Graduation and Commencement
Cincinnati State’s 2025 Commencement ceremony will take place Saturday, May 10th, 2025 from 3:00 – 5:30p.m. at the Cintas Center on the campus of Xavier University.
Graduation Photos
Grad Images is our official photographer.
Required “Intent to Participate” eForm due April 4th, 2025
Graduates (and pending graduates) planning to participate in the Commencement ceremony must submit the Intent to participate in Commencement Ceremony eForm by Friday, April 4th, 2025!
This eForm is required for graduate names to be printed in the Commencement ceremony program and for graduates to receive ten (10) guest tickets.
Degree program and certificate recipients from the past year will be recognized:
- Summer 2024 & Fall 2024
- Spring 2025
- Summer 2025
- Degree programs only
- Must be registered for the last required classes – 15 credit hrs maximum
Tickets
Tickets are required by the Cintas Center for all guests over the age of two (2) – graduates do not need a ticket. Each graduate is allowed ten (10) guest tickets. Tickets are free and for general admission. Please bring a photo ID – either your driver’s license or Cincinnati State Surge ID card. Extra tickets will not be available.
Ticket Pickup Information:
Clifton Campus:
Offices of the Registrar & Financial Aid, ATLC 105 (next to the cafeteria)
- Monday – Friday, April 8 – May 9
- 8:00am – 4:30pm
- Wednesday, April 9, 16, 23
- 8:00am – 6:00pm
- Saturday, April 12 & 19
- 11:00am – 1:00pm
Middletown Campus:
Johnston Hall, #112, 4200 N University Blvd, Middletown, OH 45042
*New hours, effective 4/16/2025
- Monday – Friday, April 16 – May 9
- 9:00am – 4:00pm
West Campus:
Cincinnati West Airport, 10030 West Rd, Harrison, OH 45030
- Wednesdays & Thursdays, April 9 – May 8
- 8:00am – 4:00pm
“Grad Finale” Event
The Office of Student Activities will host the graduation celebration on Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025 at 11am and 4pm on the Clifton campus.
- Enjoy snacks and freebies
- Buy a cap and gown from the Bookstore
- Order Announcements and class rings from Jostens
- Record your “Grad Shout-Out”
- Need inspiration? Check out last year’s video!
- Snap photos against the CState background
Caps and Gowns
The Follett bookstore on Clifton campus has caps and gowns available for purchase now.
A cap/gown/tassel set is $49.50.
Cintas Center
Cincinnati State is fortunate to be able to have our Commencement ceremony at Xavier University’s Cintas Center.
Driving Directions and Parking Map
The Cintas Center has its own set of policies and requirements that all must follow.
Please note for all graduates and guests:
- No bags, including camera bags, will be permitted except for clear bags and small clutch purses.
- No broadcast style cameras will be allowed in the arena.
- Balloons, air horns, and noisemakers are not permitted.
If you are a graduate with a permanent or temporary disability and will need assistance during the ceremony, please contact the Office of the Registrar at ro@cincinnatistate.edu by Friday, May 9th, 2025.
FAQ
When will I receive my diploma?
Diplomas and certificates are mailed to students approximately six (6) weeks after the last day of the graduation semester. They are not given out at the Commencement ceremony. Diplomas and certificates are held by the Office of the Registrar for any graduate with a past due fee balance to the college. *Transcripts are not held for a past due fee balance.
What gpa is required to graduate with honors?
Honors are awarded to degree program graduates with high academic achievement, as follows:
Cum Laude:
3.500-3.799
Magna Cum Laude:
3.800-3.899
Summa Cum Laude:
3.900-4.000
Honors designations in the printed program at the commencement ceremony are projected based on cumulative GPA calculations made at the end of the Fall semester. The student’s GPA at the conclusion of their degree requirements will determine the final honors designation.
What is graduation and Commencement?
Graduation is defined as completing all credits necessary within an academic program to earn a Cincinnati State bachelor’s degree, associate’s degree, or certificate.
Commencement, also known as the graduation ceremony, is the event where graduates are recognized for their academic accomplishments in front of family and friends. Participating in the Commencement ceremony does not automatically mean a student has earned a degree or certificate.
What are the requirements for graduation?
In order to earn a bachelor’s degree, associate’s degree, or certificate from Cincinnati State, you must:
- Complete course requirements according to your program’s degree audit curriculum as published in the College Catalog.
- Attain at least a 2.0 cumulative and program grade point average (gpa).
- Completion is defined as earning the grade A, B, C, D, or S for any course. An earned D may not count toward graduation, depending on program and/or division policies.
What is the award certification process?
Students are graduated at the end of the semester in which they complete all requirements for a degree or certificate. A student cannot reverse their graduated status after it has been conferred by the Office of the Registrar.
If a student does not wish to graduate, for any reason, he/she/they may opt out for the current semester. The student will automatically be placed in the group of those eligible for graduation at the end of the next semester.