Degree verification is the confirmation that a student has been awarded a specific degree or certificate, including the date of conferral and major.
How it works
The student or a third party initiates a request through the Clearinghouse or the registrar. The system or office matches the request to the conferred-degree record and returns confirmation. Some verifications are free to the requester; others require a fee or the student’s authorization. The response is considered official when it comes through the approved service or on institutional letterhead.
Example: an employer uses DegreeVerify to confirm that an applicant earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing on May 15, 2025, from an online program. The confirmation is received the same day, and the employer proceeds with the hiring process without waiting for a mailed transcript.
How it differs
An official transcript provides the full course history. A diploma is the student’s personal document and can be forged, so third parties often prefer direct verification. Enrollment verification confirms attendance, not degree completion. Commencement participation does not equal verified degree conferral.
Common errors
Accepting a photocopy of a diploma as final verification. Assuming a degree can be verified before the registrar has posted the conferral. Expecting course grades to appear on a degree verification.
References
- 1. National Student Clearinghouse degree verificationThird-party confirmation service
- 2. Institutional verification practicesRegistrar confirmation
Degree verification is the confirmation that a student has been awarded a specific degree or certificate, including the date of conferral and major.