Graduation & Commencement

Congratulations on your progress toward graduation!  We want to ensure that your graduation and commencement experience are as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. The following information has been compiled to assist you in completing the necessary steps toward graduation and commencement. If you have any questions please contact the Registrar's Office at (208) 769-3320 for assistance.

The Difference Between Graduation and Commencement

Graduation refers to actually receiving a degree or certificate of completion once North Idaho College has verified you as having met all degree or certificate requirements. Upon verification, the degree or certificate is awarded and noted in the NIC student information system so that it displays on NIC transcripts. Diplomas are printed and mailed after the degree or certificate verification process is complete, approximately 6-8 weeks after the end of the semester. Please note that summer graduation is processed just prior to the beginning of the next fall term to accommodate all summer instruction blocks.

Commencement is a ceremony. It is an opportunity for students, families, friends, and the NIC community to celebrate their academic accomplishments. Participation in commencement does not mean that you have graduated and you will not receive your diploma on that day.

Applying for Graduation

In order to be considered as a candidate for graduation, you must complete an Application for Graduation and submit it to the Registrar's Office for review.  Students must complete the Application for Graduation whether or not they plan to participate in commencement. 

Priority processing deadlines for applications are as follows. Applications are accepted after these deadlines.

• November 1 - to graduate at the end of Spring Semester
• April 1 - to graduate at the end of Summer Session (apply by February 1 to participate in Commencement)
• May 1 - to graduate at the end of Fall Semester.

Applications filed after the suggested dates will be accepted. However, early filing enables the Registrar’s Office to evaluate a student’s transcript and determine any course deficiencies in the program of study prior to the student’s final enrollment. A diploma will not be issued if a student has not fulfilled all financial obligations to the college.

Commencement Ceremony

The commencement ceremony is held once each year in May. Students eligible to participate in commencement are matriculating (degree-seeking) candidates for graduation from the previous fall, the current spring, and the following summer.

► 2019 Commencement

The ceremony will be May 17, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in Christianson Gymnasium.
Only guests with a ticket will be admitted to the ceremony.

More information: Registrar’s Office at (208) 769-3320.

► 2018 Commencement

The ceremony was May 11, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. in Christianson Gymnasium. If you participated in the ceremony and would like a copy of the picture Leo's Photography took of you after you crossed the stage, please submit the Leo's Photography order form to their office directly. In addition, you may purchase a DVD of the ceremony by contacting Andy Finney at (208) 769-3266. The cost is $20.00 per disc.

Academic Policies

For information regarding the academic policies governing graduation please refer to the Academic & Registration Information in the NIC Catalog.