Graduation FAQs

OCU will hold one Commencement event in 2026; it will happen on our main campus in Circleville, Ohio.

Commencement is a service of recognition and a ceremony of awards.  The ceremony will reflect centuries of academic tradition as well as sanctity of worship. Students can participate in one commencement ceremony.

Our Commencement ceremonies on May 2nd, 2026, will be held at 10:30 AM in the Maxwell Center Gymnasium at our Circleville Campus located at 1476 Lancaster Pike Circleville, Ohio 43113.

All our Residential Campus, Trailblazer Academy, and all our Online students (Adult and Graduate Studies students) will participate together in the 10:30 AM Ceremony.

This information is subject to change.

At this time, there will not be a graduation practice. Candidates for graduation are asked to watch their email for instructions and videos that will assist in their understanding of how OCU operates commencement. They are also asked to arrive at OCU the morning of commencement no later than 8:00 am. To check-in, get instructions, pick up any cords earned or purchased, and be ready to file in at 10:30am.

PROPER ATTIRE FOR COMMENCEMENT

Commencement is foremost a formal event. As such, men should wear light or whit business/button-up shirts preferably with a tie. Dark trousers are also preferred. No shorts, cargo pants or sports/lounge wear. Do not wear denim in any color. Dark socks and dress shoes are preferred. Dark non-descript shoes with no logos, patterns or multiple colors are permitted. No flip flops or shoes that smack the feet while walking, nor croc style shoes, please.

Women should wear dark clothing. Dresses are permitted; sleeves are preferred. No string or strap style dresses or blouses without a sweater or shrug worn over them during commencement. No slip-on sandals (or shoes without a back sling) or flip flops that smack the feet while walking.

Caps are to be worn with mortarboards level and tassels draped by the right temples. Gowns should be well up on the shoulders and back. Please allow your gown to hang for several days before graduation to allow the wrinkles to fall out. Consider steaming the gown if possible.

We ask that students refrain from decorating their caps or wearing cords or stoles that are not awarded by Ohio Christian University.

INFORMATION ON PROCESS FOR ORDERING COMING SOON.

Caps and gowns should be ordered from Jostens.

Associate of Arts gowns and caps are solid black with a blue and white tassel.

Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science gowns and caps are black and blue with blue and white tassels.

Master’s gowns and caps are black with blue and white tassels. Business students should receive a drab (tan) hood with their cap and gown. Ministry students should receive a white hood with their cap and gown. Education students should receive a blue hood with their cap and gown.

Students are responsible for ordering their caps and gowns. OCU cannot be accountable for caps and gowns on the day of commencement. It is requested that students do not decorate their mortarboards or wear additional stoles during commencement.

To maintain uniformity, we ask that students purchase or borrow regalia from someone who has bought their regalia from our Jostens store previously. Students who are borrowing regalia from someone may need to order specific parts of the regalia outfit (tassels/charms/caps). Please let us know if this is you before the regalia order deadline so we can make sure we can order extras.

Students are responsible to order their caps and gowns. Ohio Christian University CIRCLEVILLE, OH | Jostens

The deadline to have it shipped to campus has passed.

The deadline to have it shipped to your home or an alternate address is March 27th, 2026.

To maintain uniformity, we ask that students purchase or borrow regalia from someone who has bought their regalia from Jostens store previously. If you choose to use an alternate supplier, you should use Jostens regalia photos to compare before purchasing. We do not recommend this option, however, if you purchase or borrow regalia other than directly from Jostens, you still need to notify the commencement team that you have secured regalia. This way they are aware you are correctly prepared for commencement. You should send this notification to commencement@ohiochristian.edu.

The Registrar’s office does sell tassels, caps and zipper pulls. We have a limited number for each sale. Each item is $15 each and will finish out your regalia appropriately for commencement. The tassel and the cap are required. The zipper pull is recommended. Once these items are all sold out, we do not anticipate ordering more before commencement. If we have some left, they will be available the day of commencement. Once those are gone, again, there will be no more available. Please secure these items as soon as possible.

To purchase these items, we take cash, checks and debit/credit cards. Just stop by the registrar’s office or send an email to commencement@ohiochristian.edu.

It is respectfully requested that students do not decorate their mortarboards (caps) for the commencement ceremony.

All caps (mortarboards) and gowns must be Ohio Christian University-approved for all commencement ceremonies.

All stoles, cords, and medallions must be from organizations or honors officially recognized by Ohio Christian University.

All Graduates

Graduation announcements are available through Connections, the OCU Bookstore. Graduates may also order announcements through Jostens. There is an additional fee for graduation announcements.

All Graduates

As a graduate, you will have an opportunity to be a part of our Blue Cord Campaign.

OCU’s Blue Cord Campaign creates ongoing support of the scholarship fund and fosters the Alumni Association.  Legacy scholarship contributions will help the university continue preparing legacy students for leadership in their careers and service to the Church and society.

More information can be found at https://www.ohiochristian.edu/blue

All Graduates

Yes. Ohio Christian University is a military friendly school. All current and former military members will be given a red, white, and blue cord to wear at commencement. You will pick this cord up during graduate check-in or mailed in your diploma packet if you do not attend commencement.

All Graduates

Commencement participants will not receive their diploma at the commencement ceremony.  Learners complete requirements year round and diplomas are mailed with unofficial degree conferred transcript.

All Graduates

• If you completed your program requirements earlier in the school year, you may have already received your diploma and final transcript.
• Diplomas are processed within 2-4 weeks of degree conferral. After processing, diplomas are delivered within 8-10 weeks. This means a diploma will be delivered 10-12 weeks from the date of conferral.
• Diplomas are mailed to address indicated on the Intent to Graduate Form. if your address changes after submitting your ITGF, please email registrar@ohiochristian.edu with your updated address.
• Diplomas cannot be sent while there is an outstanding financial obligation to the University. If a student has an outstanding balance, they must rectify it before their diploma will be sent. Once rectified, the University Registrar’s Office will be notified by the Financial Aid office and will process your diploma accordingly.
• If you complete all requirements by graduation time, your diploma will be mailed to you following the graduation ceremony. This process typically takes 4-6 weeks because of the large number of graduates who are finishing at that time.
• Online students completing their degree in late March through April will experience a longer wait time as we suspend mailing diplomas in the month of April as we prepare for the Commencement Ceremony.
• All of this is subject to change.

All Graduates

Undergraduate students will receive a diploma that is 8.5″ x 11″. Diplomas are mailed with a diploma cover before commencement when a student is not participating in commencement. If you participate in commencement, you will receive your diploma cover as you walk across the stage. Your diploma will be mailed once all degree requirements and financial obligations to the University have been met.

Diploma frames are available for purchase through the Connections Bookstore. 

All Graduates

The conferral statement (“Ohio Christian University … has conferred, etc.”)

• Your full name, written as you specify on your Intent to Graduate Form.
• The name of your degree: Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts,  Associate of Science or Associate of Arts
  • Majors and other degree components are not listed on the diploma. These items are recorded on your official transcript.
• The official signatures

All Graduates

The name on your diploma is obtained from the Intent to Graduate Form. This is also how your name will show in the commencement program.

Titles are not included on the diploma. Ohio Christian University reserves the right to remove any titles for the diploma and commencement program.

All Graduates

Yes, you can request a new diploma through the University Registrar’s office. You can email them at registrar@ohiochristian.edu. There is a form to complete and a replacement fee of $25.

College of Adult and Graduate Studies

Yes, the diploma shows completion of the Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts program requirements.

All Graduates

Official transcripts can be requested through one of our third-party encryption services. Once you order it through either StudnetClearingHouse.org OR Parchement.com, it takes approximately 2-3 business days for your order to be fulfilled. More information is located at the University Registrar’s Office. More information is located at https://myocu.ohiochristian.edu/myocu/transcript-request

Requirements

Please refer to the Academic Catalog for Academic Honors requirements.

Residential Students: Click Here There may be additional departmental honor societies for residential students. Please contact your Academic Advisor for more information.

College of Adult and Graduate Studies Students: Click Here

Honor Cords

Online Recipients of Academic Honors must have successfully reached a 3.5 or higher cumulative GPA by April 1st, 2026. For Traditional students, this goal must be reached by the end of Fall Semester 2025. Any Student who are Bachelor graduates and who have completed their Bachelor degree requirements prior to Commencement will be presented their cords at graduation. If you do not participate in commencement, your Honors cords will be sent in their diploma packet mailing.

Residential Campus & School of Online Learning

Please contact your Academic Advisor for more information about honor societies. If you are unsure who your Academic Advisor is, log in to SONIS or visit the University Registrar’s Office or visit the Academic Advisor page (requires login).

For our students pursuing a bachelor’s degree, academic excellence is promoted within the student body.  A concerted effort is made to encourage students to succeed in their scholastic work and to experience affirmation in their college careers.   Students who have earned at least 60 credit hours in residency in course work which assign letter grades that affect the student’s cumulative GPA must meet the following criteria:

• Summa Cum Laude (with highest honors): cumulative grade point average of 3.90 or above.
• Magna Cum Laude (with high honors): cumulative grade point average of 3.75-3.89.
• Cum Laude (with honors): cumulative grade point average of 3.50-3.74.

These same students who have earned between 40 and 59.9 credit hours in residency in course work which assign letter grades that affect the student’s cumulative GPA must meet the following criteria:

• Summa Cum Laude (with highest honors): cumulative grade point average of 3.95 or above.
• Magna Cum Laude (with high honors): cumulative grade point average of 3.80-3.94.
• Cum Laude (with honors): cumulative grade point average of 3.55-3.79.

Recipients of Academic Honors must have successfully completed all course work before receiving their honors cords.  Students who are regular graduates and who have completed their degree requirements prior to Commencement will be presented their cords at graduation.

Please note that Master’s students are not eligible for Academic Honors. By tradition, a Master’s degree requires a B average in order to graduate, meaning all Master students would qualify for honors. 

Please note that Associate degrees are not eligible for Latin Academic Honors.

Ohio Commencement

Children who are 2 years or younger are able to participate with out a ticket as long as they are sitting on someone’s lap. If they are unable to sit on someone’s lap, they are required to have a ticket.

All Graduates

If you have a guest that requires special accommodations, please email commencement@ohiochristian.edu no later than two weeks before your commencement ceremony with that information. You may also include this information on your Intent to Graduate Form.