Graduation Requirements

Students who have been continually enrolled at Cascadia may elect to complete program requirements in effect in the catalog published at the time they first began their degree or certificate. Continuous enrollment is defined as attending at least one quarter during the academic year and having no more than a two-quarter break in enrollment (excluding summer.) Students who are not continuously enrolled must complete the program requirements from the catalog in effect when they re-enroll.

To receive a degree or certificate from Cascadia College, a student must:

  1. Be enrolled in a Cascadia degree or certificate program.
  2. Satisfy all specific program requirements as stated in the college catalog.
  3. Achieve a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) for courses taken at Cascadia. The 2.0 cumulative GPA is required for transfer courses used to satisfy degree requirements. Transfer courses are not averaged with Cascadia’s GPA.
  4. At least 25 credits must be taken at Cascadia that apply to the degree or certificate.
  5. Earn at least 60 degree credits with decimal grades. The decimal grades must be no lower than 1.0 (D). 30 credits with a ‘P’ Pass grades which are generally credits from AP (Advanced Placement), IB (International Baccalaureate), and CI (Cambridge International) may be applicable.
  6. Meet with an Academic Advisor to complete the Graduation Application and ensure all requirements will have been met after the applicant’s final quarter. Students can complete a Graduation Application with an Academic Advisor during drop-in advising. See Cascadia’s Academic Advising webpage for drop-in advising times.

If transferring to a four-year institution, students should seek information directly from that institution’s admissions office and from advisors in a chosen major at that school.

Graduation Application Deadlines

Students who are eligible for a degree or certificate may submit a graduation application during their last quarter or the quarter preceding their last quarter. Degrees and certificates are awarded on a quarterly basis. Deadlines are:

  • Fall quarter graduation — third week of summer quarter.
  • Winter quarter graduation — third week of fall quarter.
  • Spring quarter graduation — third week of winter quarter.
  • Summer quarter graduation — second week of spring quarter.

Students who have completed their degrees or certificates during the previous fall and winter quarters and those anticipating completion during spring and summer quarters are invited to participate in the annual commencement ceremony, held in mid-June.

Graduation Honors

Cascadia College places a high value on scholarship. To encourage and reward high academic achievement, students who distinguish themselves in the classroom throughout their program of study are recognized by being awarded Graduation Honors as described below during Commencement and on their diploma. All graduates earning Graduation Honors will be given an honor cord to wear in the Commencement ceremony. For students graduating in spring or summer, the honors listed in the Commencement Program, as well as honor cord distribution, will be based upon a student’s cumulative grade point average as of the end of winter quarter, since spring and/ or summer grades are not available for this determination. Only Cascadia College credits are used to calculate the cumulative grade point average for the purpose of awarding graduation honors.

President’s Honors

Graduating students who have earned a cumulative college-level grade point average of 3.9 or higher will be awarded President’s Honors.

Faculty Honors

Graduating students who have earned a cumulative college-level grade point average between 3.6 to a 3.89 will be awarded Faculty Honors.