Spring Commencement Planning

Spring 2025 Commencement Schedule of Events:

Ceremonies

*Each ceremony includes designated academic departments and schools. Ceremony assignments will be determined in early March and posted here.

Eligibility for Commencement

May commencement includes all Spring 2025 planned graduates, in addition to Summer 2025 Traditional Undergraduate (TRAD) and Dual Enrollment (DE) PSEO/PSOC planned graduates.

Regalia: Caps, Gowns, and Hoods

• Beginning in February, planned participating graduates will receive instructions of how to order caps and gowns (and hoods for master’s degree students) online.
• Participating graduates must order regalia no later than Sunday, March 23.
• Regalia will be distributed at Grad Expo on Tuesday, May 6 (see below for details).
• Regalia must be returned to room G210 in the Billy Graham Community Life Commons following the commencement ceremony. Graduates may keep their cap and tassel.
• Members of honors societies will receive their cords from their respective departments. Medallions for academic honors will be distributed at commencement rehearsal.

Commencement Tickets

• Tickets are required for guests attending commencement in Knight Performance Hall.
• The number of tickets provided to each participating graduate is based on the total number of commencement participants. This number will be determined in March and posted here.
• Tickets will be distributed to participating graduates at Grad Expo on Tuesday, May 6 (see below for details). Each participating graduate will receive 6 (six) tickets.
• Overflow monitor viewing will be available in the Totino Fine Arts Center lobby. Tickets are not required for overflow viewing.

Guests and/or Graduates with Accommodation Needs

• To request an accommodation (e.g., wheelchair/ADA, hearing impaired or interpreter/translation requests, etc.) for guests and/or graduates attending commencement, please complete and submit an accommodation request form no later than Monday, May 5.

Lodging for Guests

• Some hotels in the local area may offer reduced rates for those who indicate they are coming to the area to attend graduation at University of Northwestern.

Professional Photographers

• Each graduate will be photographed as diploma covers are presented and at a posed location at the side of the stage.
• After commencement, graduates will be given the opportunity to purchase photos directly from our contracted photographer, Legacies by Laura.

Diplomas

• Diplomas will be mailed to graduates in June. 
• Diplomas are sent after graduates have fulfilled all degree requirements and resolved any student account holds. This includes paying the graduation fee charged to the graduate’s account the last term the graduate registers (undergraduate: $75; graduate: $100).
• Note: Diplomas list degree only (B.A., B.S., MATS, etc). Transcripts list degree, major(s), and any minor(s).

Desktop Diploma

A Uploma™ provides another way to display a college degree. This desktop diploma is completely customizable to fit any major, achievements, graduation year, and school pride. You may order your Uploma online.

Grad Expo

Grad Expo is an open house event that will take place in the Nazareth Great Room on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 from 2–6 p.m. Grad Expo is an open-house event that allows graduates to pick up regalia and commencement tickets, plus check in with several campus offices to prepare for a smooth transition from Northwestern. Students planning to graduate in May will receive an email invitation with more details prior to the event.

Questions

Adult Undergraduate and Graduate Studies students: 866-492-7877 or 651-628-3400; [email protected]

Traditional Undergraduate & Dual Enrollment Students: 800-692-4020, ext. 5119; or 651-631-5119; [email protected]