Undergraduate Certificates

Graduating Students

Earning a Certificate? Here’s What to Know.

Apply for an Undergraduate Certificate

Start by declaring your certificate – please meet with your advisor to complete the Undergraduate Academic Program Change Form.

How Certificates Are Celebrated

While certificates aren’t formally recognized during the commencement ceremony, they’re still an important academic achievement. Once all your requirements are complete, your certificate will be officially awarded and proudly noted on your transcript.

Completing an Undergraduate Certificate

To make sure your certificate is officially awarded and listed on your transcript, you’ll need to submit the Undergraduate Certificate Application to the Office of the Registrar.

Be sure to submit your application the semester before you plan to complete your certificate. This allows enough time for processing and ensures everything is in place when the semester ends. Don’t wait—submitting early helps avoid delays and keeps you on track to celebrate your achievement!

A $50.00 application fee will be charged once per certificate and added to your student account.

If you’re also applying to graduate with a bachelor’s degree at the same time, you’ll only be charged the $50 fee once—but only if you apply to complete both your degree and certificate in the same term.

To avoid being charged twice, be sure to submit both applications together, during the same term.

UNC confers certificates after the conclusion of the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms once all requirements are completed.

Release of Undergraduate Certificates

Receiving Your Certificate: Don’t Miss These Important Deadlines

Once your certificate has been officially awarded, it will be released two weeks after your official transcript is updated to show certificate completion.

To make sure you receive your certificate without delay, be sure to follow these key steps and timelines.

You’ll need to update or confirm your Certificate Mailing Address at least three weeks before the certificate release date.

Here’s what happens if you miss that deadline:

  • If no certificate address is provided, your certificate will be mailed to your permanent address on file.
  • If no permanent address is available, it will be sent to your parent address.
  • If there’s no active mailing address on file, your certificate will be held for up to one year.

After one year, you’ll need to pay a reissue fee to receive your certificate.

You can update your address by using the Update Addresses and Phones link in your student portal. Just be sure to do it before the three-week deadline.

If your hold is released after the certificate release date, please contact the Office of the Registrar at graduation@unco.edu so they can assist you.

Have questions? The Office of the Registrar is here to help make sure your achievement is recognized and received!