Graduation is a multi-step process consisting of submitting a graduation application, completing all academic requirements for the degree or certificate, and settling all outstanding financial obligations (tuition balances, parking tickets, library fines, etc.) prior to receiving your diploma.

If you are a Federal Stafford Student Loan recipient and you are graduating, you must complete the required exit loan counseling at  https://www.studentaid.gov. Follow the instructions for exit loan counseling. If you have questions regarding your loan history, contact Financial Aid at 301.846.2620.

Graduation Application Process
Step 1: In your myFCC PeopleSoft account, verify your academic program requirements for your major viewing your FCC transcript and academic advisement report in the Academics Records tile. Contact your assigned academic advisor, faculty mentor, or program manager for assistance.

Step 2: If you have additional credits from another college or university, send official transcripts to FCC and/or request official exam scores to be sent to FCC (CLEP, AP, DSST, PRAXIS, etc.).

Step 3: Submit the Graduation Application by the published deadline.

Associate and Certificate Degrees
Students who anticipate completing the requirements for an associate degree or certificate are required to apply for graduation through their PeopleSoft Student Center or via the Graduation Application Form.

1. A student can only submit an online PeopleSoft application through their myFCC PeopleSoft Student Center for their current major. If a student is submitting an application for multiple credentials and/or a credential that is not their current major, they will need to submit the Graduation Application Form.
2. Login to your PeopleSoft account.
3. Select the Student Center tile.
4. Under Academics select the drop down menu “other academic.”
5. Select Apply for Graduation.
6. Follow form information fields and submit.
7. It is recommended that a student submit the Graduation Application when they register for their last required course(s). 
8. After a student submits the Graduation Application, it will be reviewed and the student will receive an email regarding their graduation status. All emails will be sent to the student’s myFCC student email account.
9. After final grades are posted and the end of a term processing is finalized, final graduation reviews will begin. If a student meets graduation requirements, their credential(s) will be posted to their student record and FCC transcript by posted dates and deadlines.  No additional communication is sent.  However, if a student does not meet graduation requirements by the deadline to award a credential, an updated graduation status email is sent to their myFCC student email account.
10. Please see the published Dates and Deadlines for Graduation.
11. Students may check their myFCC PeopleSoft account, Academic Records tile, and view their unofficial transcript to see if a credential(s) has been posted.  Please view your unofficial transcript to make sure your credential has posted before ordering an official transcript request. 

The graduating Class of 2025 consists of August 2024, December 2024, and May 2025 graduates. The Class of 2025 graduates will participate in the 2025 May Commencement Ceremony.

The final step to be awarded an Associate and/or Certificate credential is to submit a graduation application.  Students may submit a Graduation Application online through their myFCC Student Portal by logging into your student PeopleSoft account and following these steps:

 PeopleSoft account ~ Student Center tile ~ under the drop down menu Academics, other academic, select Apply for Graduation.  Enter all fields/information requested and make sure to hit submit.

 Or

 Complete and submit the online Graduation Application e-Form, click here. 

**Students must submit an Application for Graduation through their Student PeopleSoft Account or by completing the graduation application online form by the last date to apply.  If a student is applying for a credential that is not their current major or multiple credentials, the graduation application form must be completed. **
 
August 2024 Graduation  
Last day to apply:  8/01/2024 
Posting date (showing on transcript):  No later than 9/30/24 
Confer Date:  8/30/2024 
Diplomas mailed directly to students:  October 2024 

December 2024 Graduation  
Last day to apply: 12/01/2024 
Posting date (showing on transcript): No later than 1/30/2025 
Confer Date: 12/30/2024
Diplomas mailed directly to students:  February 2025 

May 2025 Graduation  
Last day to apply: 4/01/2025 
Posting date (showing on transcript): No later than 6/30/2025 
Confer Date/Commencement: 5/15/2025 
Diplomas mailed directly to students: July 2025 

Don’t I just graduate automatically when I have finished my requirements?
No. To graduate from Frederick Community College, you need to submit a graduation application via your myFCC PeopleSoft account in the Student Center tile or Graduation Application Form. All students need to submit a graduation application to be awarded a credential.

What are the qualifications for graduation?
To qualify as a candidate for an associate degree or certificate, students must:

• Successfully complete a prescribed curriculum as approved by the College and published in the Catalog.
• Have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 for all work at the College.
• Successfully complete a minimum of 60 college level credits to award an associate degree. Note: Some majors have additional GPA or final course grade requirements. AAT students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and meet the MSDE requirements (official documents to waive the MSDE requirement must be on file in Registration and Records).
• Complete a minimum of 15 academic credits at FCC for an associate degree or 25% of required credits at FCC for certificate.

When should I apply to graduate?
Students should apply for graduation when they are in their last semester of classes.  Please refer to the Graduation Dates and Deadlines.  All students need to submit a graduation application to be awarded a credential.  There are three graduation conferral dates for August, December, and May for an academic calendar year.

Do I have to pay a fee to graduate?
There is no fee to apply to graduate (no application fee) or to attend the annual Commencement ceremony. 
 

How does graduation impact my student loans?
Student loan borrowers who are applying for graduation must complete loan exit counseling, even if they intend to transfer to another institution. Depending on your situation, you may or may not have a grace period before your loan repayment starts. You can familiarize yourself with repayment options, when you need to make payments, and how to make payments at: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment.
Questions: contact [email protected]

Do I have to attend the ceremony in order to receive my diploma?
No. The graduation process and awarding of a credential is separate from the ceremony. FCC encourages you to attend the annual Commencement Ceremony to celebrate and recognize your academic accomplishments, but you do not have to attend in order to award your credential and receive a diploma. All diplomas are mailed to students at the mailing address on file. Please submit a Change of Address Form to update your mailing address.

What requirements do I need to graduate with Honors? 
There are three levels of honors awarded at the completion of degrees or certificates.

• High Honors (associate) = a cumulative grade point average of 3.750 to 4.00
• Honors (associate) = a cumulative grade point average of 3.500 to 3.7490
• Distinction (certificate) = a cumulative grade point average of 3.750 to 4.00

Do Honors College graduates receive a special designation?
Students who have successfully completed designated honors courses and who qualify at graduation earn an Honors College transcript notation and may wear the designated Honors College medallion at the Commencement Ceremony to reflect their academic achievement. Students qualify for the Honors College, High Honors designation on the FCC transcript and a gold medallion with 12 honors credits (3 honors credits must be at the 200 level) and a GPA of 3.750 or higher. Students earn an Honors College, Honors designation on the FCC transcript and a silver medallion with 12 honors credits (3 honors credits must be at the 200 level) and a GPA of 3.500-3.7490. Students merit the Honors College designation on the FCC transcript and a bronze medallion with 12 honors credits (3 honors credits must be at the 200 level) and a GPA of 3.250-3.490.  For eligibility and information, please contact the Honors College Coordinator at [email protected].

 

What if I am a member of PTK?
For information on PTK eligibility and regalia, please contact Student Leadership & Engagement at [email protected].

What happens if I do not successfully complete all the credits I need for my degree after I apply to graduate?
You will be notified via your myFCC student email account that you did not satisfy your requirements and you may apply again as soon as you register for your remaining classes or meet outstanding requirements.

Additional questions, contact [email protected].

The 67th Commencement Ceremony will be held Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. in the Knott Arena at Mount St. Mary's University.

Mount St. Mary’s University
The Knott Arena at the PNC Sports Complex 
16251 Jim Phelan Way 
Emmitsburg, MD  21727

 

 

Digital Diplomas for Associate and Certificate Degrees
All graduates receiving an associate and/or certificate diploma will receive a printed diploma and will be able to retrieve a free certified electronic credential known as CeDiploma or CeCertificate.  Watch this overview video to learn more.

Students whose associate and/or certificate credential that was posted on or after August 30, 2022, will receive an email with a link to retrieve their free digital credential when it is available from our trusted partner, CeCredentialTrust. Availability will be when the credential has been printed and mailed following the published Graduation Dates and Deadlines. After the diploma has been printed, graduates will receive an email and information on how to download their digital credential from [email protected] with a subject line that will read: Subject:  Diploma Information: Download your FCC Digital Diploma Now.

Please continue to monitor your email account. To request a new download link, please use the CeCredential Trust site to resend the link.
 
Students whose associate and/or certificate credentials were posted before August 1, 2022 can order a legacy digital diploma using the duplicate diploma re-order form. The cost to order a legacy digital diploma is $50. Select Legacy CeDiploma from the drop down menu. 

Access Your digital diploma or certificate here.

Validate a FCC CeDiploma or CeCertificate here.
 

Registration & Records is pleased to announce a new, convenient diploma reprint request service through a partnership with Paradigm’s CeCredential Trust. The new service allows graduates to request a reprint of their FCC credential(s). Through a simple, secured online system, graduates complete the online form and make payment. Graduates pay a flat fee of $25.00 for the reprint with shipping included for domestic mailings. International and expedited domestic shipping is available for an additional cost. Students whose associate and/or certificate credentials that were posted before August 1, 2022 can order a legacy digital diploma CeDiploma or CeCertificate. The cost to order a legacy digital diploma is $50. Select Legacy CeDiploma from the drop down menu. To request a printed credential or a digital Legacy credential – click here for CeCredentialTrust Credential Request.  Please contact graduation@frederick.edu for assistance

Use this form to request a reprint of a FCC diploma and/or to request a Legacy CeDiploma- certified digital diploma.