Graduation | Current Students | Ocean County College

Congratulations Class of 2025!

Congratulations Graduates!

Caps and gowns are provided to our graduates at no charge based on the generous support of the Ocean County College Alumni Department.

We welcome the class of 2025 to our alumni community!

Order your Cap & Gown

Graduate Information

Special Regalia Items

TV Schedule

Commencement Week Ceremonies Dates

Nurses’ Pinning Ceremony

Tuesday, May 20
5 p.m.

Awards Ceremony

Tuesday, May 20
7 p.m.

Commencement Ceremony

Wednesday, May 21
4 p.m.

Graduate Information

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Applying for Graduation

Students must apply for graduation to receive a degree from OCC. The graduation application is available through Student Planning. Please login to your Ocean Connect account and click on Student Planning. Go to the Home page and select Graduation Overview.
Students should submit an Application for Graduation after registering for their final semester of courses at OCC.
Students approaching graduation should contact the Advising Office to request a graduation audit. Email advisingoffice@ocean.edu after you register for your final semester, and let us know when you plan to graduate. An advisor will check your coursework and confirm if you have registered for all of your remaining requirements.

Graduation Deadlines

The deadlines to apply for graduation are:

Fall Completion: November 1
Spring Completion: March 1
Summer Completion: July 1

*If the deadline date falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline date will be the next business day.

Deadlines for applications are firm.
Please submit your Application for Graduation before or no later than the deadline.
Anyone applying after the stated deadline will automatically be placed into the next semester’s graduation.
The best time to submit your Application for Graduation is right after registering for your final semester.

ALL STUDENTS – The Lampitt Law regulates the transfer of courses from NJ county colleges to 4-year NJ state schools for students earning an AA or AS degree. You will receive a notation of graduation status on your permanent transcript and the ability to include this degree on your resume.

NURSING STUDENTS – Graduation is required for you to take the NCLEX exam to obtain a nursing license. Questions can be directed to the Nursing Department at 732.255.0400 Ext. 395.

Students may contact the Advising and Transfer Services Office at 732.255.0300 for assistance with a degree audit or to discuss their graduation status.

Diplomas

Diplomas will be mailed to students to the address on file with the college. The college is not responsible for diplomas lost in the mail (usually due to a student moving and not providing the college with an updated address). The college cannot reprint diplomas, so please make sure your address is correct.

Fall completion – Diplomas will be mailed in mid-March
Spring completion – Diplomas will be mailed in mid-July
Summer completion graduates – Diplomas will be mailed in mid-October

Certificate Of Completion & Certificate of Proficiency

Students applying for a Certificate must complete and submit their application at the Office of Registration & Records.

Transcripts

If you are transferring to another school, and need your transcripts to reflect your status as a graduate, please note this information will not automatically appear on a transcript until approximately two weeks after the graduation date.

Request a transcript

Date & Time of Commencement Ceremony

There is no rehearsal. Please arrive on time so you will know what to do for the ceremony.
Graduates must arrive at OCC by 3 p.m. Recommended parking is Lot #3
Graduates will assemble outside the Hovnanian Health Sciences Building (#102). Graduates who arrive late will enter the procession at the end of the line.

Guests

Guests are not permitted to save seats.

Strict Security Regulations will be followed. ALL backpacks, and large bags are prohibited from campus during the Commencement Ceremony. All other bags will be subject to search.
Approved and prohibited items.

Cap and Gown Orders

For verification purposes, please enter your OCC student email address and your full name (as shown on your student ID) on the shipping address at checkout.
Before check out, please enter the graduation promo code (see below). After entering the promo code, you will NOT need to pay for this order.
Each student must place their own order under the student’s name. Please do not include more than one set of caps and gowns in your order.
Students ordering caps and gowns use the code OCC2025 to apply the 100% off shipping discount code.
All cap and gown orders must be submitted by May 9th, 2025

Order Your Cap and Gown

Inclement Weather

Commencement Ceremony

In the event of severe weather conditions, Commencement will be moved to Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 10 a.m.
The decision to move the ceremony will be made by 12 noon on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, and will be announced on the College website, Ocean TV20, or by calling 732-255-0400 for a recorded message.

Nurses’ Pinning Ceremony

The decision to move the Nurses’ Pinning Ceremony due to inclement weather will be made by noon on Monday, May 19, and will be announced on the College website (ocean.edu) and Ocean TV20.
Students and guests will report to the HPE Gymnasium on Tuesday, May 20, for the 5:00 p.m. ceremony. A link to the Nurses’ Pinning Ceremony live stream will be posted on the College website (ocean.edu)

Graduate Photos

Island Photography is our official Commencement Photographer for 2025.
- They will provide professional photo coverage for every graduate as they are recognized during the ceremony.
- Proofs will be delivered via email within 48-72 hours after the ceremony.
- Please contact their customer service team at custserv@islandphoto.com or 800-869-0908 if you have any concerns or questions.
Family and friends may take pictures at the ceremony from their seats.

Special Regalia Items

Special Regalia item pick up:

Honor Societies
Veterans

Pick up at Student Center – Information Desk (first floor)

Week of Commencement
Monday and Tuesday.
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Special Regalia items include:

Students with a final grade point average of 3.5 or higher are eligible for gold tassels.
Honors by Contract students who complete the program are eligible for a tassel and stole.
NJStars students are eligible to receive a pin.
Veterans are eligible to receive a cord.
Psi Beta, Psychology Honor Society members are eligible to receive a cord.
Sigma Kappa Delta, English Honor Society members, are eligible to receive a pin.

Please contact Student Life at 732-255-0348 with any questions about special regalia items.

Handicapped Access

Students participating in the Commencement Ceremony who require special accommodations should contact Student Life at studentlife@ocean.edu at least three days before the ceremony.

A section of Parking Lot 4 is designated for Handicapped Parking on a first-come, first-served basis. A state-issued Handicapped Parking Pass is required.

TV Schedule

Ocean County College’s ceremonies will be broadcast live on Ocean.edu and Ocean TV 20 via Comcast Channel 20 and Verizon FiOS of Northern Ocean County Channel 24.