Preparing to Graduate
Graduates, you have spent countless hours and expended great effort to earn your degree. There are just a few items you need to take care of before you can become an official alumna or alumnus of Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Apply for graduation
Applying for graduation is different and separate from registering to participate in the Commencement ceremony. You must first apply and be approved to graduate before you can register to walk in Commencement. Once you're approved to graduate, you'll receive an email in your MavMail with information about registering to participate in Commencement.
A few notes:
- For a student to be eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony, they must be graduating that term or the summer before (fall) or after (spring).
- Summer graduates DO NOT need to appeal to participate – they get to choose which ceremony to participate.
- To be included in the commencement booklet, students must be approved to graduate by April 1 (spring) or November 1 (fall). Due to production timelines, there are no exceptions to those dates.
Undergraduate Graduation Application Process
Graduate Graduation Application Process
Order Your Cap and Gown
To particpate in Commencement you must have a cap and gown. You can order regalia and honors medals from the Maverick Shop. You'll receive details about ordering regalia in the Commencement registration email too. If you have questions about honors, please reference our Graduating with Honors page.
Request Disability Accomodations
Graduates needing accessibility accommodations for the graduation ceremony should email events@mnsu.edu at least 10 days in advance of the ceremony. For further information, please reference our Disability Accomodations page.
Do Federal Student Loan Exit Counseling
If you received a Federal Direct (Stafford) Loan and/or a Federal Perkins Loan, you are required to complete exit counseling for each loan type prior to graduation.
Future Commencement Dates
SPRING 2025
Friday, May 9, 2025
3:00 p.m. - College of Business
6:00 p.m. - College of Humanities & Social Sciences
Saturday, May 10, 2025
9:00 a.m. - College of Science, Engineering, Technology
12:00 p.m. - College of Education
3:00 p.m. - College of Allied Health & Nursing
FALL 2025
Saturday, December 13, 2025
SPRING 2026
Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9, 2026
FALL 2026
Saturday, December 12, 2026
SPRING 2027
Friday, May 7 and Saturday, May 8, 2027
