Graduation Requirements

The Michigan Tech undergraduate catalog, including degree requirements, is updated annually and expires after seven years. Students may not graduate using a catalog that is more than seven years old.

  • Students maintaining continuous enrollment at Michigan Tech may expect to graduate under the degree requirements in effect at the time that they became a degree-seeking student at Michigan Tech.
  • Students changing majors will follow the degree requirements in effect at the time of the change of major.
  • Students adding a major or minor will follow the requirements for the additional curriculum in effect at the time it is added.
  • Students who have been absent from the University for three or more consecutive semesters (including summer) will follow the degree requirements in effect at the time of re-enrollment.

With approval from the academic department, students may follow the degree requirements from an earlier catalog. The catalog selected must be within seven years prior to the student's graduation or the first term the student was enrolled as a degree-seeking student at a regionally accredited institution, whichever is shortest.

Grade Point Requirement

A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 and a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in the designated major department are required for graduation in a baccalaureate or associate degree program. The President may establish minimum grade point average requirements greater than 2.00 for minors or certificates. The President shall advise the Board when any new minimum minor or certificate grade point average requirements are established.

Graduation Residency Policy

The requirement for a student to receive a baccalaureate degree from Michigan Technological University is: 

  1. Thirty (30) semester credit hours of advanced level courses (3000 or higher) which apply to the degree must be completed at Michigan Tech. 

Courses which meet the "at Michigan Tech" requirement are defined as courses that were taken as part of a university-approved study abroad program or as courses that are listed in the course catalog and taught by Michigan Tech faculty either on campus, at field locations, or through distance learning. 

The President or the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs is authorized to grant exceptions to this requirement in extraordinary individual cases. 

Degree programs with special requirements may apply for exemptions. The President or the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs may grant such programmatic exemptions upon recommendation of the Senate.

Graduation with Honors

Michigan Tech recognizes outstanding honors achievements of baccalaureate and associate degree candidates at commencement, on diplomas, and on transcripts with the Latin scholastic distinctions of summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude. Individual honor designation is determined by their cumulative grade point average.

All grades, which are on a point basis, are used to determine the cumulative GPA. Grades such as I, M, N, P, Q, S, V, etc. are not included in GPA calculations.

Commencement program honor designations are based on the cumulative GPA at the close of the preceding semester. Diploma and transcript honor designations are based on the cumulative GPA achieved after successful completion of all degree requirements.

Academic Honors are granted on the following basis:

  • 3.9–4.0 summa cum laude (highest honors)
  • 3.7–3.89 magna cum laude (high honors)
  • 3.5–3.69 cum laude (honors)