Diplomas

Within 45 days from the last day of the semester, students' dean's offices must verify that their students met all graduation requirements. The official graduation date for students who complete their graduation requirements after the 45-day deadline will be the last date of the semester in which the requirements were completed. The official graduation date cannot precede the latest semester for which the student was registered for courses that apply to his or her degree program.

Once the dean's office has verified that a student fulfilled all degree requirements, the Office of the Registrar will post the degree and mail the diploma with the established graduation date of May, August, or December.

In general, diplomas are mailed 6 to 8 weeks after a student's work is completed. However, this depends on the length of time each college needs to conduct its final review of each student's record.

Diplomas are mailed to the address indicated on your graduation application. If you need to change your diploma-mailing address, please email your changes to registrar@drake.edu as soon as possible. Students who participate in the ceremony will have another a chance to verify or change their diploma-mailing address at the ceremony.

***Please note that if you change your mailing address through myDrake this will NOT update your diploma mailing address. If you have moved and not notified registrar@drake.edu of the address change before your diploma is mailed to the incorrect address, you will be required to order and pay for the diploma using the Replacement Diploma Request Form.

Diplomas will not be mailed to any students with outstanding University obligations.

If you have not received your diploma in a timely fashion, begin by contacting your college dean's office to determine whether it has completed its final review of your record. If your dean's office confirms that it has awarded your degree, contact the Office of the Registrar to check on the progress of the production of your diploma.

Students who participate in a commencement ceremony will receive an empty diploma case as they cross the stage, which they may keep as they await the actual diploma. 

Students who need official verification of having met their degree requirements before they receive their diploma may order their official transcript, which will include degree information once the degree has been posted to their record.