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Graduation and Diploma Information

The Registrar's Office issues diplomas to students who have completed all degree requirements, based upon approval from individual departments and Academic Dean's Offices.

For information regarding the Commencement Ceremony and surrounding activities, please visit the Office of the President's website.

Message to those expecting degrees:

Diplomas will be mailed directly to the address specified on your Prospective Graduation Form or Application to Graduate. Degree candidates: please view your academic transcript on line via myNOVA to ensure your degree has been posted before ordering a transcript.

Please review the requirements for your program of study. We recommend reviewing your unofficial transcript and comparing your coursework to that which is required. See your advisor with any questions regarding degree completion.

Undergraduate Degrees - Liberal Arts & Sciences, Business, Engineering, Nursing

Undergraduate Degrees - College of Professional Studies

Graduate Degrees - Masters and Doctorate

Villanova Law School -  JD and LLM Degrees 

Degrees are granted three times during the year:

  •     May 31 - at the end of spring semester
  •     September 1 - at the end of summer semester
  •     December 31 - at the end of fall semester

All coursework must be completed prior to the degree date.

Undergraduate Students

All undergraduate prospective graduates should complete a Prospective Graduate Form. To locate the form, search for "Graduate" in myNOVA and select the task tile marked "Prospective Graduate Form". The form is only available to students with Senior status and who have no Bursar Holds.

Graduate Students

Graduate Liberal Arts and Sciences

Follow the Instructions to Apply for Graduation

Graduate Engineering

Follow the Instructions to Apply for Graduation

Graduate Business

There are two forms you need to complete:

    1. Prospective Graduate Form

    2. VSB Supplemental Form

Graduate Nursing

Complete a Prospective Graduate Form. To locate the form, search for "Graduate" in myNOVA and select the task tile marked "Prospective Graduate Form".

Diplomas are mailed to graduates upon completion of degree requirements. They are mailed to the address provided on the Prospective Graduate Form. If no form was submitted, the diploma is mailed to the student's home address.

September and December Graduates may petition to participate in the May commencement ceremony prior to their graduation date by contacting their Academic Dean's Office.

It is the student's responsibility to contact the Registrar's Office once holds are lifted in order to receive his/her diploma.

Honors:

Earning a bachelor’s degree with honors is a tremendous accomplishment! Honors levels are designated as:

    Cumulative GPA of 3.50 – 3.74 cum laude

    Cumulative GPA of 3.75 – 3.89 magna cum laude

    Cumulative GPA of 3.90 – 4.00 summa cum laude

The honors designation will appear in the Commencement program. For May candidates, the honors listed will reflect their GPA as of the end of Fall term and will be correctly reflected on the transcript as well as the diploma, which will be mailed approximately FOUR TO SIX weeks after the conferment date. NOTE THAT 60 CREDITS EARNED AT VILLANOVA UNIVERSIY ARE REQUIRED IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE GPAs.

Eligibility

In order to graduate with honors, you must have completed a minimum of 60 undergraduate credits at Villanova University. Grades of “A” through “D-” must be received for these 60 credits.

For recognition of May candidates at the Commencement exercises, the honors designation will be based upon the student’s cumulative grade point average as of the previous fall term.

Please note that this calculation is for Commencement program recognition only, and will not determine official honors. The actual awarding of honors will be based on academic statistics earned at the conclusion of the spring semester, when the degree is conferred.

Each graduate receives one diploma for each degree earned. Please reference Villanova University's Dual Degree Policy for more information.

Diplomas are mailed First Class USPS to all graduates after the conferral date of degree or commencement ceremony. If you would like to pay for the diploma to be sent via UPS, please contact the Registrar's Office.

We mail diplomas in sturdy blue cardboard tubes.

A diploma will not be released to any student who has not settled all financial obligations.

The diploma size is 16"x12". Frames are available for purchase at the University Bookstore.

Freshman-Cohort Graduation Rates 

  All Students Student Athletes*

2012-2013 Graduation Rate                                                                 

90% 
91%
Four-Class Average                                                                       
90% 84%
Student-Athlete Graduation Success Rate                                                  
  96%