Graduation, Honors, and Recognition

Application for Graduation Processing Dates and Procedures

Commencement

Contains information on caps and gowns, commencement announcements, the Graduation Fair and more. For further information, please contact the Coordinator of University Ceremonies at graduate@kent.edu or 330-672-2235.

Explore the Commencement Website

Diploma

The Office of the University Registrar has partnered with Parchment Inc. to improve the diploma fulfillment process for graduates of Kent State University. Upon final degree approval, the Spring 2024 graduate’s diplomas will be fulfilled by Parchment.

  • Your digital diploma will arrive approximately 4-5 weeks after commencement. Watch for an email notification.
    • Notification will be sent to your Kent State email.
    • Follow the link to set up your Parchment Digital credentials account.
    • Share and Download your digital diploma as many times as you like.
  • Paper diplomas will be mailed separately to your permanent address on file 7-10 days after you receive your digital diploma. 

To verify a diploma or permanent address, log on to FlashLine>select Student>Dashboard>select My Personal Information located under your profile.

Contact the Office of the University Registrar directly at gradsvc@kent.edu with any diploma questions. 

Graduation Requirements

The Kent State University Catalog is the official document of record for undergraduate and graduate programs, courses, academic polices and special programs. The graduation requirements for these degrees are outlined in the various college / school sections of the current catalog. For questions regarding your progress towards graduation please speak with your academic advisor.

Graduation with Latin Honors - Bachelor's Degrees

Candidates for bachelor’s degrees who demonstrate high levels of scholarship throughout their undergraduate years will graduate with Latin honors. To graduate with this recognition at Kent State University, students must achieve one of the following criteria:

  • Earn a minimum 60 credit hours at Kent State and earn a minimum 3.500 Kent State GPA; or
  • Earn at least 30 but fewer than 60 credit hours at Kent State and earn a minimum 3.500 Kent State GPA and earn a minimum 3.500 transfer GPA

There are three levels of Latin honors at graduation with a bachelor’s degree:

  • cum laude — Student has earned a Kent State GPA of 3.500 to 3.699.
  • magna cum laude — Student has earned a Kent State GPA of 3.700 to 3.899.
  • summa cum laude  — Student has earned a Kent State GPA of 3.900 to 4.000.

The Kent State GPA for determining Latin honors is calculated from all grades earned in undergraduate courses at Kent State University, including original grades forgiven and/or recalculated under other policies. The transfer GPA is calculated from all grades earned in undergraduate transfer courses that were awarded college credit by Kent State and completed prior to the student’s most recent admission to Kent State. The GPA for both is extended to three decimal places and not rounded up.

Because grades in courses taken in the student’s final term are not official until after commencement, Latin honors candidates will be recognized at the commencement ceremony based on all their Kent State academic work completed prior to those courses. However, the final term grades will be used in determining honors posted to the transcript and the diploma. Honor citations are inscribed on diplomas as follows: cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude.

For requirements, see the Honors at Graduation policy in the Kent State University Catalog. (From within the University Catalog navigate to Academic Policies > Honors at Graduation.)

In FlashLine, click on View Latin Honors GPA in the Student Category / Resources Page / Grades and Transcripts to view your eligibility.

Graduation with Latin Honors - Bachelor's Degrees FAQs

Graduation with distinction-associate degrees

Candidates for associate degrees who demonstrate high levels of scholarship throughout their coursework will graduate “with distinction.” To graduate with this recognition, students must achieve the following criteria:

  • Earn a minimum 30 credit hours at Kent State University, and
  • Earn a minimum 3.500 Kent State University GPA

A Kent State GPA is calculated from all grades earned in undergraduate courses at Kent State University, including original grades forgiven and/or recalculated under other policies. The GPA used to determine the “with distinction” designation is extended to three decimal places and not rounded up.

Because grades in courses taken in the student’s graduation term are not official until after commencement, distinction candidates will be recognized at the commencement ceremony based on all their Kent State academic work completed prior to those courses. However, the final term grades will be used in determining the “graduated with distinction” recognition posted to the transcript and the diploma.

Graduation with Distinction - Associate Degrees FAQs

HONOR CORDS

Candidates for baccalaureate degrees who demonstrate high levels of scholarship throughout their undergraduate years are graduated with institutional honors.

All Spring 2024 institutional honors candidates may pick up their honor cords at the One Stop for Student Services, First Floor, University Library (Kent Campus), during the hours of 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday from April 1 , 2024 to May 10, 2024.  Students may only pick up their honor cords with proper photo identification such as a Kent State University ID, a driver’s license or state ID, military ID or passport. For further information, please visit our One Stop for Student Services contact information.  

PRESIDENT’S LIST

In recognition of an extremely high level of academic excellence, a President’s List is compiled each academic semester. To qualify, students must have a 4.000 GPA in the semester and must have completed 15 or more credit hours (all of which must have regular letter grades) by the end of that semester. This notation will be printed on students’ official transcripts.

DEAN’S LIST FOR FULL-TIME STUDENTS

In recognition of academic excellence, a Dean’s List is compiled each academic semester. To qualify, students must have a minimum 3.400 GPA in the semester and must have completed 12 or more regular letter-graded credit hours by the end of that semester. This notation will be printed on students’ official transcripts.

DEAN’S LIST FOR PART-TIME STUDENTS

A Dean’s List for Part-Time Students is compiled after spring semester grades are issued. To qualify, students must have a minimum 3.400 GPA in 12 or more regular letter-graded hours taken during the previous summer, fall and spring semesters. Such students must have registered for fewer than 12 hours in each of the semesters under consideration. This notation will be printed on students’ official transcripts.