Steps to Graduate

Prepare for Graduation

Congratulations on nearing the completion of your academic program! As you approach this significant milestone, it's essential to stay informed about the necessary steps to graduate and participate in the Commencement Ceremony.

Graduate Checklist: Spring 2026

Graduation signifies the successful completion of all academic program requirements. Upon meeting these requirements, you'll receive your diploma and have your credential reflected on your official transcript.

The Commencement Ceremony is the event where you, alongside your peers, walk across the stage to celebrate your accomplishments with friends, family, and faculty. 

Please follow the steps below to ensure you don't miss any required deadlines. 

Graduation and Commencement Steps + Timeline

  1. Academic Advising Session

    In order to apply for graduation, you have to meet with an Academic Advisor first. Your Academic Advisor will determine if you have completed all the academic program requirements to apply for graduation. Approval from an Academic Advisor is required to apply for graduation. Please review "Step 2" below for important details regarding graduation application deadlines. 

    If you do not know your Assigned Academic Advisor, please go to HCC MyEagle and select Student Sign In. Next, log in and select the Academic Progress tile. Lastly, select the Advisor on the left to view your Assigned Academic Advisor.

    Contact Your Academic Advisor

    Use the Virtual Lobby or visit a campus Advising office to contact your assigned Academic Advisor. 

    Virtual Lobby

  2. Graduation Application Deadline: April 1

    If your Academic Advisor determines you have completed all the academic program requirements to be approved to apply for graduation, your next step is to submit the graduation application. The link to apply for graduation will not appear in your Student Center unless an Academic Advisor approves you.

    Steps to Apply for Graduation:

    1. Log in to your Student Center.
    2. Select the Academic Records tile.
    3. Select the link on left to apply for graduation. 

    Graduate Applications Submitted after Deadline

    Students who apply for graduation AFTER the April 1 deadline and meet the academic program requirements will receive their diploma and have it reflected on their transcript. However, they will not be permitted to walk across the stage at the Commencement Ceremony. 

    Graduate Applications Submitted by April 1

    In order to be eligible to participate in the Commencement Ceremony, graduates must apply for graduation AND register for the Commencement Ceremony by the deadline.

  3. Register for Commencement Ceremony by TBA Deadline

    Regularly Check Your HCC Student Email: Once you have applied for graduation by the deadline, you will receive an email invitation from Tassel. This email will contain instructions on how to register for the Commencement Ceremony.

    • Starting in August, Tassel will send out registration steps to approved graduates' HCC student email addresses every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. To ensure you don't miss any important updates, please consistently check your HCC student email. Be sure to also check your spam folder, just in case.
    • Please note that if you have not met with your academic advisor to apply for graduation, you will not receive the link to register for the Commencement Ceremony. 

    In the Tassel Commencement registration platform, graduates will be able to:

    • Choose Ceremony | Register for the Commencement Ceremony. 
    • Download StagePass | StagePass is a student's ticket to enter the Commencement Ceremony. A StagePass will be automatically assigned and can be downloaded. A StagePass will also be scanned when graduates walk across the stage. A StagePass can be scanned from a mobile device or printed. 
    • Distribute Guest Tickets: TBA
    • Record How to Pronounce Your Name | Use Say It Right to record your name via telephone to assist the professional announcer with pronouncing your name correctly.

    Register Early to Secure Your Preferred Ceremony Time: Due to the building's capacity limitations, there is limited space available for each ceremony time. We strongly recommend registering early to ensure you can attend the ceremony at your preferred time. Remember that you will only be permitted to participate during the ceremony time you register to attend.

    See Commencement Ceremony details

    Register for Commencement by April 10

    To participate in the Commencement Ceremony, you must register by the TBA deadline. Please mark this date on your calendar and prioritize registering before this cutoff. Only graduates who are registered by this deadline will be allowed to walk in the ceremony.

Additional Information

An approved cap and gown is required to participate in the Commencement Ceremony. Below are the details on how to purchase an approved cap and gown. 

Purchase Online: Purchase cap/gown and other items here (announcements, frames etc). The deadline to purchase online with a standard shipping fee is TBA. The shipping fee will be applied at the time of purchase.

In-Store Purchase: Caps, gowns and tassels will be available for purchase on TBA at all HCC Booksto­­­­­re locations leading up to the day of the Ceremony. To view locations and hours, please visit the HCC Bookstore website.
  • Bachelor’s graduates can purchase their cap and gown at the Central Campus bookstore. Only the Central Campus Bookstore will carry caps and gowns for bachelor graduates.
  • Day of Commencement: Graduates will have an opportunity to purchase their cap and gowns on the day of Commencement on May 8. 

After the end of the semester, the work begins to evaluate the completion of degree/certificates, post degrees on transcripts, and mail diplomas. Please view the timeline below to understand what to expect. 

  1. Degree Audits
    Registrar's Office performs a degree audit to determine if graduates successfully completed the program requirements. 

  2. Degrees Reflected on Transcripts
    Registrar's Office posts degrees on official transcripts approximately three to four weeks after the official end of the term. The timeline for posting degrees on transcripts is below. 
    • Fall 3-4 weeks after January 2
    • Spring 3-4 weeks after May 15
    • Summer 3-4 weeks after August 15

  3. Diplomas Mailed
    For graduates who choose to have their diplomas mailed at the time of the graduation application, the Registrar's Office will mail diplomas approximately two weeks after all degrees are posted.

 

You can check your graduation status online by following the steps below. 

  1. Visit HCC MyEagle
  2. Select "Student Sign-In tile/box. 
  3. Select “Academic Progress” tile/box. 

Bachelor and Associate Degree candidates who meet the criteria below are eligible for Honor Cords for the ceremony. 

  • Honors: 3.35 – 3.59 Cumulative GPA
  • High Honors: 3.60 – 3.79 Cumulative GPA
  • Highest Honors: 3.80 – 4.00 Cumulative GPA
  • Considerations
    • Students completing a Certificate of Completion do not receive honor cords.
    • The cumulative GPA used for the Fall ceremony is through the Summer semester. 
      • Fall semester grades will not be considered in determining eligibility for honor cords. However, they will be reflected on your academic records. 
    • The Cumulative GPA for the Spring ceremony is through the Fall semester
      • Spring semester grades will not be considered in determining eligibility for honor cords. However, they will be reflected on your academic records. 

Prior to the ceremony, qualifying graduates can pick up Honor Cords at the HCC Bookstore locations. Qualifying graduates may also stop by the Honor Cords table on the day of the Commencement Ceremony.

Graduation and Commencement Help

Student Services

For more information regarding Graduation and Commencement,