Frequently Asked Questions

You must Apply to Graduate through MyCSULB Student Center to be eligible to graduate (this is related to degree completion; not solely to commencement participation):

Apply to Graduate - Undergraduate Students

Apply to Graduate - Graduate Students

Step-by-step instructions here. 

If you have questions on the application process, please email CSULB Enrollment Services at es-registration@csulb.edu. You can also access this information in your MyCSULB student portal here (link). 

Check your Grad Status after applying by referring to the following instructions (PDF) and/or visiting your My CSULB student portal (link). 

This non-refundable fee helps cover the costs associated with the final preparation for graduation and the awarding of a student’s degree. 

The fee, set by the university, includes the following services:

• Commencement ceremonies
• Degree audit and evaluation by advisors throughout the year
• Creating and mailing each student’s diploma

Refunds are not given as the fee pays for services already performed. Currently, there are no waivers for the Apply to Graduate fee.

For a full description of the process and the fee, please go to: Student Records - Apply to Graduate- What happens after I Apply to Graduate.  Full dates, deadlines, and fee schedules can be found on the Enrollment Services page here.

Please see the following PDF with instructions (PDF) or visit your MyCSULB student portal (link) and follow the instructions to check, or email CSULB Enrollment Services at es-registration@csulb.edu.

Please see application dates and ranges in the chart below and here:

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If you missed the deadline, you can still apply with a late fee charged in addition to the Apply to Graduate fee.

Full dates, deadlines, and fee schedules can be found on the Enrollment Services page here.

When you Apply to Graduate, select your last term of study. For instance, if your final term before completing your degree is Fall 2026, choose Fall 2026 from the dropdown menu. Do not select Spring 2026 as your graduation term if you are only participating in the Spring 2026 ceremonies, as the ceremony is not directly tied to your graduation term.

If you submit your application after the deadline, there is no assurance that your name will be included in the online graduate recognition program since the deadline is March 1st. Additionally, make sure to contact commencement@csulb.edu to request inclusion, providing your name, ID, college, and major, and we will add you to future communications.

To be included in the official commencement program and have access to the RSVP platform, Tassel, you must complete the Apply to Graduate process. This adds you to our commencement database, granting you access to RSVP and Tassel in your student portal. We use this information for name reading, stage display, and inclusion in your college's Graduate Recognition Program.

If you miss the Apply to Graduate deadline (March 1), contact commencement@csulb.edu to request inclusion into the RSVP (Tassel) portal, providing your name, ID, college, and major, and we will add you to future communications. 

Students who do not record their name pronunciation before Tassel closes on April 21 will still have their name read aloud by a name reader as you they cross the stage, but it will not be displayed on screen. You also won't be included in the printed Graduate Recognition Program (though we can add you after June 1).

If you have completed the Apply to Graduate process (discussed above), the Tassel RSPV tile will be visible in your SSO dashboard on March 17. Through Tassel, you can confirm your attendance, record your name pronunciation, and redeem guest tickets.

Honors based on GPA are not acknowledged during the ceremony since GPAs are computed only after the degree has been officially conferred, typically several weeks after the semester concludes. If you have already graduated before the ceremony and are aware of your final GPA, you have the option to buy an honor cord at the University Bookstore. Additionally, you can indicate your honor level through personalized graduation announcements, which are also available at the Bookstore.

For inquiries regarding honors specific to your major, please reach out to your college coordinator.

If you need to change your graduation term, please reach out to your academic advisor. You will NOT need to reapply to graduate nor pay the fee again if you already paid. You do NOT need to let us know.

Tassel is an online platform that issues students their GradPass (necessary for entry into the ceremony), manages student information for display on the digital displays during the ceremony (including name, major, degree, and college), and offers the capability for students to record the pronunciation of their names for professional name recorders for stage crossing announcements. 

NOTE: You do NOT order your cap tassels from here. This is just the name of the platform. Order your regalia (cap, gown, tassel, hood, sashes, cords, etc.) from the Bookstore.

Students are not required to actively "sign up" for Tassel. When you go through the Apply to Graduate process, your details are then uploaded to the Tassel database. Once the Tassel portal becomes accessible on March 17, it will be available through your CSULB SSO.

If you plan to attend your ceremony, log in to Tassel to verify that all information is accurate. You will pick up your Tassel GradPass on THE DAY OF YOUR CEREMONY at Graduate Check-in. This GradPass serves as your ticket to participate—no separate ticket is required for graduates.

Professional name readers will record the names for all who have submitted their RSVP and name pronunciation on Tassel while the portal is open March 17 - April 21. This is required for your name to appear as you cross the stage, and for your name to be announced as you cross the stage. 

To ensure your inclusion in Tassel, apply to graduate by the March 1 deadline. If you applied after this date, please inform us at commencement@csulb.edu before April 21 so we can facilitate Tassel access.

NOTE: You do NOT order your cap tassels from here. This is just the name of the platform. Order your regalia (cap, gown, tassel, hood, sashes, cords, etc.) from the Bookstore.

Tassel will open March 17 and closeson April 21, 2026 at 11:59 PM. DO NOT delay logging in until April 21, as there is a risk of potential crashes. It's crucial to note that once Tassel closes, even in the event of a crash, there is no means of accessing it thereafter, even for university administration, as it is a third party platform. Tassel is open for a significant amount of time to allow grads to access with plenty of time. 

NOTE: You do NOT order your cap tassels from here. This is just the name of the platform. Order your regalia (cap, gown, tassel, hood, sashes, cords, etc.) from the Bookstore.

Credential students are notrequired to submit a graduation application. However, their access to the RSVP portal and Tassel login may be delayed because we typically receive a comprehensive list of credential candidates from the College of Education in late March. Rest assured, you will still have ample time to RSVP, redeem your guest tickets, and personalize your name and access your information in Tassel before the portal's closing deadline of April 21, 2026. We kindly request that you access these portals as soon as your college notifies you that they have submitted the list to us, usually in late March.

For more information about your regalia please visit or contact the University Bookstore. All the information you need can be also accessed at https://www.csulb.edu/beach-shops/graduation-central. They will also host a Grad Fair, March 9-12. 

Graduates: Please note that you will put on your regalia after proceeding through security at the Grad Check-In. Grad Check-In opens 90 minutes before your ceremony. 

Fall graduates have two options: you can participate in either the Spring ceremony the semester before or the Spring ceremony the semester after your official graduation term. Please note that there is no Fall commencement ceremony.

CSULB does not presently conduct ceremonies in the Fall. If you graduate in the Fall, you can choose to participate in the Spring ceremony either before or after your last semester.

Cultural celebrations are hosted each spring by the Division of Student Affairs and student organizations. For more information, please visit the Cultural Celebrations website or contact the office of the  Division of Student Affairs. Our office coordinates the campus-wide commencement celebrations and any questions related to cultural celebrations must be addressed to the Division of Student Affairs. 

Commencement serves as the celebratory event dedicated to acknowledging students who have completed their degree or are in the process of doing so. Our office specifically manages the coordination of Commencement celebrations and ceremonies.

Please be aware that CSULB organizes annual commencement ceremonies at the conclusion of the spring semester for students meeting their degree requirements. There is currently no fall commencement ceremony. Summer and fall graduates have the option to participate in the May commencement ceremony either before or after completing their degree. To do so, they must apply for graduation via MyCSULB Student Center (link) in the spring semester of the year they plan to participate.

For questions about commencement ceremonies, please contact commencement@csulb.edu.

Graduation fulfills your degree requirements. Taking part in the commencement ceremony does not imply or guarantee graduation or the receipt of honors. 

Enrollment Servicesmanages all aspects related to graduation, eligibility, degree checks, diplomas, changing name on diploma, class credit, grades, name and address changes, adding/removing FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act), and graduation status. 

For inquiries regarding degree progress or graduation matters, please reach out to Enrollment Services at es-registration@csulb.edu.

The Center for International Education (CIE) handles visa letter requests for those living outside of the country who want to attend commencement. They can be reached at cie-student@csulb.edu.

No pets except service animals are allowed. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service animal as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Dogs or therapy animals whose function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals. Service dogs must be under the handler's control at all times. 

Please contact BMAC@csulb.edu if you have any questions.  

Noisemakers and confetti are NOT allowed.

Per policy, all banners and signs brought into the venue must meet the following guidelines: 

• Must be in good taste (as determined by CSULB personnel).
• Cannot be commercial, political or obscene in nature.
• May not be affixed to any wall, staff, or pole.
• Limited in size to 3 feet tall by 4 feet wide and be made of a fire retardant material.
• Cannot impede entry or exit into aisles or seating, and are NOT ALLOWED in the graduate processional line.
• Faces on sticks are acceptable.
• You may not bring anything in that obstructs the view of other guests or poses a safety risk to anyone (i.e large banners, flags, umbrellas).

Please fill out the following form for Disability-Related Accommodations (link) by May 1. 

Wheelchair seating is available, with one companion seat. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. CSULB does not provide wheelchair loans or mobility assistance. Guests may rent mobility equipment by contacting off-campus vendors ahead of the ceremony: 

• Mozena Medical Supplies and Equipment
• John's Shop-Rite Pharmacy + Medical Supply

ASL Interpreters and Real-Time Captioning will be available at Commencement. 

Live translation into Spanish will be available through your mobile device. Be sure to bring your personal headphones.

ADA parking is available for holders of state-issued disabled parking placards or plates. This will be enforced for all parking lots.

• Tickets: Graduates will be allotted TEN (10) tickets each. There will be NO wait list nor any additional tickets available. Tickets are FREE. Tickets are required by all guests to access all commencement ceremonies. Guests will be required to show event tickets to enter the venue. Graduates must be prepared to show a student or photo ID to receive a GradPass. Please allow ample time to proceed through security, check-in, and line-up. Children 3 yrs old and older are required to have a ticket. Under 3 yrs old MUST sit in a lap.
• Security Checks: All persons will be required to consent to security checks, which will include walk-through security screenings through a metal detector at the gates. CLEAR BAGS ONLY (do not exceed 12.75" x 6.5" x 12.75) are allowed inside the venue. Guests will be asked to return their belongings to their car or bag check the items at the front of the line.
• Prohibited Items:
  • Do not bring anything that blocks or obstructs others’ view of the event. NO umbrellas are allowed.
  • Costumes and masks that create security concerns or unwarranted disruption will not be permitted.
• Bag Policy:
  • Clear bags (plastic or vinyl) with no obscured interior pockets that do not exceed 12.75" x 6.5" x 12.75".
  • Diaper bags are not permitted; all necessary items must be in a clear bag that meets the requirements above.
  • Backpacks are not permitted.
• Disruption: Please be respectful of all guests. Refrain from disruptive behavior, including noisemaking, harassment, throwing objects, or any actions that may compromise safety.
  • Please be aware that distribution of flyers is not permitted.
  • The use of any device that prevents or impedes others from hearing programmed speakers is not permitted.
  • Disruptive behavior will result in removal from the venue. The venue may also cancel or interrupt the event for safety reasons.

Thank you in advance for your attention and compliance to ensure all graduates and guests can equally experience our Beach Commencement ceremonies.

The CSULB Bookstore offers free portrait sessions with GradImages throughout the Spring semester! Please visit the Bookstore's Grad Central page for more information on how to register.