Diploma Request Procedures

Diploma Requests for New Graduates

Diplomas and certificates are ordered by the Office of the Registrar after students have been cleared by their school/college, and their degree has been awarded (officially conferred via a graduation recommendation received from the school/college). Clearance submissions begin on or around the conferral date for the semester and can continue for several weeks. Participation in commencement ceremonies should not be immediately construed as your degree has been officially awarded.   

Diplomas and certificates are typically delivered 6-8 weeks after they have been awarded if mailed within the US, or 8-10 weeks for international recipients*. Your award status can be viewed on your BisonWeb unofficial transcript via Student Services -> Student Records -> Academic Transcript.  

*Note: The provided timeline is an estimation and actual receipt may vary based on hold statuses, postal delays, and other unforeseen circumstances. 

After the Office of the Registrar has ordered your diploma, the actual arrival date is dependent on the postal service. Also note that clearances are accepted on a rolling basis, so you may not receive your degree/certificate at the same time as your classmates. Please also ensure you check your BisonWeb account to see if you have any holds, as this will invariably delay your receipt of your diploma/certificate. A diploma/certificate will not be mailed if there is a financial hold on your account. If you cleared your hold after your degree has been awarded, you may send us a note at graduation@howard.edu to indicate your hold has been lifted. 

If you have not received your diploma or certificate within this estimated timeline, please review your unofficial transcript via BisonWeb to see if your degree or certificate was awarded (conferred). If it has not been awarded, please contact the Advising or Dean's Office of your school/college. If awarded, you must contact the Office of the Registrar at graduation@howard.edu. If you have made a documented effort to notify us about the missing diploma or certificate, and it has neither arrived nor been returned to us after six (6) months, we will cover the cost of a second paper diploma. A new valid mailing address will be needed to process a reorder. If you do not contact us within that time period, you will need to order a replacement diploma at a cost of $55. 

Alumni who wish to obtain a replacement diploma must submit the Replacement Request Form with the accompanying payment. Please see the named section below for further details.  

Address Changes & Returned Diplomas 

If you applied for graduation online via BisonWeb, your diploma/certificate will be mailed to the address you provided on your graduation application. If your mailing address changes after you have applied for graduation, you must send us a note at graduation@howard.edu to ensure your diploma is delivered to the correct address. If your diploma/certificate is mailed to the address of record and it is returned there will be a fee for re-mailing, or $55.00 to replace a lost diploma. Additional charges may apply for international mailings.  

Diploma/Certificate Name Changes 

If you would like to change the way your legal name appears on your diploma/certificate after you apply for graduation, you must submit a Legal Name Change Form. In the Optional Notes section, please indicate that you have applied for graduation. Legal Name Changes are not made once a degree has been conferred. 

Diploma Certification, Replacement, and Translation

Howard University offers alumni the opportunity to obtain replacement, certification and translation (Latin only) of their diplomas upon written request. The fee for a replacement diploma is $55.00 per copy. Please see below for information regarding these services.

Diploma Certification

To obtain a certification of a diploma issued to graduates from Howard University, please complete the following steps:

  1. Complete the Certification Request Form (PDF).
  2. Submit a photocopy of the original diploma with the completed Certification Request Form.
  3. Please indicate on the form if you would like to pick up the certification or have it mailed. If you prefer mailing, please provide the mailing address.
  4. Forward the completed Certification Request Form and the photocopy of the original diploma to the address below.

Office of the Registrar
2400 6th Street NW
Washington, DC 20059

Diploma Replacement

To obtain a replacement diploma issued to graduates from Howard University, please complete the following steps:

  1. Complete and have notarized a Replacement Request Form (PDF).
  2. Forward the Replacement Request Form and a check or money order in the amount of $55.00 to the address below.
  3. Replacement diplomas/certificates take approximately 4-6 weeks to be delivered once your order has been received and processed. Postal delays may impact this delivery timeline. 

Office of the Registrar 
2400 6th Street NW
Washington, DC 20059

Diploma Translation

English translation of Latin diplomas issued by Howard University.

To obtain a translation of a Latin diploma issued to graduates from Howard University, please complete the following steps: 

  1. Complete a Translation Request Form (PDF).
  2. Forward the completed Translation Request Form to the address below.

Office of the Registrar 
2400 6th Street NW
Washington, DC 20059

Medical Diploma Translation

English translation of Latin diplomas issued by Howard University.

To obtain a translation of a College of Medicine Latin diploma issued to graduates from Howard University, please complete the following steps: 

  1. Complete a College of Medicine Release Form (PDF). In section A, please select “Alumni”, and in section B, please select “English Translation of Diploma” 
  2. Forward the completed Translation Request Form to the address below or via email to hucmacademicaffairs@Howard.edu.  

College of Medicine
Office of Academic Affairs
c/o Darlene Wall
520 W Street, NW, Rm. 527
Washington, DC 20059