Frequently Asked Questions

If you cannot find the answer to your question, please email commencement@sandiego.edu.

When are the undergraduate commencement ceremonies?

The undergraduate ceremonies are as follows:

  • Sunday, May 26, 2019 (9 a.m.): College of Arts and Sciences
  • Sunday, May 26, 2019 (2 p.m.): School of Business and Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering

A full schedule of all events can be found online.

How many tickets will I receive for guests?

  • Graduating seniors who have been cleared to attend commencement, in either undergraduate ceremony, are allotted seven (7) tickets.
  • Pick up tickets at GradFest II

If you miss GradFest II, you may claim your allotted tickets at the Jenny Craig Pavilion Ticket Office during regular business hours (Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) starting on Monday, May 6, 2019.

If you no longer live in San Diego, you will need to contact the ticket office via email tickets@sandiego.edu to arrange for ticket pick-up. Tickets will not be mailed.

Additional information:

  • Tickets are required to attend undergraduate ceremonies
  • Children ages 3 and under, who sit on an adult's lap, do not need a ticket
  • Requests for extra tickets will be denied; students are encouraged to ask their friends and classmates for any unused tickets
  • Lost tickets will not be replaced
  • Guests without tickets may watch a live, closed-circuit broadcast inside the Hahn University Center forum rooms or watch the live stream online
  • Tickets are not for sale nor should they be bought or sold. The University of San Diego does not support or condone the selling of Commencement tickets. Please disregard any advertisement or person who is selling or claims to be selling Commencement tickets. Every Commencement ticket is printed as "Not for Sale."

If I am receiving two degrees, can I walk in both ceremonies?

Undergraduate students completing two degrees such that they could attend either Commencement ceremony may attend one or the other but not both. Such students shall inform the Registrar's office of which ceremony they will attend.

Will the ceremonies be online via live stream?

Yes, the live video of the ceremonies will be professionally streamed on the Commencement website. See the livestreaming page for details.

How are latin honors determined and read at the ceremony?

Latin Honors (Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude) are announced at the undergraduate commencement ceremonies only. There is no regalia for Latin Honors. Gold stoles are for students in the Honors Program only. Student and Greek organizations wishing to customize their regalia should not order or wear gold stoles or cords to represent their student organization.

With the exception of January graduates, Latin Honors announced at undergraduate commencement ceremonies are calculated based on the previous completed semester at USD. Once all required work is completed and verified, the actual officially awarded Latin Honors will appear on the diploma and transcript. 

Undergraduate seniors should check Degree Works to find their catalog year to determine the range into which their grade point average falls. See the link "How to Compute Your Grade Point Average" on the Office of the Registrar's website in the section "Academic Resources."

Students of outstanding academic merit receive special honors at graduation. Eligibility for these special honors is based upon USD GPA:

  • summa cum laude: 3.90 or higher
  • magna cum laude: 3.70 to 3.89
  • cum laude: 3.50 to 3.69
For additional information:
 
Undergraduate seniors with any additional questions about their graduation eligibility status or GPA should contact the Office of the Registrar at 619-260-2888 or email registrar@sandiego.edu.
 

How is the valedictorian determined? 

The senior with the highest USD GPA within each commencement group (the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, and Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering) will be acknowledged during his/her respective ceremony. At least half of the degree work must be completed at USD. In the event of ties, only the student with the most coursework completed at USD will be honored. Note that the School if Business and Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering share the same ceremony, but each school has its own valedictorian.