pierce college students in cap and gown waiting to enter commencement

Getting Ready to Graduate?

Congratulations! Follow these steps to make sure you're ready for the big day.

1. Make sure you meet the graduation requirements

To receive a degree or certificate from Pierce College, you must:

  • Earn the lesser of (at least) 20 college level credits or 25 percent of the credits applicable to the degree or certificate at Pierce College

    AND

  • A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 or higher for all college level Pierce College courses applicable to the degree or certificate

2. Determine which quarter you plan to graduate

If you have completed the program requirements during the summer 2022, fall 2022, or winter 2023 quarters and/or anticipate completing program requirements during spring 2023 or summer 2023 quarters you are eligible to participate in the June 2023 commencement ceremony. 

Pierce College offers exceptions to graduates completing programs in fall 2023 who need to attend the June 2023 commencement ceremony. To request an exception, please contact the Evaluations Office at evaluations@pierce.ctc.edu.

The deadline for student names in the commencement program is Friday, April 14, 2023. If you apply to graduate after that date, you are still eligible to participate in the event, but your name will not appear in the commencement program.

3. Complete the degree and diploma application

Complete a Degree and Diploma Application by Friday, April 14, 2023. Electronic submission is preferred. Submit this form via email to evaluations@pierce.ctc.edu.

To submit by mail:

Evaluations Office
Pierce College Lakewood
9401 Farwest Drive SW
Lakewood, Washington 98498

Admissions Office
Pierce College Puyallup
1601 39th Avenue SE
Puyallup, Washington 98374

At Pierce College at JBLM, see the JBLM Advising web page for information for submitting Degree and Diploma Applications. Military-affiliated students completing degrees are invited to attend the graduation ceremony sponsored by Armed Forces Continuing Educational Services and the Pierce College District graduation ceremony in June each year. For more information, please visit the Pierce College at JBLM Graduation page.

4. Complete your program

Make sure to follow all program guidelines and requirements.

5. Get ready for the big day!

Saturday, June 17, 2023 at 7 p.m.

We host a commencement ceremony each June for students who have completed their graduation requirements during that academic year, as well as those who are projected to complete their programs during the spring and summer quarters. Participation in the ceremony is optional, but highly encouraged. This events aligns with Centers for Disease Control guidelines, Washington Department of Health requirements, Tacoma Pierce County Health Department requirements, and the college's current requirements.

Note: Participation in the commencement ceremony does not imply that your degree or certificate has been awarded. Rather, you must meet all program requirements before a degree or certificate is awarded. All diplomas are mailed from the Evaluations office once grades have been verified. This process generally takes eight to ten weeks after the end of the quarter.

For evaluations or Graduation - Commencement eligibility questions, please contact us at evaluations@pierce.ctc.edu.

For questions about the graduation ceremony, cap and gown or anything else, please contact us at graduation@pierce.ctc.edu.