Cross the Finish Line!
We believe earning an OU degree has an immensely positive impact on the lives of our students. A University of Oklahoma degree not only expands the opportunities for personal earning potential of our graduates, but it also prepares them to enhance the quality of life in their community, state, nation, and the global marketplace.
Even in uncertain economic times, investing in your OU degree yields an extremely strong return on investment. The Chronical of Higher Education estimates the earnings gap between those who have earned a bachelor’s degree and work full-time in comparison to their peers with a high school diploma to be $32,000 per year or nearly $1.4 million over one’s lifetime.
“While a college degree can certainly provide a student with specialized training in a particular field and higher income potential over the lifetime, what cannot be overlooked are the intangible skills that a college degree instills in it’s students.” In an ever-changing world, OU instills in its students the critical thinking skills and the ability to learn for a lifetime allowing them to pivot, flex and adjust in response.
(The importance of a college education, Mark A. Heckler, Chicago Tribune, Sept. 11, 2018)
Graduation Hotline
We are committed to helping students attain an OU degree.
The Graduation Hotline is a program designed to aid upperclassmen in successful and timely completion of their OU degree. Students with an advanced number of hours may reach out to our staff to discuss any obstacles that may delay their graduation. Distinctive from degree mapping and course planning done with an acdemic advisor, our staff will work with students to remove roadblocks to enrollment, provide enrollment assistance for any must-have courses, and explore alternative and possible accelerated pathways to degree completion. We also address financial challenges which be prohibiting the ability to cross the degree finish line. Contact the Graduation Hotline at (405) 325-0841 or gps@ou.edu.
Steps to Graduate
1. Meet with your academic advisor to discuss your remaining course requirements and complete a final degree check.
2. Apply to graduate on one.ou.edu.
3. Attend Graduation Gear-Up, to purchase your cap and gown, announcements and class ring.
4. CELEBRATE! Visit ou.edu/commencement for more information.
Letters of Invitation to International Guests
For students wishing to invite international guests to graduation ceremonies, you will need to prepare a separate letter for each individual you wish to invite and send the letter directly to them. Please click the button below to be directed to the the International Student Services website to find the steps to write letters of invitation to your guests.
For information about graduation ceremonies, please refer to the Office of Special Events website, ou.edu/commencement.
After Graduation
Diplomas are mailed approximately three months after graduation.
- December Graduates
- Undergraduate and master's degree diplomas are mailed in late March to early April
- Doctoral diplomas are mailed in late April to early May
- May Graduates
- Undergraduate and master's degree diplomas are mailed in late july to early August
- Doctoral diplomas are mailed in late August to early September
- Summer Graduates
- Undergraduate and master's degree diplomas are mailed in late October to early November
- Doctoral diplomas are mailed in late November to early December
- Undergraduate and master's degree diplomas are mailed in late October to early November
If you need assistance with any of the following, please visit the Office of the Registrar's website for more information or email diploma@ou.edu:
- Ordering additional diplomas
- Ordering a replacement diploma with a change of name
- Ordering a replacement for a lost or destroyed diploma
- Change or confirm your diploma mailing address
**Be certain to include your name and student ID number in your email correspondence.
Final Degree Verification
The final degree verification occurs after the grades for the final semester are posted. When the degree candidate's transcript is complete and all requirements have been fulfilled, the college advising office sends a degree clearance to the Office of the Registrar. The Office of the Registrar then verifies that the student has paid all enrollment fees and tuition. If the Bursar balance has been paid in full, the Office of the Registrar will post the final degree(s) earned on the transcript, print a diploma, and list the student on the Official Graduation program. If you have not completed all of the requirements, the Office of the Registrar holds all information regarding graduation, including posting to the National Student Clearing House where potential employers go to verify degree completion.
Graduation Date
The official graduation date appearing on diplomas and transcripts is the last day of examinations in the Fall, the date of Commencement in the Spring, and the last day of classes in the Summer. This date appears on the student's permanent academic record.
Transcript
While many students never bother to check their final official transcript, we recommend that you obtain a copy for your files. Official transcripts are released by the Office of the Registrar upon written request of the student, except when a student has a balance on their Bursar account. Your final official transcript, with your degree posted, should be available approximately one month after your official graduation date.
Please visit the Office of the Registrar website for more information.
