General Electronic Transcript Ordering Questions
How do I request a transcript?
Online transcript requests can be completed through Student Self-Service or as a guest, if you don't know your Self-Service credentials:
To order via Student Self-Service use the link above or on your MyState Dashboard under Grades Self Service and Transcripts select Order Official Transcript.
As a guest, you will create an account.
How much does a transcript cost?
Transcripts for SDSU students are $9. Sales tax will be applied to your purchase, if applicable.
Can I request that my transcript request be expedited?
Official electronic transcript requests are processed within one to three business days of the order being placed and are the fastest way to receive your transcript.
I have a hold on my record. Can I receive my transcript?
If you have a hold that prevents the release of your transcript, we cannot process your request until the hold is cleared. Please call Records at 605-688-6195 to verify whether you have any holds preventing the release of your transcript.
Why do I need to provide consent?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Generally, schools must have written permission from the student in order to release any information from a student's education record. During the order process, you will be asked to provide consent.
When is my credit card charged?
When your order is initially placed your credit card will be authorized for the purchase amount, however, it will not be charged until the document has been produced.
General Electronic Transcript Questions
What is an electronic transcript or e Transcript and how does it work?
An electronic transcript or e Transcript is a certified PDF of your official transcript. South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University has partnered with Parchment to securely process your transcript request. Recipients of the official e Transcript receive an email with instructions on how to retrieve the document from our secure website. Official e Transcripts can be sent to any valid email address.
How can I be sure an electronic transcript is real?
South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University's official e Transcript is a certified PDF that displays a blue ribbon on the notification bar across the top of Adobe Reader, ensuring the recipient that the digital signature is authentic and the contents of the e Transcript have not been altered. Recipients of SDSU's official e Transcript must use Adobe Reader to view the transcript.
Why does my e Transcript say COPY OF OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT when I print it?
An e Transcript is considered official in PDF format only. If printed, the words COPY OF OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT will appear to indicate that the paper copy is not an official institutional document.
Who accepts PDF transcripts?
PDF transcript delivery is becoming increasingly common. However, before requesting PDF transcript delivery, you should verify that the recipient will accept an electronic transcript. Additionally, it is important that you verify the appropriate e-mail address for transmission of the transcript.
Can I forward a PDF transcript to someone else?
Each transcript issued in PDF format has warnings that the document is intended for the recipient only. In addition, the e-mail notification to the recipient states the same. South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University will not certify the authenticity of any PDF transcript that has been replicated or forwarded to any person or organization other than the intended recipient.
What file formats do you accept for user supplied attachments?
We accept the following file formats: jpg, jpeg, gif, png, eps, cdr, ai, pdf, tif, tiff, bmp, zip, doc, docx, xls, xlsx, txt, xml.
General Document Download and Opening Questions
How long does the recipient have to download my PDF transcript?
The recipient has 7 days to download your PDF transcript before it expires.
What is a certified PDF?
It is an official transcript that has been digitally signed and therefore contains special characteristics. If this document has been issued by the School, and this document is viewed using Adobe® Acrobat version 6.0 or greater, or Adobe® Reader version 6.04 or greater, it will reveal a digital signature that has been applied to the transcript. This digital signature will appear in a pop-up screen or status bar on the document, display a blue ribbon and declare that the document was certified by the School with a valid certificate issued by GeoTrust CA for Adobe®. This document certification can be validated by clicking on the Signature Properties of the document. The blue ribbon symbol is your assurance that the digital signature is valid, the document is authentic and the contents of the transcript have not been altered.
If the transcript does not display a valid certification and signature message, reject this transcript immediately. An invalid digital signature display means either the digital signature is not authentic, or the document has been altered.
The digital signature can also be revoked by the transcript office if there is cause, and digital signatures can expire. A document with an invalid digital signature display should be rejected.
What do I need to open a certified pdf?
In order to open a certified pdf, the free Adobe Reader must be installed. Click here to download the latest version of the free Adobe Reader.
How do I test if my Adobe Reader is configured correctly?
Click here to download a sample certified PDF. Click here to download a sample certified PDF with rights management.
What are the possible restrictions on a certified Adobe PDF?
As an authentic PDF, this document has embedded restrictions specified by the creator that may or may not allow for the following:
- Alteration of content.
- Copying and extracting content.
- Limited viewing privileges.
It is important to note that the use of this document may be monitored. The rights are subject to revocation. To learn more about secure PDF's please visit