Schedule an appointment with your assigned advisor in Navigate or talk with a virtual advisor to help you plan for your final semester(s).

Check your Advisement Report to see if you are missing any requirements.

To be eligible for graduation, all associate degree, certificate, and career studies certificate students must:

• Fulfill all coursework and credit hour requirements as outlined in the College Catalog.
• Use the Advisement Report to monitor your progress toward your degree.
• Earn a grade point average of at least 2.00.
• Complete at least 25% of the required credit at NOVA.
• Resolve all financial obligations to the College and return all materials.

3.20 - 3.49: Cum Laude (with high honor)
3.50 - 3.79: Magna Cum Laude (with higher honor)
3.80 - 4.00: Summa Cum Laude (with highest honor)

For more information, please refer to the College Catalog.

Spring honors cannot be designated until final grades are posted and degrees/certificates are awarded. Honors designations will be posted to the student’s transcript and diploma/certificate. The Dean’s List, Presidential Scholars List and Phi Theta Kappa lists are posted twice a year. For detailed information, please check the College Catalog.

^*Applications received after the deadline are processed for the following semester.

Applying for Graduation

All students must submit a graduation application by the deadline date for the semester in order to graduate. Please click the instructions button below before completing the Graduation Application Form.

Instructions

Graduation Application Form

What Happens Next?

Once you submit your graduation application, you will receive a graduation status message up to six weeks after the application deadline to your NOVA email account. Please be sure to check your NOVA email for updates.

• All Requirements Met
  You have completed all the necessary requirements to graduate. Your degree will be awarded up to three months after the last day of the semester.
• Pending Requirements
  Upon successful completion of your current enrollment, you will complete all the necessary requirements to graduate. Your degree will be awarded up to three months after the last day of the semester.
• Missing Requirements
  You are missing the necessary requirements to graduate. You will need to reapply for graduation during the semester you plan to meet your requirements.

Please make sure your address is current in myNOVA before the last day of the semester you intend to graduate.

So, you've applied to graduate from NOVA. You're on your way to officially earning your certificate or degree.

You may be wondering about the Graduation Ceremony, otherwise known as Commencement.

Commencement is the celebration of your graduation. This is when you cross the stage in your cap and gown and get acknowledged for your accomplishments by the college, your family and friends, and your fellow students.

Are you required to apply to graduate? Yes, if you want to receive your Associate's degree or certificate, you have to apply to graduate through MyNOVA.

Are you required to attend Commencement? No, you aren't. But it's a chance for you - and the people who helped you achieve your goals - to celebrate. So, while it's not required, we'd love the chance to formally congratulate you and see you off on your next adventure.

To learn more, visit our Commencement page.