Graduate Graduation Deadlines
The schedule of deadlines for Master's, Specialist and Doctoral students.
Below, you will find key dates to help you stay on track, like deadlines to complete the Non-Course Requirements for your degree. Make sure to follow these deadlines so everything is correct and ready for your graduation celebration! If you have any questions, you can also email Degree Compliance at degree.compliance@unco.edu for help.
We hope you are getting excited to celebrate your achievements! Commencement is our opportunity to celebrate you. For more information about commencement, visit the commencement website.
Semester of Degree Completion (Graduation)
| Spring 2026 Graduate Application for Graduation opens | Nov. 10, 2025 |
| Last day for filing doctoral dissertation proposal for current semester graduation | Dec. 12, 2025 |
| Ticket Request details emailed to students who have applied for graduation | Feb. 16, 2026 |
| Spring 2026 Commencement Speaker Application Deadline. Application is available on the Commencement Resources for Students website. | Feb. 23 |
| In person Commencement Fair | March 3-4 |
| Virtual Commencement Fair 5-6 p.m. Please Register for the Virtual Fair Here! | March 4 |
| Applications for graduation must be accepted/approved by this date to have your name printed in the Commencement program. | March 6 |
| Last day to schedule defense of doctoral dissertation with the Graduate School | March 13 |
| Nominations due for Graduate Dean’s Citation for Excellence | March 13 |
| Deadline for any name changes to be reflected in Commencement program. (For those that met the above deadline). | March 15 |
| Last day for defense of doctoral dissertation | March 27 |
| Deadline at 11:59 p.m. MDT for ticket request with initial allotment of up to 6 tickets/graduating student. | March 31 |
| Availability of additional tickets emailed to students who have applied for graduation. (Dependent upon number of tickets requested by March 31 deadline.) | April 1 |
| Last day for filing master’s thesis, doctoral scholarly project and doctoral dissertation | April 3 |
| Nominations due for Outstanding Dissertation/Thesis |
April 3 |
| Initial deadline to order cap and gown. See Commencement site for order information and deadlines to order for shipping. | April 3 (9:59 p.m. MDT) |
| Applications for graduation must be accepted/approved by this date to have your name appear in the digital program. | April 20 |
| Last day for filing results of master’s and specialist’s written comprehensive examination | April 24 |
| Deadline for any name changes to be reflected in Digital Commencement program. (For those that met the above deadline). |
April 26 |
| If a final allotment of tickets remains available, this will be emailed to students who have applied for graduation. (Dependent upon number of tickets requested by April 30.) This potential final allotment is not guaranteed. | May 1 |
| Final deadline to submit Spring 2026 Graduate Graduation Application | May 7 |
| Cap and Gown Distribution. See Commencement site for location and times. |
May 7-8 |
| Final ticket request deadline based on ticket availability. | May 8 (noon MDT) |
| Graduate Commencement ceremony 6 p.m. | May 8 |
| All grades due |
May 13 |
| Spring degrees will be conferred (verified by the Office of the Registrar). Transcripts will be available after June 15, and will show a graduation date of May 8, 2026. | June 15 |
| Diplomas available with degree | June 29 |
Note: Summer graduation candidates are welcome to participate in either the spring or fall graduate commencement ceremonies. Please see calendar for the respective semester of the ceremony you wish to attend for associated deadlines.
| Summer 2026 Graduate Application for Graduation opens | Nov. 10, 2025 |
| Last day for filing doctoral dissertation proposal for Summer semester graduation | May 8, 2026 |
| Last day to schedule defense of doctoral dissertation with the Graduate School | June 12 |
| Last day for defense of doctoral dissertation | June 26 |
| Last day for filing master’s thesis, doctoral scholarly project and doctoral dissertation | July 3 |
| Last day for filing results of master’s and specialist’s written comprehensive examination | July 24 |
| Final deadline to submit Summer 2026 Graduate Graduation Application | Aug. 6 |
| Graduate Commencement ceremony | May 8, or Dec. 11 |
| All grades due | Aug. 12 |
| Summer degrees will be conferred (verified by the Office of the Registrar). Transcripts will be available after Sept. 8, 2026, and will show a graduation date of Aug. 7, 2026. | Sept. 8 |
| Last day for filing Summer Application for Graduation to guarantee student name in printed spring commencement program | March 6 |
| Diplomas available with degree | Sept. 21 |
| Fall 2026 Graduate Application for Graduation opens | March 31, 2026 |
| Last day for filing doctoral dissertation proposal for Fall semester graduation | Aug. 7 |
| Ticket Request details emailed to students who have applied for graduation | TBD |
| Fall 2026 Commencement Speaker Application Deadline. Application is available on the Commencement Resources for Students website. | TBD |
| Applications for graduation must be accepted/approved by this date to have your name printed in the Commencement program. | Sept. 25 |
| In person Commencement Fair | Sept. 29 |
| Virtual Commencement Fair 5-6 p.m. Registration link coming soon! | Sept. 29 |
| Deadline for any name changes to be reflected in Commencement program. (For those that met the above deadline). | Oct. 2 |
| Last day to schedule defense of doctoral dissertation with the Graduate School | Oct. 16 |
| Nominations due for Graduate Dean’s Citation for Excellence | Oct. 16 |
| Last day for defense of doctoral dissertation | Oct. 30 |
| Deadline at 11:59 p.m. MST for ticket request with initial allotment of up to 6 tickets/graduating student. |
TBD |
| Availability of additional tickets emailed to students who have applied for graduation. (Dependent upon number of tickets requested by initial deadline.) | TBD |
| Initial deadline to order cap and gown. See Commencement site for order information and deadlines to order for shipping. | Oct. 30 |
| Last day for filing master’s thesis, doctoral scholarly project and doctoral dissertation | Nov. 6 |
| Nominations due for Outstanding Dissertation/Thesis |
Nov. 6 |
| Applications for graduation must be accepted/approved by this date to have your name appear in the digital program. | Nov. 15 |
| Last day for filing results of master’s and specialist’s written comprehensive examination | Nov. 27 |
| Deadline for any name changes to be reflected in Digital Commencement program. (For those that met the above deadline). |
Nov. 27 |
| If a final allotment of tickets remains available, this will be emailed to students who have applied for graduation. (Dependent upon number of tickets requested) This potential final allotment is not guaranteed. | TBD |
| Final deadline to submit Fall 2026 Graduate Graduation Application | Dec. 10 |
| Cap and Gown Distribution. See Commencement site for location and times. |
Dec. 11 |
| Final ticket request deadline based on ticket availability. | Dec. 11, (noon MST) |
| Graduate Commencement ceremony 6 p.m. | Dec. 11 |
| All grades due |
Dec. 16 |
| Fall degrees will be conferred (verified by the Office of the Registrar). Transcripts will be available after January 20, 2027, and will show a graduation date of December 11, 2026. | Jan. 20, 2027 |
| Diplomas available with degree | Feb. 10, 2027 |
Questions?
Lynne Waldo
Degree Compliance Specialist