See bottom of page for DIPLOMA DELIVERY information.

General Knowledge

Degree Conferral and Diplomas

Degrees and certificates are awarded/posted to student records approximately one week after the conferral date. Once conferral is posted, the earned credential will appear on the student's transcript, and graduates can request a degree verification or official transcript as proof of graduation for a third-party, employer, or visa requirements. 

Diplomas are documents awarded by the university that signify the completion of requirements to earn a degree or certificate. Physical degree diplomas and certificates are shipped to students approximately 6-8 weeks after their conferral date. Certified electronic diplomas are also available for degrees earned, approximately 6-8 weeks after conferral.

Related Information

*NEW* All graduating students must apply to graduate. For information and FAQs, see KB000023687 : Apply to Graduate.

For general graduation requirements, see the Academic Catalog Search "graduation requirements."

For conferral dates, see the Academic Calendar. Search "degree conferral."

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Diplomas FAQ

What name will be printed on my diploma?

Your legal name will appear on your diploma, and you can add, edit, or remove a middle name when submitting the application to graduate. No prefix or suffix relating to a title or credential is allowed (e.g., Dr., DMD, Esq., Mrs., Mr.). 

If you need to update your legal name, please submit a Personal Details Update service ticket.

If you wish to change your Diploma Name, first submit the application to graduate via the Student Hub, then submit a Diploma Name Change service ticket via the Personal Details Update form.

After your conferral date, Diploma Name updates can be made until a cut-off date which will be communicated to you via email. If you miss the cut-off date, you can order a copy of your diploma from Paradigm. Copies cannot be ordered until after the original diploma order ships. See "How can I order a replacement diploma?" for more information.

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Will my major be printed on my diploma?

The major will be printed on diplomas for nonspecified degrees only (Associate in Science, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Arts, Master of Professional Studies, Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study, Doctor of Philosophy). Minors and concentrations do not appear on diplomas. 

Combined Majors

Double Majors

Related Information

• Combined Majors (Admissions)
• Degrees, Majors, Minors (Academic Catalog)

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Are minors or concentrations printed on diplomas?

Minors and concentrations are not printed on diplomas. They do appear on transcripts.

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What are the dimensions of my degree diploma or certificate?

All degree diplomas measure 11″ × 14.” Certificates are 8.5″ × 11″.

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Will a hold or balance on my student account delay my diploma?

If a student's account has an active financial hold, balance due, or Enrollment Management hold, their diploma will not be released with the original diploma shipment. The Registrar’s Office is not automatically notified when holds or balances are cleared. Please submit a Diploma Request (ServiceNow) when your hold or balance is resolved.

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When will I receive my diploma?

Physical Diploma

Physical diplomas are shipped to degree and certificate earners 6-8 weeks after the degree conferral date. Diploma orders cannot be expedited. Upon shipment, degree earners will receive an email with USPS tracking information. Tracking information is not available for certificate shipments. Delivery to US addresses typically takes 3-5 business days. International shipping requires additional time, typically 2-3 weeks.

A Note on USPS Tracking

From time to time, USPS service changes or disruptions may lead to limited tracking updates or delays that are beyond our control. If your diploma comes back to us, we will reach out to your student email address and work with you to get it delivered.  

Certified Electronic Diploma

Certified electronic diplomas are available to degree earners 6-8 weeks after degree conferral. Diploma orders cannot be expedited. When the CeD is available, degree earners will receive an email from our trusted partner, Paradigm/CeCredential Trust®, with a download link for the certified electronic diploma. CeDs are not available for certificates.

Download links are active for a limited time, and you can request a new link when the link expires. 

Related Knowledge article: Certified Electronic Credential - CeDiploma

Other Proof of Graduation for Third Parties, Employers, and Visa Requirements

If you need to provide proof of graduation sooner: Degrees and certificates are awarded/posted to student records approximately one week after the degree conferral date, at which time you can request a degree verification or transcript as proof of graduation for a third-party, employer, or visa requirements. 

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Can I pick up my diploma in person?

In-person diploma pickup isn't available—we can only ship/deliver. 

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To what address will my diploma be sent? How can I update my Diploma Mailing Address? 

The address you provide in your application to graduate will be used for the university's diploma shipment. Updates to your Diploma Mailing Address can be made at Student Hub > Resources > Graduation > Graduation/Commencement Form. You can confirm that the address has been updated successfully by going to Student Hub > Resources > Graduation > View Application to Graduate.

Cut-Off Date for Updates

After your conferral date, address updates can be made until a cut-off date which will be communicated to you via email. If you miss the cut-off date, and you are unable to retrieve your diploma at the original address on your Application to Graduate, you can contact USPS to set up a forwarding address or you can order a copy of your diploma from Paradigm to be sent to a different address. Copies cannot be ordered until after the original diploma order ships. See "How can I order a replacement diploma?" for more information.

Common Reasons for Returned or Lost Diplomas

Diploma shipments may be returned, lost, or delayed if the Diploma Mailing Address provided on the Application to Graduate is incorrect, incomplete, or out-of-date. Common reasons for returned or lost mail include:

• The student moves within the shipping timeline without establishing a forwarding address.
• The address is not the student's residence at the time of delivery and does not include an "In care of" line with a current resident.
• The address is missing the apartment number.
• The address's City and Zip Code do not match.

If You Are Planning a Move

If you are planning a move, be sure to set up a forwarding address and remove your name from the mailbox when you leave the residence. 

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There's a problem with my diploma delivery. What should I do?

If your diploma has been marked as "delivered," but you have not actually received it, contact your building manager and/or local post office for assistance. If this does not resolve the issue, please submit a Diploma Request (ServiceNow) within 2 weeks of the delivery date.

If your diploma was received in a damaged state, please submit a Diploma Request (ServiceNow) and include an image of the damaged document.

If your diploma was returned to the university, please submit a Diploma Request (ServiceNow) and include a current mailing address.

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How can I request a notarized diploma? 

You can order a notarized diploma via Paradigm.  Select "Notarization" as the Reason. There’s a fee of $50, and orders typically take 3-4 weeks to process.  Notarized diplomas will be mailed via FedEx or UPS. We are unable to rush notarized diplomas at this time. We do not offer electronic delivery of notarized diplomas. 

Only students are authorized to order a notarized diploma for themselves. Others are not permitted to order on their behalf.

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How can I request a replacement diploma?

Graduates can order a diploma replacement or copy via Paradigm, Inc. There’s a fee of $50, and the replacement orders typically take 3-4 weeks to ship. We are unable to rush replacement diplomas at this time. Only students are authorized to order a replacement for themselves. Others are not permitted to order on their behalf.

Special Instructions

Legal Name Changes: If you are ordering a replacement because of a change to your legal name, please submit a Personal Details Update ticket in ServiceNow prior to ordering a replacement. 

Notarized diplomas: See FAQ, "How can I request a notarized diploma?"

Marymount Manhattan College alumni: Diplomas can be ordered using the PDF form.

Mills College alumni: Diplomas can be ordered via Paradigm, Inc.. Select "Mills College Replacement Diploma" under the Available Products drop down menu on the main order page (see screenshot below). 

 

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How can I request a Certified Electronic Diploma?

CeDs are not available for degrees earned before March 2020 nor for undergraduate or graduate certificates. 

If you earned a degree after March 2020, you have access to a certified electronic diploma. CeD download links are active for a limited time, and you can request a new link when your link expires. If your link expires and you no longer have access to your NU student email account, please submit a Diploma Request (ServiceNow).

Related Knowledge article: Certified Electronic Credential - CeDiploma

A message from our diploma partner, Paradigm (July 14, 2026): [Diploma] production and shipping timelines remain unchanged. However, USPS continues to use revised package scanning procedures in many areas. Because of this, tracking updates may not appear until a shipment reaches a regional distribution center, rather than when it is first accepted by the local post office. As a result, it's normal for tracking to temporarily display "Pre-Shipment" or show limited activity even though the package is already moving through the USPS network. At this time, USPS has not indicated any widespread changes to delivery timeframes. The primary impact is reduced tracking visibility during the early stages of transit. To help set student expectations and reduce unnecessary replacement requests, ... allow up to four (4) weeks [from the shipment date] for delivery before reporting a credential package as lost or requesting a replacement.