Graduation Information

Degrees and Diplomas

Conferral of Degrees and Diploma Distribution

The university confers degrees three times each year. Summer degrees are conferred in late August, fall degrees are conferred in late December and spring conferral dates coincide with the university commencement ceremony in May.
 
Diplomas for conferred students with no holds on their accounts from the Business Office and/or Financial Aid will be distributed as follows:
 
Summer graduates: mailed by the last business day in September.
Fall graduates: mailed by the last business day in January.
Spring graduates attending May commencement: pick up their diplomas following the ceremony. 
Spring graduates not attending commencement : mailed by the last business day in May.
 
Student account balances (including graduation fees) must be paid and all financial aid obligations must be met before diplomas can be mailed. Please inform the Office of Registration and Records of any changes to your diploma mailing address as soon as possible.

Application for Graduation

It is recommended that you apply for graduation no later than one semester before your expected graduation date. It is strongly recommended that you apply for graduation once you meet the following criteria:
  • Associate: Upon earning 45+ credits
  • Bachelor:  Upon earning 90+ credits
  • Master: Upon earning 24+ credits.
  • Doctoral: Upon enrolling in your dissertation defense course

Application Deadlines:

2021:

January 5th for spring and summer graduates

August 31st for fall graduates

 

2022:

January 4th for spring and summer graduates

August 30th for fall graduates

 

Applications for Graduation are available online. To view the application online, click the appropriate link below.

 
Once your application has been received by the Office of Registration and Records, your official degree audit will be completed indicating the classes still needed in order to graduate. A student will only be considered a degree candidate when the above procedures are complete. If you change your plans for graduation, please notify the Office of Registration and Records in writing as soon as possible. 
 
Please Note: It is on your application for graduation where you will indicate the number of guests you will be inviting to the ceremony if attending; there are no tickets issued for commencement.

Graduation Fees

You must pay your graduation fee and complete financial aid exit counseling before you can receive your diploma or official transcript verifying the completion of your degree. The graduation fee is mandatory and non-refundable for all graduating students regardless of the student's participation in the commencement ceremony.

Associate's Degree: $75
Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral Degree: $150
Two Bachelor's Degrees (double major): $225
 
You can make payments to the Business Office online, through the mail, by phone or in person. The Business Office accepts cash, personal checks, money orders, Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express. Credit card payments can be made online or by phone.
 
1. Over the Phone 
Manager of Student Accounts: (301) 369-2318
 
2. Online
To make a payment online, follow the instructions below:
 
3. Mail
Make checks payable to Capitol Technology University. In the memo line, write 'Graduation Fee'. Please include your student ID number on the check if possible.
Send check/money order to:
 
Capitol Technology University
Attn: Business Office
11301 Springfield Road
Laurel, MD 20708

Graduation Requirements

After applying for graduation, you must satisfy the following requirements in order to graduate:

1. Complete your degree. All graduates must successfully complete the course requirements of their chosen degree. Refer to the course catalog from your entry year for degree requirements and other academic obligations. Course catalogs can be found here: University Catalogs

2. Settle your financial accounts. Before receiving a diploma, each student must fulfill all financial and administrative responsibilities. Contact the offices below before applying for graduation to ensure that you have no outstanding obligations to the university:

    • Business Office (businessoffice@CapTechU.edu) 301-369-2319/301-369-2318
    • Financial Aid (finaid@CapTechU.edu) - 301-369-2324
    • Residence Life (residencelife@CapTechU.edu) - 240-965-2493
    • Puente Library (library@CapTechU.edu) - 301-369-2553
In addition, all students are obligated to complete the following tasks before receiving a diploma and/or official transcripts:
  1. Complete the online exit interview with Financial Aid (financial aid recipients only).
  2. Complete your Graduating Student Survey.

Failure to complete these tasks will exclude you from participating in the graduation ceremony. 

Directions and Local Lodging

Directions to Campus

For information regarding driving directions, maps, and airports, click Visit Campus

Local Lodging Options

Graduation is a busy time for the local hotels; you are encouraged to book reservations in advance if you are coming from outside the immediate area. For your convenience, contact information for local hotels in Laurel and the surrounding area is listed here.

Commemorative Keepsakes and Announcements

Photography

Classic Photography will be taking individual portraits of each graduate. Ordering will be available on Classic's website: approximately 24 hours after the ceremony. Click "Graduations" where you can search for the event by name typing Capitol Technology University or entering the date of the ceremony. This year, graduates can receive a copy of their stage-crossing photo free of charge, compliments of the University.

Diploma Frames

Church Hill Classics offers diploma frames bearing the university seal. Please be mindful when selecting your product(s) that all diplomas are 11"X 14" in landscape orientation.

Graduation Announcements

Graduation announcements are not provided by Capitol Technology University. However, students interested in announcements are welcome to order their own announcements through Jostens. To order announcements, click JOSTENS. On the homepage, click on Shop Products at my School/Group and search for Capitol Technology University. Select 'Graduation Announcements' and follow the website instructions for ordering. Announcements come in a variety of packages and take three weeks to process.

Commencement Procedures

Commencement Dates

Commencement will take place as follows:
 
We will be hosting an in-person commencement at our campus in Laurel, Maryland on October 9, 2021 with a ceremony for the class of 2021 taking place at 10 am and a ceremony for the class of 2020 taking place at 4 pm.

 

You belong to the Class of 2020 if you are a Fall 2019, Spring 2020 or Summer 2020 graduate. You belong to the Class of 2021 if you are a Fall 2020, Spring 2021 or Summer 2021 graduate. To ensure safety and for attendance management purposes, students will only be permitted to participate in the ceremony for their graduating class.

All attendees will be required to wear masks and adhere to all COVID-19 safety protocols during the scheduled events. If you or one of your guests test positive for Covid following the ceremony please notify the university by completing this form.

 

Commencement Schedule

Please note:  The following schedule of events reflects our standard commencement schedule and procedure.  It may be necessary to modify this schedule and/or the order of events to comply with state and local health guidelines in place at the time of the postponed ceremony.  More detailed information will be posted as it becomes available.
 
Commencement ceremonies are held outdoors, rain or shine, under a tent. Currently, there is no maximum number of guests a student is able to invite to the commencement ceremony but this may change if capacity restrictions are imposed due to COVID. Students should have indicated their total number of guests on the graduation application; we do not use tickets for the ceremony. If your guest count changes, please contact the Office of Registration and Records as soon as possible. Further, we do not hold a rehearsal for commencement.
 
Commencement Schedule:
CLASS OF 2021
Check In | 8 a.m.
-It is imperative that you arrive on time to check in. Check in is located in the Avrum Gudelsky Auditorium. Once you have checked in, you must remain in the auditorium. During check in you will receive your name card. Do not lose this card.

Regalia Fitting| 8:30 a.m.
-This time will be used to ensure your cap and gown are on properly.

Roll Call and Line Up | 9:30 a.m.
-This will occur outside of the auditorium. Weather permitting, the line up will be outside of the building. You will be lined up alphabetically by degree program.

Processional Begins | 9:45 a.m. 
-The university marshal will lead the processional followed by the stage guests, trustees, faculty, candidates for undergraduate degrees, master's degrees and doctoral degrees. For the recessional, the stage participants will leave first, and the graduates will follow them.
 
We ask that students and guests depart campus shortly after the ceremony so that we may accommodate our guests for the afternoon commencement ceremony.
 
CLASS OF 2020
Check In | 2 p.m.
-It is imperative that you arrive on time to check in. Check in is located in the Avrum Gudelsky Auditorium. Once you have checked in, you must remain in the auditorium. During check in you will receive your name card. Do not lose this card.

Regalia Fitting| 2:30 p.m.
-This time will be used to ensure your cap and gown are on properly.

Roll Call and Line Up | 3:30 p.m.
-This will occur outside of the auditorium. Weather permitting, the line up will be outside of the building. You will be lined up alphabetically by degree program.

Processional Begins | 3:45 p.m. 
-The university marshal will lead the processional followed by the stage guests, trustees, faculty, candidates for undergraduate degrees, master's degrees and doctoral degrees. For the recessional, the stage participants will leave first, and the graduates will follow them.
 

Special Guests/Accommodations

Special Accommodations:
Students requiring special assistance at commencement should email accessibility@captechu.edu or call The Dean of Students at 240-965-2490 as soon as possible.
 
International Guests
If you have guests from overseas and need visa invitation letters, notify the Office of Registration and Records. The request should be made at your earliest convenience.

Commencement Live Stream Video

For graduates and their families unable to attend the ceremony, it will be broadcast live online here: https://youtu.be/zwk0pseOg4c

 This link will be good for both ceremonies.

Attending Commencement To Do List

Students must complete all degree requirements in order to participate in the commencement ceremony.  Students completing their degree requirements in December 2021 are invited to participate in the commencement ceremony the following May.
 
CHECKLIST FOR GRADUATION ATTENDEES

Before graduation, the following actions must be completed. Diplomas and transcripts will not be issued to students who have outstanding library books or fines, outstanding balance in the Business Office, or for Financial Aid recipients who have not completed online exit counseling.

o       Fulfill all financial obligations to the university

o       Return all materials borrowed from Puente Library

o       Pay graduation fee

o       Complete Financial Aid exit interview (financial aid recipients only). Information regarding the exit interview will be sent separately.

o       Complete Residence Life expectations (Residence Life students only)

o       Complete the Graduating Student Survey. Information on how to complete the survey will be sent separately.
 
o       Pick up regalia (details below) 

REGALIA
Regalia is the formal attire required for the commencement ceremony and consists of your cap, gown, hood, tassel, and any honor cords you may have earned. Regalia will be distributed at check in on commencement morning. Undergraduate and master's students provide their measurements for regalia on their graduation applications and it is ordered by the school on their behalf. You must present valid photo ID at time of pick up. Regalia will not be mailed to you prior to commencement. 

Doctoral students are responsible for ordering their own regalia.  To order your doctoral regalia from our vendor, Oak Hall Cap and Gown, please visit https://captechu.shopoakhalli.com/

For customer service, please call 1-800-223-0429 and ask for Nicole Cabbler in the Customs Department.

It is recommended to order doctoral regalia at least two months prior to commencement. Doctoral students must have Capitol Technology University doctoral regalia to participate in the commencement ceremony. Doctoral regalia is custom-made so all sales are final.

NOT attending commencement To Do list

CHECKLIST FOR GRADUATION NON-ATTENDEES

All students must complete the following items before Commencement:

□       Fulfill all financial obligations to the university. This means that students should contact the Business Office, the Office of Financial Aid, the Office of Residence Life (if applicable) and the Puente Library to be certain that they have no outstanding obligations.

□       Pay graduation fee

□       Complete the Financial Aid Exit Interview (financial aid students only).

□       Complete the Graduating Student Survey. Information on how to complete the survey is sent separately.