For your name to appear in the commencement ceremony program and virtual presentation, you will need to apply to graduate according to the deadline set by Registration and Records.
Please note, your name will not appear at all if you have a FERPA hold set up in your MyNIU privacy settings. You will need to request a FERPA change before graduate application deadlines.
Updated 1/8/21
The university continues to monitor the pandemic to determine when an in-person ceremony will be possible and will notify graduating students when decisions are made.
Please make sure you update your personal email in MyNIU and keep checking your student email and this website to keep updated.
Added 1/8/21
The university has not established a date for an in-person commencement ceremony for 2020 graduates. The university continues to work with state and local health departments to determine how to hold such an event in a way that ensures everyone stays safe and healthy. It is our hope to be able to invite you back to campus to formally celebrate your accomplishment. Please continue to monitor this website for updates and update your contact information at MyNIU to ensure you receive communications after graduation.
Updated 12/1/20
Yes, you may come to campus to take photos. Please visit Protecting the Pack for all NIU safety guidelines.
Updated 9/9/20
Updated 12/17/20
Students will receive two programs. Additional copies are available as a PDF from the commencement website. Please note that if while you were a student at NIU you requested a FERPA hold that precluded release of their name it will not appear in the commencement program. Information about this topic can be found the Registration and Records website.
Added 12/1/2020
Beginning in fall 2020, the university updated their contract for student regalia to become direct ship and charged directly to graduates. This is consistent with the practice of institutions across the state who charge a graduation fee to cover the cost of diploma covers, validating and printing degrees, etc. and either include a fee for regalia or have students pay separately. Regretfully, the current fee has not covered this amount and the university can no longer subsidize the regalia costs.
The graduation fee is not a part of the commencement ceremony costs. The graduation fee that our graduates pay is one of the lowest fees in the state. It simply helps offset a portion of the costs of validating, preparing and shipping your diploma and diploma cover, and is not refundable.
Please confirm on MyNIU that your address is correct for the December shipping of your diploma, diploma cover and commencement program, and watch your email for upcoming communications about the virtual ceremony.
Yes, you will be given the opportunity again when an in-person ceremony is scheduled.
No, the diplomas are shipped directly from the vendor and will arrive separately. The diploma cover and programs will be sent from the university starting in January to the permanent mailing address in the MyNIU system.
Added 12/1/2020
No. Diplomas will be mailed directly from the vendor. This is estimated to begin in early February 2021 for students who have met all their graduation requirements. Further, please note that you must clear any monetary or other obligations to the university to receive your diploma. You can check diploma status after 6-8 weeks.
Updated 12/2/2020
These items will be mailed to the Permanent Address listed in your MyNIU account. Please review your listing to ensure that everything is mailed to your preferred address.
Due to COVID-19, we are unable to ship to foreign addresses. Please provide an address in the United States for shipping. If this is not possible, please email commencement@niu.edu so we can explore other options with you. In order to receive your diploma, please also update your permanent address in MyNIU.
Added 12/1/2020