To qualify for the degree of bachelor of arts, a candidate must meet specific requirements in residence, quantity, quality, distribution, major, and January Program. Only those seniors who have met all graduation requirements are eligible to participate in the commencement exercises. Students who, because of extreme extenuating circumstances, find themselves unable to graduate with their class, may appeal to the Administrative Committee of the College for permission to march with their class and receive an empty diploma cover.

The following statements define the graduation requirements.

Candidates for the degree must earn in residence at least 64 credit hours. They must be resident students at Colby for at least four semesters, including the last semester*. (*For students who entered before the 2009-2010 academic year, the entire senior year must be spent in residence.) A resident student is defined as a full-time student taking at least 12 credit hours and paying tuition charges at the semester rate.

Unless taken as part of an established institutional exchange program, credits earned at another institution while a student is registered concurrently at Colby may not be applied toward graduation requirements.

A minimum of 128 credit hours earned in at least seven* semesters of full-time college-level study. (*Eight full-time semesters are required of students who entered before the 2009-2010 academic year.) Among the 128 credit hours, up to 16 may be earned in courses taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.

At least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average. For each credit hour, a mark of: 

• A earns four points
• B earns three points
• C earns two points
• D earns one point
• Each plus mark earned adds: .3 quality point per credit hour
• Each minus mark deducts: .3 quality point per credit hour