Commencement FAQs

Our ceremonies typically last 2 - 2.5 hours.

Yes. Graduates who have a conferral date between January 1 - June 30 will be eligible to participate in the Spring Commencement ceremonies. Graduates who have a conferral date between July 1 - December 31 will be eligible to participate in the Fall Commencement ceremonies.

Southern New Hampshire University’s Commencement ceremonies will be live streamed on the SNHU website. These videos will be available for viewing during and after the ceremony.

There is no practice prior to the ceremony. Once graduates arrive at the SNHU Arena, staff will provide instructions.

The SNHU bus diploma delivery tour was a fun way we connected with our online learners and graduates around the country a few years ago. We still share those stories proudly so you will see them on TV from time to time. Unfortunately, the SNHU bus is not on the road now.

All information regarding Commencement is sent to eligible graduates’ SNHU emails once they have petitioned to graduate.

This is a required first step in the conferral process. The Petition for Conferral is the learner’s request to the Registrar’s Office to begin the audit process as the learners approach the end of their degree programs.

You must submit your petition no later than 2 months before your anticipated conferral date: Before March 1st to be considered for eligibility to participate in the Spring Commencement ceremony and before October 1st to be considered for Fall Commencement ceremony.

For questions regarding the petition process, please contact the Registrar’s Office.

The deadline to submit your Petition for Conferral to participate in a ceremony is March 1 for the spring ceremony or October 1 for the fall ceremony.

Due to the health and safety concerns related to COVID-19, SNHU Spring 2020 and Fall 2020 Commencement has been postponed. If you were eligible to attend either of these ceremonies, updated registration information will be sent to your SNHU email as soon as new dates are confirmed.

Diplomas are not distributed at the Commencement Ceremony, only diploma covers.

As long as graduates have completed their coursework, are in good academic standing, do not have any outstanding financial obligations, and have completed the Financial Aid exit counseling, their diploma will be mailed to the address they provided on their Petition for Conferral form approximately 10 business days after their conferral date. Once it is placed in the mail, an email with a tracking number is sent to your SNHU email address to confirm. Conferrals occur once a month.

To learn more about our Latin and Ceremonial Honors policy, visit the Honors Policies and Etiquette tab on our Graduates page.

Any eligible cords (undergraduate only) will be mailed to you when you order your regalia package. For those attending in person, honors cords will also be available when you check in with the Registrar at the Arena on the day of Commencement. You can ask the Registrar team to refresh your academic record to have the most current honors status reflected when your name is read during the ceremony.

UC students may be eligible to attend Honors and Hooding Ceremonies. These events are coordinated by the different schools and information will be sent directly from those offices.

If you are an online student and have completed your degree program, the graduates with the highest GPAs in each program are eligible to receive Distinguished Scholar recognition. For more information, please contact academicawards@snhu.edu.

Commencement Speaker applications open by invitation-only to eligible graduates. Please check your SNHU email to see if you are eligible to apply.

Spring: Email invitations will be sent early January. Degree conferral date must be between January 1 and the term that ends prior to Commencement Weekend. Must complete Petition to Graduate by January 1.

Fall: Email invitations will be sent early September. Degree conferral date must be between June 1 and the term that ends prior to Commencement Weekend. Must complete their petition to graduate by September 1.

Eligible undergraduate students must have a 3.5 GPA or higher. Eligible graduate students must have a 3.8 GPA or higher.

A committee made up of SNHU staff and faculty review the applications and based on a scoring rubric, select 10-20 finalists to submit recorded draft Commencement speeches. That same committee views the speeches and selects a speaker for each Commencement ceremony.

Spring: The call for National Anthem singer auditions is the beginning of February, the deadline to enter is February 28th.

Fall: The call for National Anthem singer auditions is the beginning of September, the deadline to enter is September 30th.

Please watch your SNHU email, mySNHU announcements, or check in SNHUconnect and SNHU social media accounts for the link to audition.

The fee included the conferral process and shipment of your diploma, one complimentary copy of your official transcript, your cap and gown, and other Commencement items.

Please visit www.balfour.com/snhu.

Please contact the Registrar’s Office through the Service Portal for questions regarding diplomas and/or conferrals.

Please contact the Registrar’s Office through the Service Portal for questions regarding diplomas and/or conferrals.

Yes. Once your Petition for Conferral is approved and you have received your invitation to attend Commencement, you will be able to reserve tickets for your guests during the registration process. Guest tickets are required. Children under the age of 3 will not be included in your guest count. The deadline for guest ticket reservations is approximately 4 weeks prior to Commencement and will be specified in all email communications.

Students can compose their own letters and request an enrollment verification letter from SNHU if that is required by the embassy in question. Review these instructions for additional details. Neither the Registrar’s Office, International Student Services nor the Commencement Office provide letters of invitation for students.

Please visit http://www.snhuarena.com/arenainfo/directions_parking/ for directions to the arena.

Information regarding parking and directions are located at the City of Manchester website.

The City of Manchester has 3,500 metered parking spaces in the downtown area. Most of the meters are Pay & Display parking kiosks. The center of downtown has a 2-hour parking limit and parking is $.75 per hour on Saturdays - 10am-8pm on Elm St. between Granite and Bridge. After 5pm you can park at any meter for any length of time as long as you pay to park.

Parking in downtown Manchester is at your own discretion. Please note: Parking at local businesses, including Market Basket, is not advised. Your vehicle will likely be towed.

Graduates must enter through the lower lot of SNHU Arena, (access from Cedar Street gate area or Auburn Street side) and proceed down into the loading dock area. Please arrive one hour before the start of the Commencement Ceremony. Guests should check with the graduate regarding the ceremony time. Guests should enter the Arena through the front doors of the SNHU Arena, located at 555 Elm Street, Manchester, NH 03101.

Graduates should use the following form to coordinate with our Accessibility team for their ceremony: http://bit.ly/snhuaccessrequestform. Guests cannot pre-register for accommodations but there will be Accessibility staff members to assist at the entrances of the Arena.

Yes. Elevators are located to the right in the front lobby of the SNHU Arena.

Backpacks, large bags, weapons of any type are not allowed in the Arena. Diaper bags will be subject to search by Arena Security. Strollers are not permitted in the seating area of the Arena and will be asked to be stored in designated areas in the concourse/walkway.

No, but please note that Concession stands will be open during the ceremony.