Graduation Checklist

Review the graduation checklist below to prepare for graduation and your commencement ceremony.

Fall 2025 Deadlines

Apply to Graduate

Apply to graduate through mySeaport to be eligible to participate in commencement exercises.

Ceremonies are held annually in December (for summer and fall graduates) and May (for spring graduates).

For questions about eligibility, contact the Office of the Registrar at graduation@uncw.edu. For more information, visit the Office of the Registrar.

Apply to Graduate

Complete your Ceremony Registration

RSVP for your commencement ceremony through the Commencement Registration Account (hosted by Tassel).

RSVP form opens in October for December ceremonies and March for May ceremonies.

Use your Commencement Registration Account to:

Register for the campus-wide in-person ceremony.
Provide phonetic details to ensure your name is read correctly during the ceremony.
Request accessibility accommodations for yourself or a guest.

ACCESS THE RSVP SITE

Claim Guest Tickets

Key Dates and Ticket Information

Sunday, November 2 – RSVP deadline. You must RSVP by this date to be eligible to claim guest tickets.
Wednesday, November 5 – Graduates who submitted an RSVP will receive an email with detailed instructions for claiming tickets.
Friday, November 7 (see times below) – Ticket claim opens on the Tassel RSVP site.
- All tickets must be manually claimed.
- Graduates who RSVP by November 2 are guaranteed the opportunity to claim at least four (4) guest tickets.
- Additional tickets may be available depending on ceremony RSVP counts; details will be shared on November 5.
Monday, December 1 (see times below) – If tickets remain, they will be released at the staggered times listed below (not guaranteed).

Ticket Release Times

To minimize risks of technical issues, tickets will be released in phases by ceremony on the release dates above.

Graduate Programs (9 a.m. ceremony): 12:00 noon
Cameron School of Business, College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts, and Watson College of Education (1 p.m. ceremony): 12:30 p.m.
College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts, and College of Science and Engineering (5 p.m. ceremony): 1:00 p.m.

The guest ticket availability will vary by ceremony. The guest ticket claim period will remain open until all tickets have been claimed. All tickets are distributed through the Tassel system. There is not a wait list for guest tickets. Email requests for additional tickets will not be accepted.

All commencement ceremonies will be live-streamed on the Commencement website for guests who are unable to attend in person.

Order your Cap and Gown

All orders are placed through the Herff Jones website and shipped directly to your address.

Approximately three months before your ceremony, you can order:

Official regalia.
Graduation announcements.
Other merchandise.

Visit the Cap and Gown page

Check your Financial Status

Ensure all outstanding balances with the university are paid in full. Unpaid balances will delay the release of your diploma.

Perkins Loan recipients: Complete mandatory exit counseling before graduation.

Federal Loan recipients: Complete Federal Direct Loan Exit Counseling.

Learn more

Pre-Order your Class T-Shirt

Class T-shirts are specific to each graduating semester. Shirts contain the names of all graduating students with the exception of graduates who were approved to participate early via the Early Commencement Participation application.

Order Today!

Pre-Register for your Official Photographs

Professional photographers from GradImages will capture photos during the ceremony.

Participants receive:

A free photo proof.
The option to order additional copies.

Pre-Register for your photos with GradImages

Take the First Destination Survey

Share your next steps after Graduation! The First Destination Survey helps current Seahawks learn from graduates like you and inspires them to pursue their goals!

Complete the survey today!

Pick Up Your Name Card

All graduates must pick up their name card to participate in the commencement exercises.

Your name card allows us to display your name and degree on the big screen and read your name aloud during the ceremony. Graduates without a name card will not be permitted to cross the stage.

Name card pick-up will take place during the week prior to commencement.

Name-Card Pickup Details

Receive your Diploma

The Office of the Registrar orders undergraduate and graduate diplomas about eight weeks after commencement. Diplomas are mailed to the address the graduate provides on their graduation application.

Learn more about diplomas