Commencement

CU will have Commencement in May, with additional August and December conferral dates for diplomas. The university may approve an alternate conferral date in conjunction with international partners when appropriate.

Delayed Graduation

Students who drop out of the university for a year or more and later return to graduate must meet the requirements in effect for the catalog of the year in which they reenter. Continuing students who change majors must meet the requirements of the catalog in effect for the year in which they make the change.

Graduating with Honors

At commencement, honors are given on the following basis to students who maintain high academic averages:

Undergraduate Programs:

• cum laude 3.3
• magna cum laude 3.6
• summa cum laude 3.85

Master’s Programs :

• 3.60-3.74 Cum laude
• 3.75-3.89 Magna Cum laude
• 3.90-4.00 Summa Cum laude

Doctoral Programs:

• 3.75-3.89 Graduation with Distinction
• 3.90-4.00 Graduation with High Distinction

Such achievement is recorded on the student’s permanent record.

Award of Excellence

Carolina University recognizes superior scholarship and excellence of Christian character with an Award of Excellence. To qualify for this award, a student must have a minimum grade point average of 3.3 and be in the top seven percent of the senior class.

Note: Students already holding a bachelor’s degree are not eligible for the Award of Excellence.

Graduation Catalog

Courses required for graduation are based on the catalog in effect at the time of the student’s initial enrollment. A student whose enrollment is interrupted will follow the catalog in effect at his or her most recent re-enrollment date. A student may change to a new catalog by processing the appropriate form.

Graduation Rate

Pursuant to the Federal Student Right-to-Know Act, the completion or graduation rate in 2016-2017 for undergraduate students who entered Carolina University in 2011 as a first-time, full-time, certificate or degree-seeking student was 43 percent.