Graduation Planning
Graduating Class of 2026
Degree Conferral
Students must complete all of their academic program requirements to be eligible to graduate from Berklee College of Music. Berklee degrees are conferred three times a year. The 2026 graduating class includes students who plan to complete all of their program requirements by the last day of the fall 2025, spring 2026, and summer 2026 semesters.
Please note that participation in the commencement ceremony does not indicate official graduation from Berklee College of Music.
Dates and Deadlines for Graduating Class of 2026
| September 29, 2025 | The graduation application for December 2025, May 2026, and August 2026 graduates is available to eligible students. |
| December 5, 2025 | The graduation application closes for students applying to the graduating class of 2026. |
| January 21, 2026 | Last day for December 2025 graduates to submit all final documentation pertaining to BOL courses, AP, CLEP, or IB exams, and transcripts from outside institutions for transfer credit to transfercredits@berklee.edu. |
| February 6, 2026 | The Office of the Registrar emails final graduation approval or denial notices to the graduating class of 2026. |
| March 31, 2026 | The 2026 commencement program will be finalized on this date. All changes must be received before this date to appear in the program. |
| May 9, 2026 | Berklee College of Music commencement ceremony. |
| May 27, 2026 | Last day for May 2026 graduates to submit all final documentation pertaining to BOL courses, AP, CLEP, or IB exams, and transcripts from outside institutions for transfer credit to transfercredits@berklee.edu. |
| September 2, 2026 | Last day for August 2026 graduates to submit all final documentation pertaining to BOL courses, AP, CLEP, or IB exams, and transcripts from outside institutions for transfer credit to transfercredits@berklee.edu. |
Applying to Graduate
The graduation process begins in the fall semester when students nearing the completion of their academic program requirements on My Progress are invited by the Office of the Registrar to submit a graduation application. The graduation application is the only way to notify Berklee of graduation and commencement ceremony plans. The deadline for submitting the application can be found in the "Dates and Deadlines" chart above.
Before submitting the graduation application, students should:
- review their program requirements on My Progress on my.berklee.edu as defined by their major grid
- review Requirements for Graduation
- schedule an appointment with their success advisor at successadvising@berklee.edu
- email transfercredits@berklee.edu for assistance with transfer credit from outside institutions, AP, CLEP exams, or BOL courses
- email gradspecialist@berklee.edu with questions regarding final requirements
Failure to submit the Graduation Application by the deadline may jeopardize the following:
- your current graduation status
- your ability to participate in the commencement ceremony:
- you will not receive information about caps and gowns
- you will not receive information about the commencement concert
- you will not receive commencement ceremony tickets
- having your preferred name appear in the commencement program
The Office of the Registrar will send final notices via email regarding the approval or denial of applications in early February of the graduating year.
Students with outstanding program requirements after their anticipated graduation semester will be conferred in the semester in which all requirements have been completed and verified by the Office of the Registrar. This policy applies to all students, including music therapy and music education students completing their internships and/or student teaching requirements.
Getting Your Diploma
For information on how and when you will receive your diploma after graduating from Berklee College of Music, as well as answers to frequently asked questions, please see our Getting Your Diploma page.
