Graduate Degree Candidates
Kean University confers degrees based on three annual cycles: January, May and August.
Application Instructions
Students who are within one semester of degree completion should log into their KeanWISE accounts in order to complete an application for degree completion (see deadlines below). A $100 fee will be collected at the time of submission. Only online applications and payments can be accepted; hard copies of degree applications and other forms of payment will not be accepted.
Applicants have three conferral cycles in order to fulfill their degree requirements before having to complete the application process again. This includes filling out a new application and repayment of the $100 fee. Exceptions cannot made, so proper planning with an academic advisor is imperative.
Graduation with Honors
Graduate students who have completed their degree requirements with a cumulative grade point average of 4.0 and commendation on their Graduate Comprehensive Exam (when required) are recognized as graduating with distinction.
The grades from all graduate level courses, including those transferred in from another institution and those that appear on an undergraduate transcript, are included in the calculation of the cumulative grade point average.
Students who have earned the Graduation with Distinction designation will be recognized through a letter from the Dean of their respective college and such a notation will appear on the student's transcript and diploma. Graduates who have earned a 3.9 GPA will also receive a letter from the Dean. Letters are typically issued following the completion of all degree conferrals for that year (at the end of the August cycle).
Fee Information
- Graduation candidates are required to pay a $100 processing fee. This fee covers the processing of the degree application, a complimentary set of transcripts, caps and gowns for those participating in commencement exercises, and the diploma.
- This fee will not be waived or reduced for students who do not participate in commencement.
Statements of Completion
- Students in need of evidence of degree completed (or anticipated completion) may request a letter verifying this information to be sent to a third party. Please email request forms to graduation@kean.edu.
- Attention: LATE APPLICANTS will not be given letters of completion/anticipated completion prior to the completion of requests and/or conferrals for students who adhered to established deadlines.
Review of Academic Progress and Conferral Process
- Upon receipt of an application for degree conferral, the Office of the Registrar will perform an audit of the candidate’s academic record to determine eligibility for degree conferral.
- Candidates will be notified via email of any missing degree requirements in accordance with the published deadlines.
- Candidates are responsible for submitting information regarding any transfers of credit, substitutions, or extensions PRIOR to the submission of their degree application. Failure to do so may result in delays in the conferral of the degree.
- All final grades, incomplete grades, transcripts, waivers, and substitutions, MUST be received within two weeks after the degree date (January, May, August), in order to be eligible for that graduation conferral period.
- Eligible candidates’ degrees are conferred within six weeks of the conferral date for the respective cycle.
- Graduate evaluations are completed by the Office of the Registrar based on the candidates’ academic program.
- General inquiries regarding the application and review process should be sent to regme@kean.edu.
- More specific concerns can be directed to the following evaluators: Rosa Cameli rcameli@kean.edu or Stacey Wilson wilsstac@kean.edu.
Transcript Delivery
- Once a degree is conferred, the degree and date will be notated on an official Kean University transcript.
- Transcripts will not be released to graduates with active holds until all restrictions are resolved. Holds can be viewed by logging into your KeanWISE account. Upon resolving all holds, please contact the Office of the Registrar.
- A complimentary copy of your transcript will be sent from the Office of the Registrar to all eligible graduates approximately three months after the degree conferral date.
Diploma Information
Name Information
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Names on diplomas will appear as they are listed on file with the university. This information is pre-populated on the degree application and cannot be changed by the applicant.
- Other name changes should be addressed via the Change of Name form.
- If you would like to have the name on file abbreviated for your diploma, please email graduation@kean.edu.
Distribution of Current Diplomas
- Official diplomas are mailed to the student's home address on file approximately three months after the conferral date. Graduates will receive notification from the diploma vendor via their Kean email address once their diploma has been mailed (diplomas are not distributed during the commencement exercises.) NOTE: If you would like to change your diploma mailing address, please notify the Office of the Registrar via email at graduation@kean.edu prior to graduation.
- Students who participate in commencement exercises will receive diploma covers at the ceremony. All others will receive their diploma covers by mail.
- Diplomas will not be released to graduates with active holds until all restrictions are resolved. Holds can be viewed by logging into your KeanWISE account. Upon resolving all holds, please contact the Office of the Registrar. Restricted diplomas will be mailed to the Office of the Registrar and will be available for pick-up or mailing upon the resolution of all holds.
Alumni Diplomas
Replacement Diploma Ordering
- Graduates interested in obtaining a replacement copy of their diploma should complete a Diploma Duplicate / Replacement Request Form.
Original Diploma Pickup
If you would like to pick up your diploma after graduation and you have a hold on your account, you must:
- Clear any outstanding hold
- Contact regme@kean.edu with instructions to where you wish to send your diploma
- If you wish to pick your diploma, consult our website for office hours
If you never picked up your diploma after graduation and you do not have any holds, you must:
- Contact regme@kean.edu with instructions on where you wish to send your diploma. If you wish to pick up your diploma, consult our website for office hours.
If you are unsure if you have any holds, contact the Office of the Registrar at 908-73-REGME or login to your KeanWISE account.
Ceremony Information
- Kean University holds commencement exercises in May. January, May, and August candidates are invited to participate.
- Candidates will receive information via their Kean email addresses during the spring semester regarding cap and gown orders, location, guest information, etc.
- Please note: Participation in the commencement ceremony does not guarantee degree conferral. The Office of the Registrar must verify that all degree requirements have been met in order to officially confer a degree.
Teacher of the Year
- Students may show their appreciation for a professor who made a special contribution to their education by submitting an application for Teacher of the Year to the Alumni Relations Office.