Commencement
Close up of Ohio State University diploma

Diplomas

The university has a long-standing, proud tradition of providing each student with their diploma at the commencement ceremony.

What size is the diploma?

Diplomas are 8.5" x 11" and oriented in a landscape printing position. All diplomas are received in an Ohio State diploma cover.

Where can I purchase a diploma frame?

Diploma frames can be purchased at the official university bookstore, Barnes & Noble at The Ohio State University, or at other bookstores in the campus area.

Where can I pick up my diploma if I am unable to attend the ceremony?

Autumn 2024 diplomas can be picked up at Buckeye Link on the first floor of the Student Academic Services (SAS) building, 281 West Lane Avenue, during regular business hours between December 16 and 4:00 p.m. on December 20. If you are unable to pick up your diploma personally during the allotted time period, you may send someone else with a letter granting that person permission to obtain this document on your behalf.

If your diploma remains unclaimed after 4:00 p.m. on December 20, an attempt will be made to mail it to your permanent address as listed on the student information system after one month via U.S. mail. Diplomas returned in the mail or unclaimed at Buckeye Link will be held for one semester following commencement. Diplomas requested after this time period must be reprinted at the graduate's expense. Call 614-292-0300 with questions about diploma pick up.

If you filed a Commencement Ceremony Excused Form with your college office prior to the ceremony and requested that your diploma be mailed to you, you should receive your diploma within one month. Your diploma will be sent via U.S. mail. Ohio State does not assume responsibility for non-delivery if the address you provide is incorrect.

How do I correct an error on my diploma?

Diplomas will be corrected for one semester following commencement. After this time period, diplomas must be corrected at the graduate's expense.

If there is an error on your diploma (e.g., name misspelled or honors listed incorrectly), please follow the procedure below:

Mail your diploma, without the diploma cover, with a detailed note including your name, telephone number, mailing address and the correction(s) to be made, to:

Office of Commencement and Special Events
1060 Blankenship Hall
901 Woody Hayes Drive
Columbus, OH 43210

If your name is listed incorrectly on your diploma (e.g., nickname instead of formal name or middle initial instead of middle name):

  1. Verify that your name is listed on your academic record as you would like it to appear on your diploma. (Note: You must be a candidate to graduate to check your name in this manner).
  2. If the name in BuckeyeLink is incorrect, submit a "Request for Change of Record" form online along with appropriate documentation verifying your name change. Diploma changes cannot be made until your name is listed properly on your academic record.
  3. After the "Request for Change of Record" form has been submitted, return to BuckeyeLink to verify the name change has been made. It may take a few days before the change appears in the system.
  4. Once the name change is confirmed, please mail your diploma, without the diploma cover, with a detailed note including your name, telephone number, mailing address and the correction to be made, to:

    Office of Commencement and Special Events
    1060 Blankenship Hall
    901 Woody Hayes Drive
    Columbus, OH 43210

How do I order a duplicate, replacement, or certified copy of my diploma?

Detailed instructions for ordering a duplicate, replacement or certified copy of a diploma are available on the Diploma Request website.

A note about diploma issues

While every effort will be made to ensure that each graduate will receive the correct diploma during the ceremony, if they do not, the graduate should go to 281 West Lane Avenue, first floor, the week following the ceremony.

A graduate may receive a letter instead of a diploma at commencement for one of two reasons:

  1. The graduate has a "hold" on their record and should follow the instructions received for resolving the hold
  2. The processing and certification of the degree requirements was incomplete as of 12 p.m. on Saturday, December 14, 2024, and the university cannot release the diploma without additional action on the graduate's part.

Questions about academic eligibility to receive a diploma must be referred to the college office or academic unit, which may be contacted on the Monday following commencement. Once degree certification questions are resolved, contact the Student Service Center at 614-292-0300 or ssc@osu.edu about claiming the diploma, and be sure to explain that a letter was received instead of a diploma at commencement.