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2025-2026 Commencement Ceremony
Ceremony & Check-In Times
Associate of Science, Certificates, & Adult Education
Ceremony: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 - 9:30 a.m.
Graduate Check-In: Graduates must arrive at check-in between 7:45 - 8:15 a.m.
Associate of Arts
Ceremony: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 - 2 p.m.
Graduate Check-In: Graduates must arrive at check-in between 11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Bachelor's
Ceremony: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 - 6:30 p.m.
Graduate Check-In: Graduates must arrive at check-in between 4:45 - 5:15 p.m.

Important Dates & Deadlines - Fall 2025 Completers
Fall 2025 Completers
- First day to apply for Graduation: August 25, 2025*
- Last day to apply for Graduation: October 1, 2025
- Commencement Ceremony Participation: Register to Walk between December 22, 2025 and March 23, 2026***
- For Registered Walkers: Grad Info Packet Pickup: April 1 – April 30, 2026 at Daytona Campus B100 R 208. Packet contains info protected by FERPA laws and will be issued to student only.
- Commencement Ceremony: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 Ocean Center, Daytona Beach, FL.
- Degree conferred: by approx. December 22, 2025
- Diplomas mailed: January 16, 2026

Spring 2026 Completers
Spring 2026 Completers
- First day to apply for Graduation: January 20, 2026*
- Last day to apply for Graduation: March 1, 2026
- Commencement Ceremony Participation: Register to Walk between January 20, 2026 and March 23, 2026*** to be included in the Commencement Book and the Commencement Ceremony.
- Students that Register to Walk after March 23, 2026 will not have their name listed in the published Commencement Book and will not be eligible to participate in the Commencement Ceremony.**
- For Registered Walkers: Grad Info Packet Pickup: April 1 – April 30, 2026 at Daytona Campus B100 R208. Packet contains info protected by FERPA laws and will be issued to student only.
- Commencement Ceremony: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 Ocean Center, Daytona Beach, FL.
- Degree conferred: by approx. May 20, 2026
- Diplomas mailed: June 5, 2026

Summer 2026 Completers
Summer 2026 Completers
- First day to apply: January 20, 2026*
- Summer Completers that wish to Walk in the ceremony - Last day to apply: March 1, 2026.
- Summer Completers that do not wish to Walk in the ceremony - Last day to apply: June 1, 2026.
- Commencement Ceremony Participation: Register to Walk between January 20, 2026 and March 23, 2026*** to be included in the Commencement Book and the Commencement Ceremony.
- Students that Register To Walk after March 23, 2026 will not have their name listed in the published Commencement Book and will not be eligible to participate in the Commencement Ceremony.**
- For Registered Walkers: Grad Info Packet Pickup: April 1 – April 30, 2026 at Daytona Campus B100 R208. Packet contains info protected by FERPA laws and will be issued to student only.
- Commencement Ceremony: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 Ocean Center, Daytona Beach, FL.
- Degree conferred: by approx. August 22, 2026
- Diplomas mailed: September 3, 2026
For Cap, tassel and gown purchase, please visit Daytona State Graduation Shop by Jostens
*You must apply for graduation to be awarded, even if you do NOT wish to walk in the Commencement ceremony.
**You must apply for graduation In Fall or Spring term - you do not need to have all requirements met before your apply for graduation, but your last term must be in this Academic year, Fall Spring or Summer.
***You must submit your Grad Application by the deadline posted above.
After you have applied for graduation, you must Register to Walk in your portal under ACADEMICS/ REGISTER TO WALK, before the 03/23/2026 deadline to participate in Commencement.
NOTE: If you are completing in Fall 2025, Spring 2026 or Summer 2026 –and have Applied for Grad, Registered to Walk, picked up your Grad Info packet and purchased your cap, tassel and gown – you may Walk in the ceremony no matter what your grad status is: Applied, In Review, Pending or Denied.
Walking is not an indication of completion. Degree is not conferred or printed until all requirements are met.
FAQ
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How do I know if I'm ready to graduate? Check to see if everything is marked Satisfied with the current in-progress courses on Enroll by My Requirements in Falcon Self-Service.
If you're not sure, meet with an Academic Advisor or your academic program Department Chair prior to submitting your graduation application if you have any questions.
If you are in your last term for the program, please complete the graduation application and pay the grad fee in your student portal under Academics/ Graduation/Apply for graduation. You must apply for grad to be awarded, even if you do not wish to Walk in the May ceremony. Your records will be reviewed by the Department Chair, and you will receive emails to your DSC FalconMail email regarding grad status changes. See chart below. When you are Chair Approved for graduation, your graduation status will be changed to “Pending Final Review” which means pending the end of the full term when grades are posted. If your status is “Denied” please see an Academic Advisor to resolve the issue as soon as possible. Denied status does not count against you in any way and does not appear anywhere on your records; it is strictly for your information that more requirements need to be met. If Denied is not corrected by end of term, your grad application will be moved to the next term for review.
Graduation Statuses Students see in Student Portal under Graduation Status
Applied for Graduation
Program in Review
Pending Final Review
Denied -
How do I submit a graduation application? - Students can submit grad applications in Fall and in Spring - Check the graduation application deadline on the Academic Calendar to make sure you don't miss the window to apply. If you do miss the deadline, you'll have to wait until next semester begins to apply. You must apply for graduation to be awarded, even if you so not wish to Walk in the May ceremony.
- The Graduation application is available on the MyDaytonaState portal by logging into Falcon Self-Service under the Academics > Graduation.
- The graduation fee is due during the online application process. If you'd like to pay in person or over the phone, you may pay by phone to the Student Accounts office 386-506-3024. You must still complete the online Graduation Application after paying by phone! The system will skip the payment process.
- Spring & Summer graduates must Apply for Graduation and Register to Walk when Spring term begins and before the deadline, March 23, 2026, in order to be included in the Commencement Book and Commencement participation.
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What are the graduation fees? You only pay for each diploma type once - additional of the same level are free. So, if you're graduating with multiple degrees at the same time, or you come back and complete an additional degree (of the same level) in another semester, you don't have to pay again!
Certificate (Vocational, AS certificates, etc.)
$22 non-refundable feeAssociate of Arts & Associate of Science (2-year degrees)
$32 non-refundable feeBaccalaureate
$32 non-refundable feePayments are made during the online application process or you can pre-pay through the Student Accounts office. You must still complete the online Graduation Application if pay by phone or in person.
If you have dire financial hardship and need help paying the graduation fee, apply for a Grad Fee Waiver to be considered for fee waiver.
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Is the GED application process different? Yes, GED graduates apply using the GED Ceremony Application. See your instructor or GED Coordinator. GED graduates may Walk in the May ceremony if added to the list by their GED coordinator.
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When will I get my diploma? Once all requirements are met and the full term has ended, your diploma is mailed to the address you entered on your graduation application about 3-4 weeks after the end of the term your degree was awarded. Check the Academic Calendar for the mail by date. If you move, be sure to update your home address and phone number before the end of your graduating term on Falcon Self-Service.
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How do I qualify for Honors or High Honors status? We use your combined cumulative GPA when you apply for graduation to determine Honors or High Honors status. For certificates and associate degrees, A minimum GPA of 3.50 is needed for Honors and a minimum GPA of 3.80 is needed for High Honors. For Bachelor’s degrees, the honors range from 3.5 – 3.74 for cum laude; 3.75 - 3.89 for magna cum laude and 3.9 - 4.0 for summa cum laude. If your GPA changes after final grades are in, resulting in receiving Honors or High Honors status, this will be recognized on your diploma and final transcript, but will not be changed for the ceremony. For the published commencement book, only the cumulative GPA from the previous fall semester is used to determine Honors or High Honors status.
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I'm transferring, how do I order an official transcript? You can order a transcript on Falcon Self-Service from the Academics menu. If you are graduating and need the official transcript to show the awarded degree, please select the process option “Hold for Degree” if degrees are not yet awarded and posted to your records.
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How do I register to participate in the Commencement Ceremony? You must first Apply for Graduation to be eligible to Register to Walk. After applying for graduation, log into Falcon Self-Service portal Under Academics> Register to Walk by March 23, 2026. This is a strict deadline; it is a publish date and must be met. You must Register to Walk to register you for participation in the ceremony and to have your name printed in this year's commencement booklet. If you miss the deadline, you will not be included in the ceremony participation RSVP list and your name will not be printed in the booklet. There is no fee for the tickets - students may reserve up to 6 tickets. Additional guests may receive a ticket at the door for no charge. If capacity is reached, additional tickets may not be available. Friends and family may also watch the Live Stream - Links will be posted on the DSC website prior to the ceremony.
For Fall Graduates
Register to Walk opens when Fall term ends in December. Log into Falcon Self-Service under Academics> Register to Walk. If you do not have access as a current student, login as an Alumni. From the Alumni Home screen, go to the Graduation > Register to Walk tile, then select your degree and the number of guest tickets you would like to reserve. Be certain you know how many tickets you need, your selection for number of tickets cannot be changed. The time for your ceremony will display on your confirmation message. Please make note of the ceremony start time - you must arrive 1.5 hours early to your ceremony time.
For Spring & Summer Graduates
Apply for Graduation and Register to Walk opens when Spring term begins. Spring and Summer completers may apply for grad once Spring term begins. Log into Falcon Self-Service. Under Academics > Register to Walk, select your degree and the number of guest tickets you would like reserve. Be certain you know how many tickets you need, your selection for number of tickets cannot be changed. The time for your ceremony will display on your confirmation message. Please make note of the ceremony start time - you must arrive 1.5 hours early to your ceremony time.
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How do I pick up my reserved ceremony tickets? Students may pick up tickets in April only. APRIL is Grad Info Packet Pick Up Month. The Grad Info Packet includes your reserved tickets, student parking pass, and commencement instruction letter. After you have applied for graduation and registered to walk, your Grad Info Packet will be available for student to pick up from April 1 – April 30.
Pick up your Grad Info Packet anytime during normal business hours in April. Bring your photo ID to the Daytona Beach Campus Records Office (Wetherell Center, building 100, room 208). No appointment is necessary. Student must pick up the Grad Info Packet so that ceremony day instructions may be reviewed with student.
Note: Grad Info packets contain information protected by FERPA laws and will be issued to student only. Student must pick up their own packet with photo ID so that ceremony day instructions may be reviewed with student, there is no rehearsal. If you cannot pickup your packet, you must email graduation@daytonastate.edu for options.
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How do I get my cap and gown? Where can I purchase Cap and Gown regalia for the ceremony?
If you plan to participate in the ceremony, you may purchase your cap, gown, and tassel through this link:
Daytona State Graduation Shop by Jostens
Select the cap and gown for the degree you are earning: Certificate (black), Associates (black), or Bachelors (blue). Complete Cap, tassel and gown packages are available at the link above.
All Daytona State College tassels are blue and silver mixed silk thread with a year charm.
If you have a cap and gown in the appropriate color, and do not need to purchase a cap and gown, you still must purchase the tassel from the Daytona State College webstore at the Jostens website link above to be in compliance with the academic year regalia.
Cap and gown must be purchased by mid- March to allow time for delivery. Please check with the Jostens Falcon’s webstore for deadline and ship dates.
For questions regarding availability and sale dates, please contact the DSC Bookstore (386) 506-3234
How do I get my cap and gown?
You may select home delivery or ship to school in the ordering process. Cap and Gown Packages are shipped by Jostens after you purchase online. Cap and Gowns are not available for purchase at the DSC Bookstore.
Cap, tassel and gown must be purchased through the DSC Webstore by Jostens. Click the link to order:
Daytona State Graduation Shop by Jostens
When is the deadline for cap and gown purchase?
The deadline to purchase regalia is set by Jostens Falcon’s webstore. Please read the order processing notes carefully on the JostensFalcon’s webstore. This will ensure that your cap and gown are delivered prior to the ceremony date.
Make sure you order in time for 3 week delivery. You must have your cap, gown, tassel when you check in on the day of the ceremony.
How do I get my honors regalia?
For students with GPA honors, honors sashes and tassels are handed out at the ceremony when you check-in. There is no charge for GPA honors regalia. Honors Society or organization cords must be purchased through your membership with the DSC affiliated organization or society.
Office of Records & Graduation
Contact Us
Graduation@DaytonaState.edu
(386) 506-3876