Graduation and diploma services

Don’t see the answers you’re looking for?

Here’s how to reach the Mane Desk for help:

☎️ 214-768-5555
📧  registrar@smu.edu
🚶🏾 Blanton Student Services Building, Suite 101

 

What you'll find here: Applying for commencement, information on diplomas. Visit the Academic Ceremonies page for information on commencement tickets, parking, ceremony livestreams and more. See the Degree Honors page for information on graduation summa cum laude, magna cum laude or cum laude.

Applying for commencement

How do I participate in a ceremony?

Apply through my.SMU and file an Application for Candidacy to Graduate or Intent to Participate Form with your school’s records office. The deadline to file for graduation for each conferral term is the census date of that term. A $30 late fee may be applied to your account if the Registrar’s Office receives an Application for Candidacy to Graduate (ACG) after the last day to file.

Note: Doctoral candidates must complete all degree requirements prior to participation in a Commencement ceremony.

Is there a statute of limitations for a degree plan?

A student who has been readmitted to the University following an absence of more than three years will be expected to meet all current requirements for graduation.

Diplomas

You have a few options for obtaining a certified diploma. You may order a new diploma through our official diploma vendor, Michael Sutter Company, and have it shipped directly to our office for certification. Or, if you already have your diploma, you may either bring it to our office or mail it to us, and we will complete the certification process for you. The cost for the certification by our Notary is $15 in addition to the cost of the diploma.

Physical Address
Laura Lee Blanton Building
6185 Airline Road
Suite 101
Dallas, TX 75205  		Mailing Address
Southern Methodist University
University Registrar
P.O. Box 750181
Dallas, TX 75275 

You may also purchase a set of three notarized letters that contain copies of your diploma for $15. Each notarized diploma letter includes the Associate Registrar’s signature, the Notary’s seal and signature, and the Notary’s commission expiration date. To request the notarized copies of your diploma please visit the SMU Marketplace. Select Degree Certification and Apostille

When placing an order through the SMU Marketplace, you will have the option to include a notarized copy of your official transcript in the order. Please note that an order for the official transcript needs to be placed through the National Student Clearinghouse in order to fulfill the request.

Please reach out to Degree and Certification for more detailed information.

There are two options to get the Apostille seal:

  1. You can authorize release of the certified diploma to the Texas Secretary of State's Office using this form.
  2. You can forward the certified diploma with instructions to the Texas Secretary of State's Office.

For both options, you will need to complete and submit forms 2101 and 2102 on this page.

Submit in person (room 106) or by mail to:

Secretary of State
Authentications Unit
P.O. Box 13550
Austin, TX 78711

For additional assistance, contact the Graduation and Certification team at desrodg@smu.edu or 214-768-5555.

You can order one through our official diploma vendor, the Michael Sutter Company. It can take 2-3 weeks for the new diploma to arrive.

*Effective June 1, 2026* – eDiplomas are now available

Your Southern Methodist University (SMU) eDiploma is a signed and certified  pdf. of your original paper diploma used for easy diploma verification purposes. The SMU eDiploma is a one-time charge of $14.95. You will receive your eDiploma within minutes of ordering. You can then share your eDiploma as often as you need.  eDiplomas may be ordered via the website  http://michaelsutter.com/smu.

Spring 2026 Graduates
Once your diploma has shipped from Michael Sutter, Inc. and you receive the confirmation email, you will have the ability to place an order for an eDiploma. Diplomas are scheduled to ship beginning Friday, June 12.

Yes. You can do so through my.SMU, unless you are an international student — in which case your name must match documents with the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) office.

This will change the name on your diploma only. Your academic records, such as your transcript, still will display your primary name. Discrepancies can cause delays for international processes.

You can’t change your name to anything profane, explicit, or vulgar in nature. If you do so, your primary name (legal name) will be used.

Your diploma will be mailed directly from the vendor to your diploma address in my.SMU. If no diploma address is listed, your diploma will be mailed to your listed home address.

You will receive an e-mail conformation when your diploma has shipped.

If you owe money to the University, you will not receive your diploma until your account has been cleared.

Diploma mailing schedule:

  • Fall diplomas: late January
  • Spring diplomas: mid-June
  • Summer diplomas: late August

Your diploma will contain your name, degree name, conferral date, signature of the academic deans, and the officials who are currently in office. Majors are printed on the diplomas along with earned degree honors when applicable.

All diplomas are issues in an 11” x 14” format. Prior to Summer 2025, undergraduate diplomas were produced in 8 ½ “x 11 format.

Please note: All replacement undergraduate diplomas will print on the current 11” x 14” diploma stock, regardless of the size of the original diploma issued.