How to Apply to Graduate

To receive your Eastern Florida State College diploma, you must apply for graduation, whether or not you plan to attend a commencement ceremony. Applying online is the easiest, fastest option following the steps below.

Be sure to review the dates and deadlines in the tabbed box below as the online application opens and closes for each term on a certain date, and a PDF form must be used after the online system has closed. There is also a deadline to apply each term to avoid an additional $20 late fee, and after that late fee deadline, there also is no guarantee your name will appear in the Commencement Booklet.

It is important to understand the difference between graduation and commencement, which is the optional ceremony held in Spring and Fall terms to celebrate your graduation (Summer graduates are eligible to walk in the Fall). You must apply to graduate, however you do not have to participate in commencement. If you do plan to walk in commencement, you will receive emails about the separate online process to RSVP for a ceremony time and request the limited, required tickets for guests to attend.

Applying to Graduate

Review your degree or certificate status using the myGPS Degree Audit tool or work with an advisor to ensure you are on track for graduation before you apply. If you apply to graduate and then do not complete all graduation requirements in that term you will need to reapply to graduate during the term in which you will satisfy your requirements.

Students cannot graduate without submitting all transcripts from other institutions they have attended. Depending on when you were accepted, you may still need to meet this admission requirement before you can apply to graduate. While students have a one-term grace period if they are not receiving financial aid, they cannot progress without fulfilling this transcripts requirement.

Exceptions:

Applying for graduation online when the system is open for the term during which you intend to graduate — and paying graduation application fees online — is quick and easy. The application fee is $20 for each degree or certificate and you must submit a separate application for each one to receive a diploma for each.

Please note: If it has been one year or more since you attended classes at EFSC and you are applying to graduate and do not plan to continue in another program at EFSC after your graduation, you will not need to readmit to the College just to apply to graduate. However, if you do plan to take EFSC courses after your graduation and it has been one year or more since you were in attendance, you will need to follow the admission steps for a readmit student to become an active student again.

For students who apply to graduate online, after your application has been submitted, you will see a confirmation message that mentions Commencement.

Please read this for important information about what happens after applying, including the requirement to RSVP "Yes" or "No" for Commencement. The separate, two-step process for Commencement RSVPs and ceremony Guest Tickets is explained on the Commencement Ceremony web page.

If you indicated you plan to take part in Commencement, you are required to wear the appropriate EFSC cap and gown for your degree or certificate program.

Regalia can be ordered or purchased on site through the EFSC Bookstores. For additional information about Commencement, visit the Commencement section.

Please note, students are strongly encouraged to apply by the posted deadline and via the online process described in the section above. Applying online ensures an accurate and timely application process. Applying using this PDF method should be a last resort

If it is after the online system has closed or you cannot use that system for some reason, follow these steps to apply using the PDF application.

Download and complete an Intent to Graduate PDF application form for each degree and certificate you plan to receive. If you use the Graduation PDF application(s) they must be submitted via the Student Dropbox. The graduation application fee, plus the additional $20 late fee if applicable, will be assessed for each application within 1 to 2 business days and must be paid through your Student Account prior to any documents being processed and/or released.

Applying via PDF and Commencement: If your PDF Intent to Graduate form is submitted before the deadline to RSVP for Commencement, once the application has been entered into the system by graduation staff, you should see a Commencement RSVP pop-up screen in the myEFSC Portal and will need to follow the separate, two-step process for Commencement RSVPs and ceremony Guest Tickets explained on the Commencement Ceremony web page. Remember, the preferred method to apply to graduate is using the online graduation application, submitted before the Commencement RSVP deadline, to ensure a smoother process.

Please note: If it has been one year or more since you attended classes at EFSC and you are applying to graduate and do not plan to continue in another program at EFSC after your graduation, you will not need to readmit to the College. However, if you do plan to take EFSC courses after your graduation and it has been one year or more since you attended, you will need to follow the admission steps for a readmit student to become an active student again.

When your application is received by the deadline, the Office of the Registrar will review your record:

1. You will be sent a notification of receipt to EFSC Titan Student email address.

2. An official audit of your degree progress will be completed and a status letter will be emailed to your EFSC Titan Student email address.

3. Please read the email carefully. If you have any outstanding documents, or missing requirements listed, they must be satisfied by the end of the term or you may not be able to graduate.

4. Check your EFSC email frequently for important information related to your graduation status and for information about Commencement if you indicated you plan to take part in a ceremony.

5. Remember you are required to wear the appropriate EFSC cap and gown for your degree or certificate program if taking part in Commencement. Regalia can be ordered or purchased on site through the EFSC Bookstores. For additional information about the ceremony, visit the Commencement section.

Graduation & Commencement Related Dates, Deadlines & Contacts

Fall 2024 Candidates for graduation must follow the steps to apply to graduate. Applying online is easiest: view the tutorial for how-to instructions.

Commencement: Thursday, December 12, 2024 - Ceremony Times: 11 AM & 2 PM, King Center for the Performing Arts
Please note that attending a Commencement Ceremony is not required to graduate.

Please Note: The online graduation application system for the Spring 2025 Term will open on To Be Determined. Please wait until after this date to apply to graduate for Spring Term 2025.

Important Note: Most dates below are TBD and will be updated when available.

Spring 2025 Candidates for graduation must follow the steps to apply to graduate. Applying online is easiest: view the tutorial for how-to instructions.

Commencement: Thursday, May 15, 2025 - Ceremony Times: To Be Determined, King Center for the Performing Arts
Please note that attending a Commencement Ceremony is not required to graduate.

Summer 2025 Candidates for Graduation must follow the steps to apply to graduate. Applying online is easiest: view the tutorial for how-to instructions. There is no commencement ceremony for summer term, graduates are invited to participate in the Fall Term commencement and can indicate that plan on their application to graduate.

You can discuss your program's graduation requirements with your Academic Advisor.

For questions about Graduation, including applying, requirements, or diplomas, email the graduation office at:
graduation@easternflorida.edu

For questions about Commencement Ceremonies, including guest tickets, email commencement@easternflorida.edu

EFSC Registrar's Office
Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8 AM - 5 PM; Closed Friday

Cocoa Campus, Building 2
1519 Clearlake Rd
Cocoa, FL 32922

Phone: 321-433-7284
Fax: 321-433-7172