Graduation

Mark your calendars!

The 2026 Merritt College Commencement Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 5:30 PM. Join us as we celebrate the accomplishments and hard work of our graduates. This special event will be held at the Paramount Theatre (2025 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612) and will be a memorable occasion for students, families, and friends alike.

Stay tuned for additional details, and we look forward to celebrating this incredible milestone with you!

Help Choose Your Commencement Theme!

Graduates, you did the work, and now it’s time to help shape your graduation celebration!
We’re inviting the Class of 2026 to vote for the commencement theme that best represents your journey, your resilience, and your future.

Cast Your Vote & Make Your Voice Heard!

Please review the theme options below and select your favorite for Merritt College’s 73rd Commencement Ceremony. You can vote by either clicking the button below or scanning the QR code on the right. Voting closes Monday, April 20th, 2026.

Rising with Purpose: Education as a Catalyst for Change – Celebrates education as a tool for personal growth, community leadership, and social impact—especially relevant for first‑generation and returning students.
Resilience, Grit, and the Power of Perseverance – Honors the challenges students have overcome and affirms that persistence, adaptability, and courage are lifelong strengths.
From Access to Impact: Turning Opportunity into Action – Highlights how access to education empowers graduates to create meaningful change in their families, careers, and communities.
Rooted in Community, Ready for the World – Connects Merritt College’s role in Oakland to graduates’ broader future paths, emphasizing civic responsibility, service, and leadership.
Your Voice Matters: Leading with Integrity and Compassion – Encourages graduates to use their voices boldly and ethically in the workforce, in civic life, and in moments of decision‑making.
Dream Forward: Possibility, Purpose, and the Path Ahead – A forward‑looking theme that inspires confidence, hope, and vision as students transition to their next chapter.
Collective Strength: Honoring the Village Behind Every Graduate – Recognizes families, faculty, staff, and community partners while reinforcing the idea that success is built together.
Courage to Begin, Confidence to Continue – Acknowledges new beginnings at every stage of life and celebrates the momentum that carried you to this moment.

Mandatory Graduation Information Sessions

Grad Fair – Cap & Gown Pick‑Up

Academic Requirements

Academic Requirements for Degree/Certificate

General Education Requirements for AA/AS Degrees
Candidates for the Associate Degree must complete at least 60 units to include courses in a Major, General Education, and Electives, as necessary (see catalog for details).

A minimum grade of “C” or better is required for each course in the major, English Composition (Area 4A), and Mathematics (Area 4B).
At least 12 units must be completed at Merritt.
Students must complete a minimum of 19 units distributed among Areas 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 5.

NOTE: While a course might satisfy more than one General Education requirement, it may not be counted more than once for this purpose (see exception for Ethnic Studies courses).

Associate’s Degree
Candidates for the Associate Degree must complete at least 60 degree applicable units, which include the major courses, General Education, and electives as necessary.

At least 19 units must be completed in General Education
A minimum number of 18 units required for the major. The specific number of units varies with the major. Students should refer to the individual curriculum patterns for this information.

NOTE: When the units from the General Education and Major do not total 60 units, students must complete any degree – applicable course(s), referred to as electives, until the total of at least 60 units is obtained.

At least 12 units must be taken at the college where the student is petitioning.
A minimum grade-point average of 2.0 (“C”) is required in EACH of the following:
1. Overall grade-point average
2. General Education Requirements
A “C” grade or better is required in each course in the major.

Certificate of Achievement
To award a Certificate of Achievement (approved by the State Chancellor’s Office) in any of the Peralta Colleges, the College shall certify that the following requirements have been met:

Minimum of 18 semester units in the major; and completion of a specified program of courses with a “C” grade or better in each course; or
Completion of 12-17.5 units in a specified program of courses with a “C” grade or better in each course

Certificate of Proficiency
To award a Certificate of Proficiency (approved locally) in any of the Peralta Colleges, the College shall certify that the following requirements have been met:

Up to and including 17.5 semester units
Completion of specified courses with a “C” grade or better in each course
Certificates of Proficiency will not appear on official transcripts.

It is the student’s responsibility to file a “Petition for Certificate of Achievement/Proficiency” by the deadline specified in the College Calendar (see the Class Schedule for all deadlines).

Petition for Graduation

Petition for Graduation

Deadline to petition for Spring 2026 graduation is Friday, March 13, 2026.

Follow the steps below if you are eligible for a degree or certificate evaluation:

Complete the Petition for Graduation form for AA/AS, AA-T/AS-T and/or Certificate.
Schedule an appointment with a counselor to review the Petition Form for degree/certificate requirements. Note: If you are working with counselors in EOPS/CARE, DSPS, CalWORKS, or Veteran’s Services, you should make appointments with them; all other students can make appointments in the Counseling Department, Student Center (R109).
Return your petition (with your signature and your Counselor’s signature) and the evaluation worksheets completed by your counselor to the Admissions and Records Office in the Student Center (R114A).

For more information about the process and what to expect after you submit, please refer to the following diagrams from Admissions & Records:

Caps & Gowns

All PCCD Graduation Schedules – 2025