Matriculate vs. Graduate — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on December 30, 2023
"Matriculate" refers to enrolling or being admitted into a university or college, while "graduate" means to complete a course of study and receive a degree or diploma.
Difference Between Matriculate and Graduate
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Matriculation is the process of entering a university as a student, whereas graduation is the completion of studies at an educational institution.
One matriculates at the beginning of their academic journey in higher education, while they graduate after fulfilling all requirements of their course.
Matriculation signifies the start of a student's academic tenure, in contrast, graduation marks the culmination and achievement at the end of this period.
Matriculate is often associated with formal admission processes, while graduate implies the attainment of a specific academic level or degree.
To matriculate, one might need to meet certain criteria or pass entrance exams, whereas to graduate, students must complete coursework and exams successfully.
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Comparison Chart
Stage in Education
Entry or admission into an educational institution.
Completion of a course of study at an institution.
Process
Involves enrollment and acceptance.
Involves meeting academic requirements and receiving a degree.
Time Frame
Occurs at the beginning of academic tenure.
Occurs at the end of an academic course.
Requirements
Often requires meeting entry criteria.
Requires completing all course-related requirements.
Significance
Marks the beginning of a student's academic journey.
Signifies the achievement and readiness for the next stage or career.
Compare with Definitions
Matriculate
To enroll as a student in a college or university.
She matriculated at Harvard this fall.
Graduate
To complete a course of study at a college or university.
She will graduate next spring.
Matriculate
The act of beginning a higher education course.
They matriculated after passing the entrance exams.
Graduate
The act of finishing university studies.
They graduate after four years of hard work.
Matriculate
Admission into an educational institution.
He matriculated into the engineering program.
Graduate
Receiving a formal academic degree or diploma.
He graduated with honors.
Matriculate
Formal entry into a university as a student.
She matriculated at the age of 18.
Graduate
A person who has successfully completed a course of study or training, especially a person who has been awarded an undergraduate or first academic degree.
Matriculate
Registering at a college or university.
He matriculated in September.
Graduate
A graduated cup, tube, flask, or measuring glass, used especially by chemists and pharmacists.
Matriculate
Be enrolled at a college or university
They had recently matriculated as undergraduates at Jesus College
Graduate
Successfully complete an academic degree, course of training, or (in North America) high school
He graduated from Glasgow University in 1990
He graduated in the summer with a 2:2 degree
Matriculate
Record (arms) in an official register
The arms have been matriculated by the Lord Lyon King of Arms in Edinburgh
Graduate
Arrange in a series or according to a scale
The stones were graduated in height from the lowest near the entrance to the tallest opposite
Matriculate
A person who has matriculated.
Graduate
Change (something, typically colour or shade) gradually or step by step
The colour is graduated from the middle of the frame to the top
Matriculate
To admit or be admitted into a group, especially a college or university.
Graduate
To be granted an academic degree or diploma
Most of the entering freshmen stayed to graduate.
Matriculate
One who is admitted as a student to a college or university.
Graduate
To change gradually or by degrees
"The most weighty of all the arguments against treating the races of man as distinct species, is that they graduate into each other" (Charles Darwin).
Matriculate
(transitive) To enroll as a member of a body, especially of a college or university
Graduate
To advance to a new level of skill, achievement, or activity
After a month of diving instruction, they all graduated to back flips.
Matriculate
To be enrolled as a member of a body, especially of a college or university.
Graduate
To grant an academic degree or diploma to
The school has graduated many gifted chemists.
Matriculate
A person admitted to membership in a society.
Graduate
Usage Problem To receive an academic degree from
How many chemists graduated the Institute last year?.
Matriculate
To enroll; to enter in a register;
In discovering and matriculating the arms of commissaries from North America.
Graduate
To arrange or divide into categories, steps, or grades
Graduate an income tax.
Matriculate
To go though the process of admission to membership, as by examination and enrollment, in a society or college.
Graduate
To divide into marked intervals, especially for use in measurement
Graduate a thermometer.
Matriculate
Matriculated.
Graduate
One who has received an academic degree or diploma.
Matriculate
Someone who has been admitted to a college or university
Graduate
A graduated container, such as a cylinder or beaker.
Matriculate
Enroll as a student
Graduate
Possessing an academic degree or diploma.
Graduate
Of, intended for, or relating to studies beyond a bachelor's degree
Graduate courses.
Graduate
A person who is recognized by a university as having completed the requirements of a degree studied at the institution.
If the government wants graduates to stay in the country they should offer more incentives.
Graduate
A person who is recognized by a high school as having completed the requirements of a course of study at the school.
Graduate
(Philippines) A person who is recognized as having completed any level of education.
Graduate
A graduated (marked) cup or other container, thus fit for measuring.
Graduate
Graduated, arranged by degrees
Graduate
Holding an academic degree
Graduate
Relating to an academic degree
Graduate
To be recognized by a school or university as having completed the requirements of a degree studied at the institution.
The man graduated in 1967.
Trisha graduated from college.
Graduate
To be certified as having earned a degree from; to graduate from (an institution).
Trisha graduated college.
Graduate
(transitive) To certify (a student) as having earned a degree
Indiana University graduated the student.
The college graduated him as soon as he was no longer eligible to play under NCAA rules.
Graduate
(transitive) To mark (something) with degrees; to divide into regular steps or intervals, as the scale of a thermometer, a scheme of punishment or rewards, etc.
Graduate
(intransitive) To change gradually.
Sandstone which graduates into gneiss; carnelian sometimes graduates into quartz
Graduate
To prepare gradually; to arrange, temper, or modify by degrees or to a certain degree; to determine the degrees of.
To graduate the heat of an oven
Graduate
(chemistry) To bring to a certain degree of consistency, by evaporation, as a fluid.
Graduate
To taper, as the tail of certain birds.
Graduate
(Japanese entertainment) Of an idol: to exit a group; or of a virtual YouTuber, to leave a management agency; usually accompanied with "graduation ceremony" send-offs, increased focus on the leaving member, and the like.
Graduate
To mark with degrees; to divide into regular steps, grades, or intervals, as the scale of a thermometer, a scheme of punishment or rewards, etc.
Graduate
To admit or elevate to a certain grade or degree; esp., in a college or university, to admit, at the close of the course, to an honorable standing defined by a diploma; as, he was graduated at Yale College.
Graduate
To prepare gradually; to arrange, temper, or modify by degrees or to a certain degree; to determine the degrees of; as, to graduate the heat of an oven.
Dyers advance and graduate their colors with salts.
Graduate
To bring to a certain degree of consistency, by evaporation, as a fluid.
Graduate
To pass by degrees; to change gradually; to shade off; as, sandstone which graduates into gneiss; carnelian sometimes graduates into quartz.
Graduate
To taper, as the tail of certain birds.
Graduate
To take a degree in a college or university; to become a graduate; to receive a diploma.
He graduated at Oxford.
He was brought to their bar and asked where he had graduated.
Graduate
One who has received an academical or professional degree; one who has completed the prescribed course of study in any school or institution of learning.
Graduate
A graduated cup, tube, flask, or cylinder; a glass measuring container used by apothecaries and chemists. See under Graduated.
Graduate
Arranged by successive steps or degrees; graduated.
Beginning with the genus, passing through all the graduateand subordinate stages.
Graduate
A person who has received a degree from a school (high school or college or university)
Graduate
A measuring instrument for measuring fluid volume; a glass container (cup or cylinder or flask) whose sides are marked with or divided into amounts
Graduate
Receive an academic degree upon completion of one's studies;
She graduated in 1990
Graduate
Confer an academic degree upon;
This school graduates 2,000 students each year
Graduate
Make fine adjustments or divide into marked intervals for optimal measuring;
Calibrate an instrument
Graduate a cylinder
Graduate
Of or relating to studies beyond a bachelor's degree;
Graduate courses
Graduate
Earning a degree or diploma from an educational institution.
He graduated with a degree in Biology.
Graduate
Successfully completing all requirements of a specific course.
She graduated top of her class.
Common Curiosities
Do international students also matriculate?
Yes, international students matriculate upon entering a university in a new country.
Can you graduate without attending classes?
Typically, attending classes and fulfilling course requirements is necessary to graduate.
What does it mean to graduate?
To graduate means to complete a course of study and receive a degree or diploma.
Is matriculation the same as starting college?
Yes, matriculation is essentially starting college or university.
Can one graduate online?
Yes, one can graduate from online courses or degree programs.
Is matriculation a formal process?
Yes, matriculation is typically a formal process involving registration and acceptance.
What does matriculate mean?
Matriculate means to enroll or be admitted into a university or college.
What is a graduation ceremony?
A graduation ceremony is an event where degrees or diplomas are formally conferred to students.
Are there requirements for matriculation?
Yes, matriculation often requires meeting certain academic and administrative criteria.
What documents are needed to matriculate?
Documents like transcripts, identification, and acceptance letters are often needed to matriculate.
Do all colleges have a matriculation ceremony?
Many colleges have a matriculation ceremony, but it's not universal.
Can you graduate with honors?
Yes, students can graduate with honors if they meet certain academic standards.
Does matriculation mean acceptance?
Matriculation typically implies acceptance into an educational program.
What happens after graduation?
After graduation, individuals often pursue careers or further education.
Is graduation the end of education?
Graduation marks the end of a particular educational program but not necessarily the end of all education.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
