Graduates

Graduates are individuals who have completed an educational program or course of study and have been awarded a degree, diploma, or certificate. The term applies across education levels, from secondary school to higher education and professional training. A high school graduate has completed secondary education; an undergraduate graduate has earned a bachelor’s degree; graduates at advanced levels have master’s, doctoral, or professional degrees. Some programs confer certificates that recognize completion without a degree.

To graduate typically involves meeting program requirements, passing examinations, and sometimes completing a capstone project or practical work. Many countries hold a graduation or commencement ceremony at which degrees or certificates are conferred in person. Attendees often wear academic dress, including a cap and gown, and the event signals a transition to the next phase of a graduate’s career or studies.

Etymology and usage: the verb “to graduate” derives from Latin gradus meaning step, and a person who has completed a degree is a graduate. In some contexts, the term graduand refers to a person who is about to graduate; after conferral, they are called a graduate. In colloquial use, “grad” may refer informally to a graduate or to an undergraduate student.

After graduation, individuals typically join the ranks of alumni and may participate in alumni associations or networks that support ongoing professional, social, or philanthropic ties. Graduates may pursue further study, professional licensure, or employment, with outcomes shaped by field, location, and economy.