Requirements to Apply for Graduation

If you are a senior planning to graduate in July 2026 or December 2026,  please submit your application for graduation online (Click "Application to Graduate").
 

Planning for Graduation:

• Complete the online Application for Graduation at least one semester before their anticipated date of graduation.
• To receive a diploma, a student must have satisfied all academic requirements, must have cleared all outstanding accounts with the Office of Student Accounts and must have no judicial action pending. Diplomas will not be awarded to any student against whom unresolved judicial charges exist.
• Run a Degree Evaluation Report online. Refer to section on “How Do I Run an online Degree Evaluation?”. This will help you to determine what requirements have been met and what requirements you are missing.
• If substitutions or waivers have been made for any major or minor requirements, ask your chairperson/contact person to make a note on your degree evaluation report and bring it to the Registrar’s Office  or to send a written or email note to the registrar’s office (For example, PSCI 250 – Europe/World is being substituted for PSCI 102).
• If you plan to graduate in December 2026 and are planning to register for consortium coursework at Bennett College, Elon University, Greensboro College, High Point University, NC A&T State University or UNC-Greensboro, please see the Registrar’s Office.  If the host institution you attend ends later than Guilford does, you must check with the instructor to determine whether you can complete the course in time for your final grade(s) to be received here in time for May 2026 graduation.  Note:  The host institution is under no obligation to report your consortium grades early.  If your grades cannot be reported in time, you will need to either drop/add or graduate at a later date. Consortium coursework is not an option in the summer and does not apply to July 2026 degree candidates.

For the baccalaureate degree, students must:

• Students who entered Guilford fall 2019 or later must earn a minimum of 124 semester hours of credit, or petition. Students who entered fall of 2025 must earn 120 semester hours of credit.
•  earn a minimum cumulative grade-point average of C (2.00);
•  complete all general education requirements;
•  complete a minimum of 32 semester hours of credit at Guilford;
•  complete half their major(s) while enrolled at Guilford, with grades of C- or above;
•  complete half their minor(s) while enrolled at Guilford;
•  spend their last semester of study at Guilford;
•  file their application for degree candidacy online at least one semester before their anticipated date of graduation.

Commencement is held once per year, in May. July/August and December graduates may participate in the next May ceremony.

A student who is within 8 credits of completing all degree requirements may petition the Academic Dean’s Office to participate in the commencement ceremony if they have (a) already met the minimum cumulative grade point average, and (b) registered to complete all requirements for graduation. Students who participate in the commencement ceremony without having completed all degree requirements will not be able to wear honor cords or be listed as receiving graduating honors. Students may only participate in one commencement ceremony.

To receive a diploma a student must have satisfied all academic requirements, must have cleared all outstanding accounts with the Office of Student Accounts and must have no judicial action pending. A diploma will not be awarded to any student with unresolved judicial charges.

Double Majors:

• A double major consist of two distinct majors, one of which must be a disciplinary major. To earn a double major, a student must complete all requirements for each of the two majors. With a double major, no minor is required for graduation. If these two majors offer different degrees (A.B., B.M., B.S., B.F.A.), only one degree will be awarded to the student. The student will choose which degree is awarded. Both majors, however, will be listed on the student’s permanent academic transcript.
•  Students wishing to have more than one major must take a minimum of 32 credit hours in each major.  The 32 credit hours for each major must not overlap with the other major.
•  At least half of each major must be earned at Guilford.