Graduation Requirements

You must satisfy all of the following requirements to graduate:

    • Fulfill all degree plan requirements as outlined in the Austin Community College (ACC) catalog.
    • Earn accumulative, non-remedial grade point average of at least 2.00.
    • Complete at least 25 percent of the degree requirements at ACC.
    • Meet all Texas Success Initiative requirements or provide certification of your state-approved assessment.
    • Ensure ACC has received all official transcripts from other colleges you have attended.
    • Resolve all financial obligations to the college and return all borrowed materials.
    • Earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on all transfer coursework used to satisfy a degree or certificate requirement.

Austin Community College will allow students to receive college credit hours for courses completed with the grade of D. However, courses completed with a grade of D may not be applied toward graduation.

A Department Chair, with written approval of the Dean, may accept the D grade as satisfying a graduation requirement upon appeal to the graduation office.

Consult with an Area of Study advisor or your program’s instructional department if you have questions about your degree plan or graduation requirements. For more information, visit Graduation.

Graduation Application & Automatic Awards

Austin Community College certifies graduates three times a year: in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. You are encouraged to meet with your advisor to complete a degree audit for the award you are pursuing and apply for graduation by the posted application deadline. Once you apply, the graduation office will review your record and notify you of your eligibility to receive a degree. Your diploma will be mailed to the address on your graduation application.

Graduation deadlines for each semester appear in the Academic Calendar. If you apply after the deadline, your application will be processed the following semester.

ACC may confer awards to current and former students who have met graduation requirements and have not applied for a degree or certificate award. If this applies to you, you will be notified via your email address on record of the credential we plan to award to you automatically. You may choose to opt out of receiving the automatic award by notifying the college by the deadline listed in your notification.

Commencement

You are encouraged to participate in spring or fall commencement ceremonies after applying to graduate. Summer graduates are invited to attend the fall commencement ceremony. Participation in the commencement ceremony is optional and does not constitute official graduation from the college.

There is no fee to participate in commencement ceremonies, but candidates must wear a black cap and gown in good condition. Caps and gowns may be purchased from the ACC Bookstore or other retailers.

Graduation Honors

If you graduate with a 3.5 or higher, your academic achievement is noted on your diploma with one of the following:

  • 3.50 – 3.74  Scholastic Leadership
  • 3.75 – 3.99  Scholastic Excellence
  • 4.0  Chancellor’s Honor Roll

Award Limitations

You cannot receive an Associate of Arts in General Studies at the same time or after receiving another associate or bachelor degree.

Students may earn a Certificate before or during the same semester they earn the Associate of Applied Science degree in the same concentration.

Students may earn a second transfer degree of the same type (AA, AS) as long as 12 credit hours of coursework are unique to the subsequent degree. The unique coursework requirement will be waived for students who previously earned a degree in General Studies.

Catalog in Effect

You may follow the degree plan requirements described in the catalog in effect at the time you first enrolled at ACC. Or, you may choose to follow the degree plan requirements of a later catalog in effect during your enrollment, as long as the program of study is still offered, the catalog is not more than 5 years old, and you have officially declared the corresponding major.

Discontinued Degrees and Certificates

If a degree or certificate program is discontinued, you have up to three years after the program is deactivated to complete the requirements and graduate with the degree or certificate. Consult with your Area of Study advisor or your program’s instructional department for more information.