Graduation Planning
Congratulations, Graduating Class of 2025!
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 2025 graduating class includes students who have completed or plan to complete all of their program requirements by the last day of the fall 2024, spring 2025, and summer 2025 semesters.
Commencement
UPDATE: As of April 4, 2025, students who did not complete a graduation application are not eligible to participate in the 2025 commencement ceremony. No exceptions will be made.
Please note that participation in the commencement ceremony does not indicate official graduation from Berklee College of Music.
Berklee holds a commencement ceremony every May to honor the graduating class. This year’s events include a commencement concert on Friday, May 9, and the commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 10. Please visit the commencement website often for the latest commencement information.
Students are permitted to participate in one commencement ceremony for each academic program completed (e.g., Professional Diploma, Bachelor of Music, Master of Music).
Dates and Deadlines for Graduating Class of 2025
| September 30, 2024 | The graduation application for December 2024, May 2025, and August 2025 graduates is available to eligible students. |
| December 6, 2024 | The graduation application closes for students applying to the graduating class of 2025. |
| January 22, 2025 | Last day for December 2024 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 7, 2025 | The Office of the Registrar emails final graduation approval or denial notices to the graduating class of 2025. |
| March 31, 2025 | The 2025 commencement program will be finalized on this date. All changes must be received before this date to appear in the program. |
| May 10, 2025 | Berklee College of Music commencement ceremony. |
| May 28, 2025 | Last day for May 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. |
| September 3, 2025 | Last day for August 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. |
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 cap and gown
- 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 internship 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.
