Diploma FAQ

Your diploma will be mailed 6-8 weeks after the close of the quarter to the address that you indicated on your degree application.

Once your diploma is ready to print, you’ll receive an email from Parchment stating that you have 72 hours to make any changes to your diploma mailing address.

Diplomas are not given out at commencement ceremonies.

Parchment will email you at your external (non-WWU) email a few weeks after the close of the quarter with a link to claim your digital diploma.

Your diploma will display the name you indicated at the time of degree application.

Changing your name with Western after submitting your degree application won’t automatically change your diploma name. Please contact Degree Evaluation at DegreeEval@wwu.edu before the end of your graduation quarter if you need to change your diploma name.

No. Every new graduate is issued one original hard-copy diploma and (beginning with the Fall 2023 graduating class) one digital diploma upon completion of all degree requirements.

However, you can order additional replacement or duplicate paper diplomas whenever you need to for an additional charge. Alumni who graduated prior to Fall 2023 can order a digital diploma, also for an additional charge.

Don’t throw your damaged diploma away yet! Take a photo of the damaged item and contact Parchment support at diplomaprints@parchment.com to request a one-time reissue of your original diploma.

Diploma covers can be purchased from the Western Associated Students Bookstore. In-person commencement ceremonies include a diploma cover with the purchase of your cap and gown.

Western issues one diploma for each type of degree awarded.

Degree Types

Western’s undergraduate and graduate programs lead to the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Arts in Education (BAE), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Bachelor of Music (BMus), Bachelor of Science (BS), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master of Arts (MA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Education (MEd), Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Master of Music (MM/MMus), Master in Teaching (MIT), Master of Science (MS), Master of Professional Accounting (MPA), Doctor of Education (EdD), and Clinical Doctorate in Audiology (AUD).

Baccalaureate Degrees with Two Majors

Students with two majors that would result in the same type of degree (for example, a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Arts in business) will receive one diploma that lists the one degree type and both majors.

More than One Baccalaureate Degree

A student may earn from Western only one of each type of degree offered (BA, BS, BAE, BFA, BMus, BSN).

If you have two majors that would result in two different types of degrees, for example a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, you will receive two diplomas – one for the BA and one for the BS.

The Registrar’s Office processes replacement/duplicate diploma orders through Parchment about 3-5 business days after our team confirms and approves your order details.

Once this happens, you’ll be emailed a link to claim your digital diploma and review your address if Parchment is mailing a hard copy.

Digital diplomas are usually issued within a business day of being processed by the Registrar’s Office.

Hard-copy diplomas take longer. You’ll have 72 hours after your claim link email is sent from Parchment to review your diploma’s mailing address and make any changes needed. Parchment will mail your diploma 10-15 business days after the 72-hour window has passed.

Please note that any discrepancies between your order details and your alumni information on file may require additional follow-up and increase processing time

You can track your order status through the Orders tab in your Parchment account. Parchment will also sent updates to the email address associated with your account.

Digital diplomas can only be sent directly to you, the alum. However, once your diploma has been processed, you can download it, link to it, or post it on social media as many times as you’d like!

If you need your hard-copy replacement/duplicate diploma mailed to a third party, please contact us at RORecords@wwu.edu immediately after placing your Parchment order. Special handling by our office may be needed.

Yes. Select the Local Pickup option as your delivery destination when placing your order in Parchment. You’ll receive an email notification when we’ve processed your order.

Please bring a piece of photo ID with you when you pick up your diploma at the Registrar’s Office in Old Main 230. Visit our contact page for hours and location details.

Your diploma display name is how you'd like your name to appear on your diploma.

For example, an alum named Sofia Ana Silva may want a diploma display name of Sofia Ana Silva, Sofia A. Silva, Sofia Silva, S.A. Silva, or other variations.

If you do not indicate a diploma display name on your order form, Western will default to the diploma display name on file for your original diploma.

If you’d like your replacement diploma to reflect a new legal name, please complete and send your name change paperwork to the Registrar’s Office prior to ordering a replacement diploma. Feel free to contact us at RORecords@wwu.edu to coordinate this.

Yes. Hard-copy diplomas can still be ordered by mail using our Mail-In Diploma Request Form (PDF). Mail your completed and signed request form to the Registrar’s Office with a check payable to Western Washington University.

Please note that digital diplomas are only available through Parchment and cannot be ordered by mail.

Please contact our team at RORecords@wwu.edu to discuss any special handling requests prior to placing your diploma order.

The Registrar’s Office is not able to accept diploma orders over the phone.

Visit Parchment's customer support website to submit a support ticket, search for help articles, or browse Parchment's FAQ. You can also contact Parchment Support at (847) 716-3005.

Only you, the alum, are allowed to order your diploma.

All Western diplomas are currently 8.5" x 11". They carry the embossed university seal and signatures of university officers.

Original diplomas issued fall 2021–present are inscribed with the university name, graduate name, degree title, major(s), any applicable academic honor (cum laude or magna cum laude), and date of award (always the last Friday of the quarter).

An Honors College notation is made to diplomas of students who complete the requirements of the honors program.

Academic minors are not listed on diplomas, but are recorded on official transcripts.

Original diplomas issued prior to fall 2021 list both the university name and the academic college associated with the degree program. They are inscribed with the graduate's name, degree title, any applicable honor, and date of award. Major information was not included on original diplomas issued prior to fall 2021.

Replacement diplomas are issued in the current format, regardless of original issue term. Replacement copies list current president and board chair information, but are dated to reflect the original term of award. Replacement copies carry a notation indicating that they replace an original document.

Apostilles are issued by the Washington Secretary of State’s Office.

To use your diploma for an apostille:

1. Review the Apostille Document Guidelines from the WA Secretary of State's Office to ensure that you understand the requirements.
2. Obtain and prepare your document for apostilling. You can either:
   • Order a hard-copy replacement diploma (notarization not required in most cases); OR
   • Photocopy your diploma and have the copy notarized by a Washington State notary public.
3. Send your diploma to the WA Secretary of State's Office with a completed Apostille Request Form and payment.

For more information, please contact the WA Secretary of State's Office at apostilles@sos.wa.gov or review their Frequently Asked Questions page.

If special handling of your diploma is required for apostilling purposes, please contact the Registrar’s Office at RORecords@wwu.edu to discuss options before ordering your diploma.

Certificates can be earned at Western in a variety of departments. Further information can be found on our Certificate Information page.

Western does not issue Teaching Certificates. These are issued by the state. You can find more information about the process through the Woodring College of Education Certification Office.

Certificate of Achievement applications and replacement forms can be found on our Student Forms page.

Once your degree is posted to your student record, it will be reflected on official and unofficial transcripts. Please visit our Transcripts page for more information.

You are welcome to contact us at RORecords@wwu.edu or DegreeEval@wwu.edu to request a brief letter or email confirming your degree on file.

Employers may request degree verifications through the National Student Clearinghouse.

Participation in Commencement does not guarantee that you have completed your degree and truly graduated. Only when all program requirements are satisfactorily completed is your degree awarded. If you have incomplete or in-progress coursework, your degree cannot be awarded until all requirements are satisfied, which will delay issuance of your diploma.