@cpp.edu.  

If you need proof of degree for a graduate school program or potential employer before your degree is officially awarded, email the Bronco Advising Center at bac@cpp.edu with the following information:

• Your name
• Your Bronco ID number
• Proof from the graduate school program or employer requesting proof of degree
• Any deadlines the graduate school program or employer have given you

Please allow up to 3-5 business days for us to receive and review your request. If you are missing any of the above information, it may take up to an additional 10-14 business days for us to award your degree. 

The Registrar's Office begins the degree awarding process the week following the final grade deadline. Please note that we will not be able to process your request until the term has ended, your final grades are posted and the Registrar's Office has begun their degree awarding process.