Introducing the Digital Diploma

How to Get It

New graduates will receive an email and text notification once their degree applications have been reviewed and confirm with instructions on how to claim their diploma electronically.

Once you receive your digital diploma, it will always be accessible through your Parchment account. You can login and download or share it at no cost.

Your diploma will be sent to your preferred email address on your CUNYfirst account. Information on how to update your preferred email address can be found HERE.

But What About my Paper Diploma?

Don’t worry! Along with your digital copy, Parchment will ship a paper copy to your mailing address on your CUNYfirst account within 3-4 weeks. Information on how to update your mailing address can be found HERE.

Questions about digital diplomas? Email Degrees@citytech.cuny.edu

Questions about the digital diploma once you have received it? Email congratulations@parchment.com

Request Replacement or Duplicate Diploma

To obtain a replacement/duplicate copy of your original diploma, please visit Parchment Diploma Services. To ensure that your diploma displays your name accurately, we highly recommend verifying your primary name on CUNYfirst.  

If your primary name has changed: 

1. Submit a Personal Data Change Request form along with appropriate documentation. 
2. Submit the forms through the Registrar Portal.

Diploma Name

Effective Spring 2025 CUNY now allows students to choose a Diploma Name in CUNYfirst.

What You Need to Know

• You may choose a different First and/or Middle name for your diploma.
• Your Last name must match your Legal Name, unless you provide official documentation to change your Last Name through the Office of the Registrar.
• No documentation is required to select a Diploma Name.
• Your Diploma Name:
  • Does not change your Legal Name
  • Does not affect financial aid or enrollment records
  • Does not change your transcript
  • Selection of a Preferred Name does not modify the name on the Diploma or the Legal name on the record.
  • The Legal Name on file is the default diploma name if no other name is selected.
  • Students who graduated before Spring 2025 cannot request a different name on a replacement diploma due to the effective date of April 23, 2025 of the policy change.
  • Offensive or inappropriate entries are not permitted.

How to Select Your Diploma Name

You can enter or update your Diploma Name in CUNYfirst in either your Student Center or Graduation Application

• You may update your Diploma Name at any time until your graduation application status becomes "APPROVED." After "APPROVED" status, changes are no longer permitted.
• To ensure your Diploma Name appears correctly in commencement publications, please submit Graduation deadline. Submissions received after this deadline may not be included in commencement materials in time for publication.

Important Considerations Before Choosing a Diploma Name

While many students may want to use a different Diploma Name, you may want to carefully consider your choice if:

• You plan to live, work, or study outside the United States, where your diploma is acknowledged as an official legal document.
• You are in a professional program that leads to licensure, where your Diploma Name may need to match your Legal Name.
• You expect to request an Apostille for your diploma. Apostilles are issued only under your Legal Name, not your Diploma Name.

If you are unsure whether using a Diploma Name is right for you, please contact the Office of the Registrar at Degrees@citytech.cuny.edu

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

I just applied for graduation. What should I do while I wait? Potential graduates should check their CUNYfirst account to ensure their email and mailing address is up to date. How to update your preferred email address? CLICK HERE. How to update your mailing address? CLICK HERE.

I got the email about my digital copy, what should I do now? Follow the link to set up your Parchment digital credentials account. Share your digital diploma on Facebook and LinkedIn or download a secure .pdf version.

What can I do with my digital diploma? Celebrate with friends and family View or download a verifiable copy of your diploma Share with employers for degree verification Use as an alternative to an apostille

I graduated but have a hold. When will I get my diploma? Your digital and paper diploma will not be released until your hold is cleared. Once your hold is cleared, email Degrees@citytech.cuny.edu with your EMPLID. Once we confirmed that your diploma has been released, you will receive your digital diploma within minutes and your paper within 3-4 weeks.

When will I get notified about my diploma? Graduates will get an email and text notification once the graduation auditing process is complete. Our graduation auditing process begins once we receive the semester's final grades, and the process takes approximately one month to complete.

When will my diploma be available? Our graduation auditing process begins once we receive the semester's final grades, and the process takes approximately one month to complete. Graduates will get an email and text notification with their digital diploma once the graduation auditing process is complete. Your paper diploma arrives typically 3-4 weeks after you receive your digital copy. May take longer due to delivery delays with USPS that is beyond our control.

Where will my digital diploma be sent to? Your digital diploma will be sent to your Preferred email address on your CUNYfirst account.

Where will my paper diploma be mailed to? Your paper diploma will be mailed to your home address on your CUNYfirst account.

How long after receiving my digital diploma will my paper one arrive? Your paper diploma typically arrives within 3-4 weeks after receiving your digital copy, but delivery delays are subject to USPS shipping time.

Which carrier is used when shipping my paper diploma? Our diploma vendor, Parchment, uses USPS to ship their diplomas.

Will I get notified when my paper diploma has shipped? Yes, you will get an email notification from Parchment when your diploma is shipped.

How do I request a replacement diploma? If you need to order a replacement degree, the form can be found here.

My diploma is wrong, how do I correct it? If there is an error in one of the following: Name Graduation Date Honor Status Degree Type Please emails us at Degree@citytech.cuny.edu. Please note, your degree will list your official name in CUNYfirst. Any updates/corrections needed must be submitted before the semester ends. any request made after the awarding of your degree will result in a re-issuing fee of $30.

How long after receiving shipping notification will my paper diploma arrive? Your paper diploma arrives typically 2-3 weeks after you receive your shipping notification.

Can I change my Diploma Name if I graduated before Spring 2025? No, Students who graduated prior to Spring 2025 do not have the option of requesting a name other than their Legal Name if ordering a replacement diploma, due to the effective date of 4/23/2025 of the policy change.