Lost Your Diploma? School Replacement Options and Display Copies

Quick answer: If you lose your diploma, your credential is not lost. Your school still holds the record. Contact the high school, district or college that issued it to ask about a replacement diploma, or order a transcript, which is what most employers and colleges actually want. If you only need something to frame or give as a gift, a personalized, non-official display copy is a separate option.

What happens if you lose your diploma?

Nothing happens to your graduation. The diploma is a ceremonial document; the record of your degree or high school completion lives in the school's files. Losing the paper means you no longer have a copy to frame, but you can still prove your education through the school.

That is why the first question is always: do you need proof, or do you need a keepsake?

Step 1: Decide whether you need proof

You need a school-issued document if an employer, college, licensing board, military recruiter or government agency is asking for it. In those cases:

• Ask what they accept. Many accept a transcript or a confirmation sent by the school. A transcript is often faster to get than a reissued diploma.
• High school: contact the school or district office. If the school closed, your state department of education can usually tell you who holds the records. NCES keeps a directory of state education agencies.
• College: contact the records office. Many colleges let you order a transcript or reissued diploma online.
• High school equivalency: contact the education department in the state where you tested.

Schools generally need your full name at graduation, date of birth, graduation year and a photo ID. Student records are protected under FERPA, so expect the school to confirm your identity first.

For timelines and fees, see how long a replacement diploma takes and how much a replacement diploma costs. Our replacement diploma FAQs cover common questions too.

Step 2: Know what a school replacement looks like

A reissued diploma may not look exactly like the one you lost. Schools change paper, signatures and layouts over time, and some print "duplicate" or a reissue date on replacements. That is normal. If the design matters to you for sentimental reasons, ask the school what to expect before you order.

When a personalized display copy makes sense

A display copy is a personalized keepsake made by a design company, not by your school. It makes sense when:

• You want something on the wall while the school processes a reissue.
• You have the original and want to store it safely, framing a second copy instead.
• You want a gift for a graduate or a family member.
• You need a prop for a film, play or photo shoot.

Hey Congrats makes non-official display copies of high school diplomas and transcripts, college diplomas and High School Equivalency layouts, all in the diploma maker. A display copy should never be shown to an employer, school or agency as proof of education.

Protect the diploma you still have

If you find the original, or once a replacement arrives, keep it safe:

• Store it flat, away from sunlight, heat and humidity. The Library of Congress has practical tips on caring for works on paper.
• Use a diploma cover or a frame with UV-filtering glazing. See how to display a diploma cover.
• Keep a scan in cloud storage so you always have your graduation details handy.
• Moving soon? Read how to keep your diploma safe during a move.

Frequently asked questions

If you lose your diploma, can you get a new one?

Usually, yes. Most schools and colleges reissue diplomas on request, often for a fee. Contact the records office of the school that issued it.

Will my school issue the same design again?

Not always. Designs, signatures and paper change over time, and some replacements are marked as reissues. Ask the school what to expect.

Can a transcript replace a diploma?

For many jobs and college applications, yes. A transcript sent by the school is often preferred because it lists your courses and graduation date.

What if my high school closed?

Contact the school district or your state department of education. They can usually tell you who holds the records for closed schools.

What if I only want a framed copy or a keepsake?

A personalized, non-official display copy works for framing and gifts. It is not a substitute for school records.

Bottom line

For proof of education, go to your school, district, college or your state's education department. For a keepsake to frame while you wait, or a second copy to display, the diploma maker has personalized display copies.

Related reading

• I lost my high school diploma. Now what?

Disclaimer: Hey Congrats products are non-official display, commemorative and novelty documents. They are not issued by or affiliated with any school, college, testing service or government agency, and they are not a substitute for school records. See our full disclaimer. This article was drafted with AI help and checked by the Hey Congrats team.