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 digital diploma is issued and a printed copy is authorized, you’ll receive an email from Parchment with a claimlink for the digital copy that will also allow you to review your diploma mailing address and update it, if needed.

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) a 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. For participants in the in-person Commencement ceremonies, a diploma cover is presented to you when you cross the stage at the ceremony.

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 Science in Nursing (MSN), 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.

For instructions on ordering a replacement copy of a Western diploma, please refer to the "Replacement/Duplicate Diplomas" section (below).

If it has been less than a year since your original graduation date, please contact the Registrar's Office before ordering a replacement copy. In some cases, some or all of the replacement fee may be waived for recent graduates if shipment information was accurate and the diploma was not returned by USPS.

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 send 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.

Yes! Each individual diploma can reflect one degree, so you are welcome to place an order for each degree that you want to obtain a diploma for.

For instance, if you have both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts from Western, place two diploma orders to obtain a replacement diploma for each. However, if you want a diploma for the Master of Arts degree only, place one diploma order.

Feel free to contact us at RORecords@wwu.edu with any questions about ordering diplomas for multiple degrees. We'll reach out to you if there's any confusion about which degree your diploma order should reflect.

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

Per the Washington Secretary of State's Office, an apostille is an authentication issued to documents for use in countries that participate in the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961. 

In most cases, you'll only need an apostille for your diploma if you're specifically asked for one. Usually this is for the purpose of studying, working, and/or living outside of the United States.

1. Review the School Document Requirements from the WA Secretary of State's Office.
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 photocopy notarized by a Washington State notary public.
3. Package your apostille request consisting of three items:
   1. Your document to be apostilled (diploma).
   2. Your completed Apostille Authentication Request Form.
   3. Apostille fee payment.
4. Mail your diploma, request form, and payment together to the WA Secretary of State's Office.

Your apostille request must have all three items (diploma, request form, and payment) enclosed in the same piece of mail before sending to the Washington Secretary of State's Office. If your apostille request is incomplete, their office will hold it for a maximum of five (5) business days before returning to sender.

Payments for the apostille fee cannot be made over the phone.

1. Log in or create an account with Parchment.
2. Select the option to order a replacement/reprinted diploma.
3. On the delivery selection screen, select “I’m sending to myself or another individual."
4. On the next page, toggle to the "Print & Mailed" format and input delivery information.
5. Confirm your order details and enter your diploma display name.
6. Complete payment.

The “Print & Mailed” format option is actually a bundle that includes both a paper and a digital copy. The electronic option is for the standalone digital copy. 

We strongly suggest ordering the Print & Mailed bundle if you intend to use this diploma for apostille purposes.

Parchment will send you a link to claim your digital diploma once we process your order. If you decide to order the paper bundle, Parchment will mail your paper diploma in 10-15 business days after processing.

If you’re currently living abroad, you may want to have your diploma sent to a trusted friend or family member in the United States who can help you gather and organize your apostille request items before sending them to the Washington Secretary of State's Office.

Hard-copy replacement or original diplomas do not need to be notarized for apostille purposes in most cases. 

If the person/institution asking you to provide an apostilled diploma specifically requires it to also be notarized, please contact our office at RORecords@wwu.edu to request this (additional processing time needed). 

If you're using a photocopy of your diploma for apostille purposes, you will need to have the photocopy notarized by any Washington State Notary Public.

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

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

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

Prior to the 2024-25 academic year, all Western diplomas were issued in 8.5" x 11" format. 

Beginning fall 2024:

• Bachelor's and master's degree diplomas are issued in 8.5" x 11" format
• Doctoral (EdD and AUD) diplomas are issued in 11" x 14" format

All diplomas 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 academic 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. 

Replacement copies of doctoral diplomas may be issued in 8.5" x 11" format, if notarization or other special handling is required.

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 Certifications. 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.