Important Information

Commencement and Graduation

Commencement is the celebration in May for students who are on track to graduate. It should be noted that participating in the Commencement Ceremony does not indicate graduation from Marymount Manhattan College. Students officially graduate only after completing all degree requirements.  

Candidates for graduation with an unpaid account balance must set up an approved payment plan with Student Accounts in the Center for Student Services in order to participate in the commencement ceremony. Diplomas will not be released until the student account is settled.

Graduation occurs once a student has completed all degree requirements and met all financial obligations to the College. The official graduation date (also known as “degree conferral”) is based on when a student completes all degree requirements.  Degree conferral dates are:

February 1

June 1

September 1

Although there are three degree conferral dates each year, Marymount Manhattan College hosts one Commencement ceremony each May, and candidates for graduation are invited to participate depending on their expected/achieved conferral date.  

Diplomas, Degrees, the Commencement program, and Latin Honors

Double Majors

Under New York State regulations, a student may receive only a single Bachelor’s degree from MMC. For example, students completing requirements leading to a B.A. degree and a second major leading to a B.S. degree will elect either the B.A. or the B.S. to be awarded. Only one diploma will be issued to the student, although two fields of study will be indicated on a student’s transcript. 

If you are a double major, you identified which degree you preferred to receive when you added the second major. If you want to change your degree option, you must complete the Degree Option form by the following deadline, depending on your conferral date: 

February degree conferral: Form is due September 15

June degree conferral: Form is due February 15

September degree conferral: Form is due June 15

Additional info can be found in the College Catalogue.  

Degrees

The degree selection determines which group you sit/walk with at the commencement ceremony and where your name is listed in the Commencement program. Graduates are listed and sit/walk with those earning the same degree: B.A., B.S., B.F.A., etc.

Note: Only the degree (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science) is printed on the diploma. Majors, concentrations, and minors are listed on your transcript.

Commencement program

Only students who have applied and are approved to graduate are included in the Commencement program.  We make every effort to include late additions to the list, but once the program has gone to the printer we are unable to make any changes.  

Preferred Name: If you have a preferred name on file, Student Life will reach out to you early in the spring semester regarding how your name should be listed in the Commencement program. Note: Students have the option to have their legal or preferred name (as it appears on the student’s academic record) printed on their diploma. See additional info here.

If you have any questions, email graduation@mmm.edu. 

Latin Honors

Latin honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) are not included in Commencement-related acknowledgements such as the program or honor cords. The honors are confirmed on the degree conferral date. They are included on your transcript and printed on your diploma.

Applying to Graduate

All graduates must submit a Graduation Application on MMC Connect. Upon submitting the Graduation Application, the Registrar’s Office will review your application for any outstanding academic requirements. All notifications will be sent to your MMC email.

February degree conferral: Application is due September 15

June degree conferral: Application is due November 15

September degree conferral: Application is due May 15

It is important to apply by the deadline to ensure you are on track to graduate and are notified throughout the year about commencement and senior activities. 

All students applying to graduate must pay a $130 graduation fee, regardless if they are participating in the Commencement ceremony.  The fee contributes to the costs for your regalia, the diploma, diploma shipping, diploma cover, and other expenses associated with Commencement and senior-related activities.  This is a one-time fee that is non-refundable.    

Be sure to review the graduation information online and keep in mind submitting your online graduation application is important for several reasons:

1. You can enter how your name should be printed on the diploma. See additional info here.
2. You can enter the address where your diploma is shipped. Diplomas are printed off-site and mailed directly to graduates approximately 4 - 6 weeks after your degree is conferred (not the end of the term). Degrees are conferred 3 times a year – February, June, and September. 
3. Students who apply and/or are cleared late for graduation will not have their name included in the in the Commencement Program.
4. We do our best to accommodate late ticket requests, but can only guarantee guest tickets for students cleared to graduate by Packet Pick-Up. 

Ordering Caps and Gowns

The link to order the cap and gown will be sent to the student’s MMC email and is in the Class of 2025 Newsletter.  There is no charge for this order. The regalia will be shipped to the College and will be distributed during Commencement Packet Pickup. The caps and gowns are made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles and students can keep the attire after the Commencement Ceremony. Fun fact: An average of 25 plastic bottles are used to manufacture one cap and gown for every MMC student.

Graduates can begin to order on: November TBD

The deadline to order is: March TBD

Senior Portraits

There is no charge to sit for your senior portrait. Senior portraits will be included in the yearbook and are available for purchase. Every graduating senior who has a senior portrait taken will receive a complimentary copy of the yearbook.

Learn more about ordering your senior portraits here.

Important Dates At-A-Glance

• November TBD:  Ordering Cap and Gown Begins
• November 15, 2024: Graduation Application Due
• February TBD: Senior Days
• February TBD: Senior Days
• February TBD: Virtual Info Session
• March TBD: Deadline to order Cap and Gown
• March TBD: Awards of Distinction and Silver M Awards Applications Due
• March TBD: Senior Class Speaker Sign-up Deadline
• April 15, 2025: Senior Academic Awards on Honors Day!
• April TBD: Commencement Packet Pick-Up
• April TBD: Commencement Packet Pick-Up
• April TBD: Strawberries and Champagne
• April TBD Student Leadership Awards
• May TBD : Reception in Honor of Class of 2025
• May TBD: Commencement Ceremony