Office of Student Records

Graduation Information

Graduating students are required to submit a formal application for degree in the semester in which they plan on completing all academic requirements by the official deadline. 

Beginning August 2009, Salem State will confer degrees three times during the academic year. All graduating students will be eligible to participate in the official commencement ceremony in May following the term in which they complete their requirements. Students who will complete their requirements over the summer following the May ceremony may be eligible to participate in the May ceremony if they have 12 or fewer credits to complete and a minimum of a 2.000 cumulative GPA. An early application deadline will apply.

Degree Conferral Dates

Completion Term              Degree Conferred

Fall semester                        January
Spring semester                    May                              
Summer Session I or II        August                          

Students graduating in January and August will have their diplomas mailed to the address they have on file with Salem State, and are eligible to attend commencement the following May. Students graduating in May who do not plan on attending the commencement ceremony will also receive their diplomas in the mail.

Commencement information will be mailed to all students who have submitted an application for degree during the spring semester. Information is also available online at the Commencement Web site beginning in early March.