Diploma

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I receive my diploma?
Diplomas are generally printed and mailed six to eight weeks after the conclusion of your final semester. If you need official verification of your degree before you receive your diploma, you may order a transcript or verification online through OASIS by selecting “Record Ordering Services”.

Where will USC mail my diploma?
The Degree Progress department will mail your diploma to your permanent address. To have your diploma mailed to your local address instead, log in to OASIS and select “Other Services”. When we place an order with our diploma vendor, the Degree Progress department pulls your address from the university's Student Information System (SIS), meaning no updates can be made after the order is placed. If you would like to verify and/or change your local or permanent address, be sure to make the update in OASIS prior to the end of your final semester. Please also note that no tracking information is available for diplomas.

How do I receive a replacement for my damaged or lost diploma?
In the event that a diploma is lost, stolen, damaged, or a duplicate copy is necessary, a request for a replacement may be sent through our contact page by selecting the Registrar/Diploma category from the dropdown menus. The cost for a replacement diploma is $125.00, and the process may take four to six weeks from the time it is ordered. The new diploma will bear the names of the officials currently in office at the time the replacement diploma is produced. Please include the following information in your request:

  1. Full name used while in attendance at USC
  2. 10-Digit USC ID number (if applicable)
  3. Dates of attendance
  4. Date of birth
  5. Major/degree for which you are requesting a replacement diploma
  6. Mailing address to which the replacement diploma should be sent
  Information on payment options for this service will be included in the email acknowledgement sent by USC.

Will my diploma reflect university or departmental honors, if earned?
Diplomas reflect university honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude) for undergraduate degrees. They do not reflect departmental honors. However, departmental honors, if earned, will be noted on your transcript. University honors are not granted to graduate degrees.

Will my diploma reflect my concentration or emphasis within my major?
In general, diplomas do NOT reflect areas of concentration, specialization or emphasis. Depending on your major, your concentration or emphasis may appear on your transcript.

What size frame should I buy if I want to frame the diploma?
All bachelor's, master's and PhD degree certificates are 8.5" high x 11" wide.
MD, JD, PharmD and DDS degree certificates are 11" high x 14" wide.
Minor certificates, issued since late 1998, are 6" high x 8" wide.

Do students pursuing a DOUBLE MAJOR receive one or two diploma certificates?
By definition, a double major is two (or more) areas combined into a single degree (B.A. or B.S.). You will receive one diploma certificate. (See the Second Bachelor's section below and your academic advisor for more information.)

Do students pursuing a SECOND BACHELOR'S degree receive one or two diploma certificates?
To complete a second bachelor's degree, a student must complete all the requirements for both degrees, including a minimum of 32 units beyond all the requirements for the first degree, in residence. As the title implies, successful completion of a second bachelor's program of study will result in a separate certificate for each degree. (See the Double Major section above for more information.)

What should I do if I have not received my diploma in the mail after several weeks?
If it has been more than three months since you received your congratulatory email, please contact the Registrar One Stop Center and inquire about a reissue. Be sure to include your USC ID number. We usually wait 10 weeks for returned mail from domestic addresses, and 14 weeks from international addresses, before reissuing diplomas. Be sure to verify that your mailing address is valid, and that you do not have any activity restrictions that might have prevented your diploma from being printed.