Eligibility for Commencement
Ready to take your next giant leap? Confirming your eligibility for commencement is the first step to ensure everything is set before the big day.
To participate in commencement, you must be officially recognized as a candidate for the term in which you plan to graduate.
Undergraduate and Professional Students
If you’re an undergraduate or professional student in the College of Veterinary Medicine or the College of Pharmacy, you’re eligible to participate in commencement once you:
- Apply to graduate by the deadline listed in myPurdue.
- Confirm your degree progress with your academic advisor or college candidate coordinator.
- Appear on your college’s candidate roster for the term.
Once you apply, a Commencement link appears in your myPurdue portal during your graduation term.
If you don’t meet your degree requirements in time, email commencement@purdue.edu (copy your advisor) to have your application removed. You’ll need to reapply for the next term.
After you have met with your advisor to confirm your plan to complete your degree requirements for your final year, you can apply to graduate.
Log in to your myPurdue and select the Academics tab. In the Destination Graduation card, you will select Apply to Graduate.
Take notice of the terms and deadlines you may apply for graduation.
Review the information and select a term. Note: This is not the term you wish to graduate. This is the most recent term in which you were enrolled in the degree-seeking program that you plan to earn a degree. Select a term and hit Submit.
A Curriculum Selection page will appear. Please carefully review the information on this page!
If anything is incorrect, do not continue. Contact your academic advisor right away to update your curriculum.
Students who have multiple majors only attend one commencement ceremony. The first major you select during the application to graduate process determines which commencement ceremony you attend. You must then go back and submit a new application for any additional programs or certificates.
If you have more than one active degree program, you’ll be presented with multiple buttons to select. You may only select one at a time. Select your highest degree first. Example: You are pursuing a bachelor’s degree and a certificate; select the bachelor’s.
You’ll be required to submit the application for one completely. You can then go back and submit a new application for any additional programs or certificates. If everything is accurate, including minors, you may select the button and click continue.
The next screen will ask you to select the term in which you’ll complete your requirements and plan to graduate. Select your term and select Continue.
Review the information one more time for accuracy before you submit the request.
FAQs
Who can apply to graduate?
You can apply once you reach your second semester of junior year (classification 6 or higher), or if you’re in Veterinary Nursing (AAS), Doctor of Pharmacy or Doctor of Veterinary Medicine programs (P3 or P4 classification).
Do you have more than one major?
If both majors are in the same college, you’ll receive one degree with both majors listed on your transcript. If your majors span two colleges, you’ll submit two separate graduation applications.
Can I apply if I have a hold on my record?
Some holds prevent you from submitting your application. Resolve any active holds before applying.
Graduating with Distinction
Purdue celebrates exceptional academic achievement with Distinction and Highest Distinction honors at commencement. Honors are based on your final cumulative GPA and your class ranking within your college or school.
The GPA thresholds for May 2025 graduates are included below:
| Degree Type | Distinction* | Highest Distinction** |
|---|---|---|
| Associate degrees | 3.69 | 3.74 |
| Agriculture | 3.89 | 3.98 |
| Education | 3.98 | 3.98 |
| Engineering | 3.88 | 3.98 |
| Health and Human Sciences | 3.89 | 3.98 |
| Liberal Arts | 3.91 | 3.98 |
| Daniels School of Business | 3.81 | 3.98 |
| Pharmacy | 3.83 | 3.98 |
| Purdue Polytechnic | 3.86 | 3.98 |
| Science | 3.93 | 3.98 |
| Veterinary Nursing | 3.94 | 3.98 |
| Doctor of Veterinary Medicine | 3.91 | 3.98 |
| Doctor of Pharmacy | 3.89 | 3.98 |
*Distinction represents the top 10% in each college or school based on the GPA threshold noted for each degree type.
**Highest Distinction recognizes the top 30% of graduates who qualify for Distinction. The GPA threshold for Highest Distinction is 3.74 for associate degrees and 3.98 for all other degrees.
Have Questions?
If you have questions about your eligibility or degree progress, connect with your:
- Academic advisor (undergraduates and professional students)
- Major professor or Graduate Registration Contact (graduate students)
Looking Ahead
Once your eligibility is confirmed, you’re ready for the next step — registering for commencement and preparing for your big day.