The Spring Commencement Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 10 at 5:30 pm. 

The graduation ceremony will take place at the Alliant Energy Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum located at 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, WI. 

Please review each step below to make sure you have completed all the requirements before the commencement ceremony to participate and receive your degree, diploma, or certificate.

If you are looking for information on the GED/HSED ceremony, please contact the School of Academic Advancement.

  • Confirm your Graduation Status

    If your Degree Progress Report indicates all requirements for your degree will be completed by the end of the semester, you are eligible for graduation.

    If you are finishing and your records still do not indicate a graduation applied status by mid-term, please contact Advising Services for an evaluation.

    Steps on How to Confirm Your Graduation Status

    1. Log into your myMadisonCollege student account.
    2. Check Degree Progress Report to be sure all requirements have been met for your program.
    3. Mid-term, check to see if you have an applied graduation status under Academic Record in your myMadisonCollege account.
    4. Check your name for accuracy - if it should appear differently on your diploma, submit a Personal Information Update Form.
    5. Verify your address in your myMadisonCollege student account to ensure receipt of your diploma.
    6. Once your grades are posted at the end of the term, your course and program requirement completion will be verified by the college. If all requirements are fulfilled, your degree will be marked as “complete”, and your graduation status will be assigned to your record.

    If you are completing your degree in the summer, you are included in the following semester's mid-year ceremony, which is held in December.

  • Sign up to participate in the Commencement Ceremony

    The Spring 2024 commencement will be held on Friday, May 10 at 5:30 pm in the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Students are encouraged to check their myMadisonCollege portal and Madison College email account frequently to ensure they receive all instructions for participation. The first communication is sent out 8 weeks prior to the ceremony. 

  • Commencement Ceremony Dress Policy

    Academic regalia (cap and gown) are required to participate in the commencement ceremony. Only academic-related additions to the regalia will be allowed as follows:

    • White cord: A cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher within the program of study.
    • Gold cord: Exceptional Service to the college and community nominated by Madison College faculty or staff.
    • Red, white, and blue cord: Students who have served in the armed services.
    • Blue and white cord: TOPS College Success Program.
    • Pins awarded to Nursing.
    • Medallions awarded to Honors Program students.
    • The gold stole of Phi Theta Kappa as well as the silver stole for Sigma Alpha Pi Society of Leadership and Success.
    • Other items signifying Phi Theta Kappa Membership, including ceremonial tassel, cord, or medallion.
    • Stoles are distributed by TRIO and by the Center for International Education for International Students representing their country of origin.
    • Stoles and cords are distributed as part of the Scholars of Promise program.
    • Yellow and blue tassel: Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society.
    • Other college-distributed adornments approved by Madison College.

    Madison College reserves the right to deny, change, modify, add, or withdraw the above dress policy.

  • Honors and Awards

    Academic Honor Awards

    • Academic High Honors Candidates: Awards will be given for an overall program grade point average of 3.75. Final determination for awarding of Graduation Academic Honors is made at the time of program completion
    • Two-Year Program Graduates: Achieve a 3.75 GPA after completing 75 percent of the total program credit requirements.
    • One-Year Programs Graduates: Achieve a 3.75 GPA after completing 50 percent of the total program requirements.

    Candidates are designated on the graduation program and wear a white cord at the commencement ceremony.

    Special Service Awards

    Students who demonstrate extraordinary service to fellow students are nominated for the Special Service Award.

    These nominees represent leadership in student government and clubs, or participated voluntarily in college-sponsored educational and recreational activities.

    Designated students for the Special Service Awards are noted in the graduation program and wear a gold cord at the commencement ceremony.

    Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society

    Graduates of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society wear gold stoles and tassels at the commencement ceremony.

    Membership is by invitation only and students must maintain a cumulative 3.5-grade point average.

    Military Veterans Service Awards

    Madison College honors its graduating military veterans by presenting them with special red, white, and blue cords to wear during the commencement ceremony.

    Please join us in thanking them for their dedicated service to our country.

  • Requirements to Obtain a Degree, Diploma or Certificate

    Associate degrees or diplomas are issued when you:

    • Complete the required curriculum both in hours of attendance and in terms of achievement
    • Have obtained satisfactory achievement (C or 2.0 grade point average) in their major field subjects
    • Have maintained an overall C or 2.0 grade point average in the program and;
    • Are recommended by the department instructors and the dean/chairperson of the division

    Twenty-five percent requirement: At least 25 percent of the credit requirements necessary for obtaining a diploma/degree in any program must be taken at Madison College. In some situations, a higher percentage of core courses are required to be taken in residence. Check with the division office for information.

    Verify Your Status

    You should run your Degree Progress Report to verify you have completed, are in progress with, or are registered for all course requirements. You can view the report as a summary or download a PDF. If all courses are satisfied or in progress, you will automatically qualify for graduation.

    Degrees/Diplomas

    Associate degrees/diplomas are mailed six to eight weeks after the semester or summer session ends and graduation is confirmed by your school office. If you receive any grades of incomplete or have other deficiencies on your records, your associate degree, diploma or certificate will be sent at the end of the semester during which all obligations have been satisfied. If you had terminated your attendance for a semester or more, you may be required to meet the current graduation requirements of the program in which you re-enrolled.

    If you have not received your diploma and it has been more than eight weeks after the end of the semester, then you should reach out to EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu to confirm the status of your diploma. 

    Additional Degree/Diploma

    Only one diploma/degree may be awarded at a semester commencement. To obtain an additional diploma/degree, you must:

    • Meet all of the requirements of the second diploma/degree
    • Meet Madison College graduation requirements
    • Acquire a minimum of 25 percent of the second degree/diploma credit requirements of new, additional credits in residence. (For example, if the second program has 64 credits, a minimum of 16 credits must be taken in residency while meeting the requirements above.)

    Any exceptions to these policies shall be approved in writing by the dean of the school in which the program or second degree/diploma is offered (refer to the Credit for Prior Learning page).

    Certificates

    Certificates are not included in the commencement ceremony, with some exceptions. The certificate credential is not a degree, therefore, you complete a certificate, not graduate from it. 

    You must apply and be admitted to a certificate in order to be awarded a certificate. At least 50 percent of the credit requirements necessary for obtaining a certificate must be taken at Madison College. Certificates are mailed six to eight weeks after the semester or summer session ends (either after the course work has been completed, or the term admitted if courses were completed prior to application/admission to the certificate).

    If you have terminated your attendance and have been discontinued, you will be required to re-apply to the certificate, and must meet the current requirements of the certificate.

  • Pay Graduation Fee

    The graduation fee can be paid online through the Madison College Bookstore Website: https://madisoncollegebookstore.com/home

    In person payment options are only available at the Truax Campus (Main Building) Bookstore location. We encourage all graduates to pay their fee online. 

    This fee covers the cost of printing and shipping diplomas. If you want to receive a copy of your diploma in the mail or participate in the ceremony you must pay this fee. All diplomas are mailed and there is no option to pick it up from the bookstore. 

    If you want to receive your diploma or participate in the ceremony you must pay this fee no later than the week of finals in the semester that you are graduating. You can pay the fee at anytime prior to that week. 

Graduate Feedback

Every year, Madison College surveys recent graduates to find out how they are doing in the labor market and how Madison College helped prepare them for their careers.

Please help the college by returning this survey promptly after your graduation. Future graduates will benefit from your willingness to share.

Guaranteed Retraining

As a graduate, you may be eligible for up to six additional credits of free retraining if your employer certifies that you lack certain skills or if you have been unable to secure employment.

Check with our Career & Employment Services office for more details

Repeating a Program

Madison College does not award a new diploma or certificate for the completion of the same program.

Before seeking an exception for repeating a program, students are encouraged to consider repeating specific coursework for updating skills, determine if an Individualized Technical Studies degree is an option, and review professional development offerings and digital badging opportunities

Students seeking an exception should contact their Academic School to discuss their options; if approved for an exception, the entire curriculum of the program must be completed and would not be eligible for financial aid. Students interested in Liberal Arts Transfer can earn both an Associate in Arts (AA) and an Associate in Science (AS) without special permission. 

Graduation Rates

Graduation rates for Madison College are available from Institutional Research and Effectiveness, 1701 Wright Street, Madison, WI 53704, or phone 608.243.4433.

These rates are calculated and made available as required by the Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act.