GRADUATION

Commencement is the university-wide ceremony where the current graduating class is commemorated as a whole. During the ceremony, student, faculty, and guest speakers will address graduates and their families. 

Convocations at Northwestern are hosted by schools with the university. Students are recognized at their school’s convocation ceremony. A full itinerary of Convocations can be found here. 

Celebrations are events surrounding Commencement and Convocations, such as Congratulatories and Receptions. 

Diploma information is sent to the vendor after all grades are finalized, usually in the first full week of July. Diplomas are printed and mailed about 4 weeks after that.

You will receive a diploma cover at your school’s convocation. If you are not attending your convocation, please contact your school representative to discuss how you can receive one. 

You can find the full list of our contacts on the questions index page. If still unsure, email the Graduation Office and we are happy to help direct you.  

All communications sent by the Graduation Office can be found here. If you are not receiving these emails, but believe you should be, please contact the Graduation Office with your name, school, and NetID.  
 

We pull our email list from the Registrar’s Office and CAESAR. To add a parent email address to the mailing list, the student should fill out this form and return it to the Registrar’s office. 

In June, Chicago-area weather conditions and temperatures can vary greatly. Those who are sensitive to the sun should be prepared with sunscreen and appropriate protective headgear. Comfortable shoes are recommended. In the event of light rain, the ceremony will remain outdoors at Ryan Field, and guests and participants are advised to be prepared for the weather.

Graduation Weekend 2024

• June 8-10, 2024

Graduation Weekend 2025

• June 14-16, 2025

Graduation Weekend 2026

• June 13-15, 2026

A PDF version of the Commencement Program will be available online for the ceremony, and print copies of the program can be ordered to be shipped to you free of charge.  

Ordering has not yet opened for print copies of the 2023 Commencement Program. Information on how to order will be included in future emails to graduates.  

Yes, the printed program will include all Latin Honors. Please note that the digital version of the program available for the Commencement ceremony will not have Latin honors, as the event is taking place before final grades are due. 

A schedule of school convocations can be found on the Convocations page. Convocations will be available to graduates, community members, and guests in June. Your school will be sharing more information on this ceremony.

An email will be sent from The Graduation Office to everyone eligible to participate. While registration is not required, this email includes the link to request guest tickets to the ceremony and order your regalia, which is required to walk in any ceremony. 

An email will be sent from your school to everyone eligible to participate. This email will include the link to request guest tickets to the ceremony and any additional registration information required. 

Because ceremonies are taking place before final grades are due, we are unable to calculate honors to be read at the ceremonies. Honors will be listed in the printed Commencement Program and any related items will be mailed to you. 

For information on how to order your regalia, visit the Regalia page. 

Only those with an approved petition to graduate through the Registrar’s Office have been added to our ordering system. If you believe this applies to you, but are still experiencing difficulties, please contact the Graduation Office.  

Donning your purple gown is an excellent way to celebrate your achievements and is required to participate in Commencement and convocations. All regalia is available to be shipped to the University Bookstore at Norris for in-person pick up, and non-rental regalia can also be shipped to an off-campus location for a small shipping fee. 
 

Regalia recycling will be available after the ceremony. 

Tickets are not needed for graduates, but are needed for guests. Graduates can request their allotted 10 guest tickets.

Graduates can request their guest tickets through the link to be sent out by your school.

Ten (10) guests per student will be permitted for Commencement. Ten (10) guests will be permitted per graduate for school convocations with the exception of the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, which is allowing four (4) guests per graduate at this time. 

Only those with an approved petition to graduate through the Registrar’s Office have been added to our ordering system. If you believe this applies to you, but are still experiencing difficulties, please contact the Graduation Office.  

All initial orders will receive the maximum number of tickets regardless of how many guests the graduate intends to bring. We may be able to distribute additional unclaimed tickets closer to the event, but the best way to ensure you have additional tickets is to ask a friend who is not using all of theirs. 

Yes. We encourage you to share tickets among friends. Ticket transfer instructions will be available when tickets are emailed, which is about two weeks before the event. 

All ceremonies will be general admission. Doors open one hour before the event start time.  

• Wheelchair seating is intended for guests who will require a wheelchair. All venues have specific accessible seating locations.
• Limited mobility seating is intended for guests who need shorter distances and limited staircases, but do not need a wheelchair for mobility. In some venues, this limited mobility seating is the same section as the wheelchair seating.

When ordering tickets, please indicate the exact number of wheelchair or limited mobility seats required, not the size of your full party. At least one of your guests will be allowed to join a guest needing wheelchair or limited mobility seating, but your entire party may not be able to sit together. 

Please note, these tickets do not include any parking permissions, but we host accessible drop off locations at all venues.  

Northwestern is closely monitoring the state of the pandemic and plans to follow all state and local guidelines. For more information on Northwestern’s COVID-19 response, please visit the University’s COVID-19 and Campus Updates page. 

Guests will not need proof of vaccination in order to attend.