Preferred Name Diplomas

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It is recommended that the name on students’ diplomas match the official, legal name. However, you may request a preferred/chosen first and middle name to be printed in lieu of your legal name.

How to Order

In order for a paper and electronic diploma to be printed with a preferred or chosen name, the “Preferred Name” will be notated on your record. This is necessary for future non-third party verification to take place. You will indicate your request for a preferred name when applying for graduation.

Please Note: Only first and middle preferred/chosen names will be considered.

Trademarked phrases or names will not be considered. Profane, explicit, or vulgar names or phrases will not be considered.

  • All last names (surnames) on diplomas must match the legal last that is in the student's record. If you request a different last name, you will need to update your legal last name by completing the Personal Information Change Request form. This request form can be found in eWOLF on the Popular Student Forms card.  If you have multiple surnames, those can be printed on the diploma, as long as at least one of the surnames matches a last name in your student record. 
  • If you request a preferred name for your diploma name on your application, that name will be printed on all diplomas—from the initial conferral and beyond.
  • If you no longer want a preferred diploma name printed, you need to request to remove your preferred/chosen diploma name prior to your conferral date by sending an email to graduation@frontrange.edu.
  • If students decide to change the name on their diploma after the official date your degree is awarded, you will be required to request and pay for a replacement diploma using the Duplicate Diploma Request.

Additional Diplomas

  • If you would like to have a diploma with your legal name and a diploma with a preferred name, you may request to purchase an additional diploma after your degree is awareded and their initial diploma(s) has been ordered.

Important Items to Consider

Degree Verification. Third parties using the preferred/chosen name appearing on students’ diplomas will not be able to verify degrees through the National Student Clearinghouse because of name mismatch. Enrollment/degree verification is provided using students’ full legal names.

Graduates Planning to Live or Work Abroad. Front Range Community College considers the diploma to be a ceremonial document. Some countries may require a graduate’s diploma (in conjunction with their official transcript) for various legal, immigration, and employment purposes. Choosing to print a preferred/chosen name on a diploma may result in unforeseen complications due to discrepancy between the diploma and other documents (e.g., transcripts, passport, birth certificates, etc.) that contain the legal name. To avoid such complications, printing the legal name on diplomas for students who plan to live, study, or work outside of the United States is recommended.

Graduates of Professional Schools (Medicine, Dental, Law, Nursing, etc.) Before opting to print preferred/chosen names on diplomas, students should be aware that professional licensing requirements require graduates to use their legal name. For example, State Bar application and licensure and federal employment/guidelines require the use of the legal name. Using a preferred name on a diploma may result in rejection, delay, scrutiny, and/or requirements for additional proof of identification associated with any application for employment, licensure, credentialing, visa application, and/or other processes that require verification of education records.

Apostille. Apostille is an authentication or legalization document process, requiring authentication by a certified Notary Public and processing through the Secretary of State. This process is required for to authenticate documents for use in a foreign country. These documents can include school transcripts and diplomas.  Diploma apostille can only be provided when using a legal full name.