Commencement Eligibility
Expected Graduation Term
At Cal Poly, undergraduate students do not apply for graduation. Instead, they are assigned an expected graduation term once they have completed a certain percentage of their degree.
Students will receive their expected graduation term when they reach 72% or more of degree completion (78% for Architecture and Landscape Architecture majors), as indicated on their Academic Progress Gauge on Poly Profile.
If your expected graduation term on Poly Profile is listed as:
Fall 2026, spring 2027 or summer 2027, you are automatically scheduled to participate in Commencement 2027 and will receive ceremony-related emails.
Visit the Office of the Registrar's Graduation Process website to learn more about expected graduation terms, how to change your graduation term, degree postings, diplomas, and how to apply for graduation as a graduate student.
Request a Change to Your Commencement Ceremony
Most students do not need to submit a request form. Use a Commencement Request Form only if you need to participate in a ceremony other than the one you are assigned.
Important: Changing your Commencement ceremony is different from changing your expected graduation term. To change your graduation term, contact the Office of the Registrar.
Still unsure whether you need to submit a form? Contact the Commencement Office at commencement@calpoly.edu or 805-756-1600.
Undergraduate Spring 2027 Commencement Request
Use this form only if you are an undergraduate student and one of the following applies:
- Your expected graduation term is NOT fall 2026, spring 2027 or summer 2027.
- You recently changed your expected graduation term.
- You would like to participate in a Commencement ceremony different from the one you were assigned.
Submit your request by March 19, 2027, to be included in the printed Commencement program. The deadline to be included in the digital program is April 29, 2027. The form will close on May 14, 2027.
Please note: Spring Commencement Request Forms will be reviewed beginning Jan. 25.
Postbaccalaureate Spring 2027 Commencement Request
If you are a postbaccalaureate student planning to participate in a Spring 2027 Commencement ceremony, complete this form to have your name included in the official program. This includes blended, graduate, certificate and credential students.
Submit the form by March 19, 2027, for inclusion in the printed Commencement program. Requests submitted after this date may not be reflected in the printed program. The deadline for inclusion in the digital program is April 29, 2027. The form will close on May 14, 2027.
Important: Participation in a Commencement ceremony does not confirm degree completion, graduation eligibility or the awarding of a degree. For questions, contact Graduate Education at grad@calpoly.edu or 805-756-2328.
Please note: Spring Commencement Request Forms will be reviewed beginning Jan. 25.
The Postbaccalaureate Spring Commencement Request Form will be available soon. For questions, contact commencement@calpoly.edu.
