WELCOME
Welcome to the California State University, Los Angeles Commencement website. Commencement at Cal State LA takes place annually at the end of the spring semester. For the academic year 2024-2025, students can graduate at the end of fall 2024, winter 2025, spring 2025, or summer 2025, but Commencement only takes place at the end of May.
Commencement details, including the schedule, will be posted at the beginning of the spring semester. Commencement notifications will also start at the beginning of spring 2025 and continue until May.
Graduation vs Commencement
Graduating from the University and participating in Commencement are two different things. Graduation is when the student has officially and successfully completed all their degree requirements. Commencement is the ceremony in which degrees are conferred and celebrates the achievement of the students who have graduated or will soon graduate during the academic year.
To officially graduate from Cal State LA, students must satisfy all University, college, and departmental requirements for a specific bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree.
Graduation is managed and coordinated by the Graduation Office. The Graduation Office evaluates graduation applications and other educational records, including graduating with honors, for the purpose of awarding degrees.
Diplomas are mailed to the students by the Graduation Office once their final grades have been verified after their graduation term.
For more information on how to apply to graduate, please visit the Apply for your Degree website of the Graduation Office.
Participating in Commencement is optional and not mandatory. If a student chooses to not participate, it does not affect their eligibility to graduate from the University. In addition, participation in Commencement does not automatically mean that the student has graduated.
Commencement is a separate process from graduating. Eligible graduating candidates can register to participate in Commencement in mid-spring. When a student confirms participation in Commencement, Cal State LA will reserve a seat for the student at the ceremony and provide a select number of guest tickets.
Commencement is produced and managed by the Commencement Office (University Events and Protocol). The office facilitates and coordinates the Commencement ceremonies and activities.
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California State University, Los Angeles | Commencement
All information, including dates and activities, are subject to change.
Updated: July 25, 2024
Commencement will be photographed and/or recorded. By attending the ceremonies, you agree and grant irrevocable permission to have your likeness, image, voice, and appearance photographed and recorded for any University business-related purpose and that the CSU owns the images and all rights related to them. The images may be used in any manner or media without notifying you, such as university-sponsored websites, publications, promotions, broadcasts, advertisements, posters and theater slides, as well as for non-university uses. You waive any right to inspect or approve the finished images or any printed or electronic matter that may be used with them.