Graduation

Loyola policies involving eligibility for graduation for undergraduate and graduate students.

Navigation: 

If you do not find what you are looking for, please return to Academic Regulations Home. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Student Records at sturec@loyno.edu.

Commencement

Loyola University holds a commencement ceremony at the end of the spring semester. Students who are candidates for May, August, or December of that calendar year may participate in that ceremony. Fall candidates may opt to participate in the following year ceremony. You must notify the Office of Student Records of your intention when you apply to graduate. The commencement program is not a certification document of the university. All graduating students, regardless of their participation in the commencement ceremony, will be charged a graduation fee of $300. For students participating in in the commencement ceremony, this fee will also include the cost of the regalia, diploma and leather cover.

Additional information on commencement can be found on Loyola's commencement web site.

 

Diplomas

The diploma given to students upon graduation carries the university information, student’s name, university distinctions, and degree title. Diplomas will be released only to students who have discharged their financial and legal obligations to the university and who have completed the required exit surveys.

There is a charge of $25.00 for duplicate diplomas.  Please complete the Diploma Relacement form.  For additional information, contact the Office of Student Records, at sturec@loyno.edu or 504-865-3237.


Eligibility for Graduation - Undergraduates

Students must meet the specific requirements of their degree programs as set forth in this bulletin. 

To be eligible for graduation, students must have fulfilled their specific degree program and college requirements, must have at least a 2.0 Loyola cumulative grade point average, major average, and minor average if a minor is pursued, must have completed their last 30 hours of coursework at Loyola, and must have been certified to graduate by their dean.

Applications for graduation should be filed during the previous fall term for Spring, Summer, and Fall candidates. Specific deadlines are published in the academic calendar.

To be certified to graduate at the end of the term for which the student applied, all degree requirements must be completed no later than:

  • July 1 for Spring candidates
  • October 1 for Summer candidates
  • February 1 for Fall candidates

If the student is unable to complete the requirements during this period of time, the student must reapply for graduation in a subsequent term.

Back to Navigation

 

Eligibility for Graduation - Graduates

Students must meet the specific requirements of their degree programs as set forth in this bulletin. 

To be eligible for graduation, students must have fulfilled their specific degree program and college requirements, must have at least 3.0 Loyola cumulative grade point average certified to graduate by their dean.

Applications for graduation should be filed during the previous fall term for Spring, Summer, and Fall candidates. Specific deadlines are published in the academic calendar.

To be certified to graduate at the end of the term for which the student applied, all degree requirements must be completed no later than:

  • July 1 for Spring candidates
  • October 1 for Summer candidates
  • February 1 for Fall candidates 

If the student is unable to complete the requirements during this period of time, the student must reapply for graduation in a subsequent term.

 

Graduation

Loyola confers degrees in Spring, Summer, and Fall. After grades are received, the university determines graduation grade point averages and distinctions. Subsequently, the Office of Student Records posts the degrees and distinctions to transcripts and provides the students with their diplomas. Diplomas and transcripts are not released until the student has discharged all financial and legal obligations to the university. After a student has graduated, no change may be made in his or her record, except to correct a grade or as the result of a grade appeal (see Grade Appeals).

Back to Navigation

 

Graduation Distinctions

Graduation distinctions for undergraduate students are determined on the basis of the student’s Loyola cumulative grade point average.

  • Cumulative average of 3.500 - 3.699, cum laude
  • Cumulative average of 3.700 - 3.899, magna cum laude 
  • Cumulative average of 3.900 - 4.000, summa cum laude.

On completion of all course requirements and certification for graduation by the student’s dean, the official distinction will be inscribed on the diploma and listed on the transcript. Distinctions noted in the commencement ceremony program are based on the previous term’s cumulative grades and, therefore, may not be the same as the official distinction.

Transfer Students

Graduation distinctions for transfer students who complete 60 or more Loyola quality hours will be based solely on the Loyola cumulative grade point average.

Graduation distinctions for transfer students who complete fewer than 60 Loyola cumulative quality hours will be based on two factors:

  1. A Loyola cumulative grade point average, provided it is a 3.5 or better.
  2. A combined grade point average of coursework taken at Loyola and transfer institution(s).

If the lower of the two averages is 3.5, the distinction will be cum laude; if the lower is 3.7, the distinction will be magna cum laude; if the lower is 3.9, the distinction will be summa cum laude.

Graduate Students

Graduate students are not eligible for graduation distinctions.

Back to Navigation