Graduation Requirements
You must satisfy all of the following requirements to graduate:
- Fulfill all degree plan requirements as outlined in the Carteret Community College catalog.
- Earn an a cumulative, non-remedial grade point average of at least 2.00.
- Complete at least 25 percent of the degree requirements at Carteret CC.
- Completion of no more than six (6) credit hours within the degree program (10 percent of the total) by credit-by-examination.
- Ensure Carteret CC has received all official transcripts from other colleges you have attended.
- Resolve all financial obligations to the college and return all borrowed materials.
- Earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on all transfer coursework used to satisfy a degree or certificate requirement.
- Complete an application for completion via Carteret Compass and a graduate survey. The completion application, once received, must be approved by the Registrar Office.
Consult with your academic advisor or your program’s chairperson if you have questions about your degree completion plan or graduation requirements. For more information, visit Graduation.
The College reserves the right to change the requirements for completing a degree, diploma, or certificate program when it is in the best interest of the enrolled students or the academic program, or when mandated by the NC Community College System Office. When such changes occur, the College will work with students to ensure a smooth transition and satisfactory route to completion of the new requirements.
Graduation Application & Automatic Awards
Carteret Community College certifies graduates twice a year: in the fall and spring semesters. You are encouraged to meet with your academic advisor to complete a degree audit for the award you are pursuing and apply for graduation by the posted application deadline. Once you apply, the Registrar’s Office will review your record and notify you of your eligibility to receive a degree via your student email. Degrees will be mailed upon request via student graduation application, email, or phone application.
Graduation deadlines for each semester appear in the Academic Calendar.
Carteret CC may confer awards to current and former students who have met graduation requirements and have not applied for a degree, diploma, or certificate award. If this applies to you, you will be notified via your email address on record of the credential we plan to award to you automatically. You may choose to opt out of receiving the automatic award by notifying the college by the deadline listed in your notification.
Commencement
Carteret CC holds the annual commencement ceremony in May. You are encouraged to participate in the ceremony after applying to graduate via your Carteret Compass account. Students who graduate in December (application available on your student Carteret Compass account) of the semester prior are invited to the May ceremony by completing the Fall Completion Application, which can be acquired from the Registrar’s Office. Participation in the commencement ceremony is optional and does not constitute official graduation from the college. For more information, visit the Commencement Celebration page on the website.
There is no fee to participate in commencement ceremonies, as each student pays a graduation fee every semester. Candidates must wear a navy-blue cap and gown in good condition. Caps and gowns may be purchased from the Carteret CC Bookstore. The Registrar’s office has a limited number of donated caps and gowns that may be borrowed for the ceremony on a first-come basis. Borrowed items are required to be returned prior to the diploma being issued. Please contact the registrar's office at registrar@carteret.edu for availability.
Graduation Honors
If you complete 12 credits at Carteret CC and graduate with a 3.5 GPA or higher in your major program of study, your academic achievement is noted on your diploma with the following:
"graduating with honors" and the student will receive a gold tassel.
Catalog in Effect
Students who have not missed two consecutive semesters (excluding the summer term) may follow the degree plan requirements described in the catalog in effect at the time they first enrolled in the program of completion at Carteret CC. Or, if desired and requested in writing, the student may choose to follow the degree plan requirements of a later catalog in effect during their enrollment, as long as the program of study is still offered, the catalog is not more than 5 years old, and the student has officially declared the corresponding major. A student who changes programs must meet the program requirements in effect at the time of the program change.