Diploma Deadlines & Distribution
The following deadlines and distribution information pertain only to Pittsburgh campus students. Graduating students from non-Pittsburgh locations may have different deadlines and diploma distributions. Diplomas are not available prior to the stated date of graduation.
Please note that all dates listed are approximate and may vary slightly year to year. Addditionally, certain circumstances will result in receiving a diploma at a later date, and students will be informed in advance.
August
Deadlines:
- First day of July — Students may start to review their diploma information on
- Friday before start of Fall classes — Departmental deadline to certify degrees, last day for students to review and update their diploma information on SIO.
- First week of Fall classes — August diplomas ordered; no name or address changes can be submitted after this point.
Distribution:
August diplomas are ordered during the first week of Fall classes and mailed to graduates in early October directly from the printing vendor. Students will receive an e-mail notification when their diplomas are mailed. Diplomas are mailed via USPS and do not carry a tracking number. Delivery within the USA usually takes 10 business days, and delivery to international addresses 8–10 weeks.
Note: Because diplomas are mailed directly to students, we cannot hold August diplomas for HUB pick-up.
- Students must enter a valid diploma delivery address on the SIO: Graduation and Diploma page before the diploma order is placed. After the order has been placed, we cannot change the diploma delivery address.
- Diplomas for students who did not enter a delivery address will not be ordered; we will attempt to contact the students to obtain a valid mailing address.
- Diplomas for students with a financial or Student Affairs hold will not be released until the hold is resolved.
December
Deadlines:
- First day of November — Students may start to review their diploma information on
- Friday before the start of Spring classes — Departmental deadline to certify degrees, last day for students to review and edit their diploma information on SIO.
- First week of Spring classes — December diplomas ordered; no name or address changes can be submitted after this point.
Distribution:
December diplomas are ordered in the first week of Spring classes and mailed to graduates in February directly from the printing vendor. Students will receive an e-mail notification when their diplomas are mailed. Diplomas are mailed via USPS and do not carry a tracking number. Delivery within the USA usually takes 10 business days, and delivery to international addresses 8–10 weeks.
Note: Because diplomas are mailed directly to students, we cannot hold August diplomas for HUB pick-up.
- Students must enter a valid diploma delivery address on the SIO: Graduation and Diploma page before the diploma order is placed. After the order has been placed, we cannot change the diploma delivery address.
- Diplomas for students who did not enter a delivery address will not be ordered; we will attempt to contact the students to obtain a valid mailing address.
- Diplomas for students with a financial or Student Affairs hold will not be released until the hold is resolved.
May
Deadlines:
- First day of February - Students may start to review their diploma information on
- End of March - Students can no longer review their diploma information on SIO; diplomas ordered.
- Cap & Gown - Bachelors and Masters graduates purchase their regalia at Grad Fair. See the Commencement Weekend website
- Two weeks after commencement - Deadline for departments to certify degrees
Distribution:
May diplomas are distributed to graduates at individual department diploma ceremonies. For graduates not attending or otherwise unable to receive their diploma during the ceremony, diplomas are distributed by mail starting in mid-June. Under no circumstances will a diploma be distributed if a student has a financial or Student Affairs hold.