Chicago Commencement

Eligibility Information​

Students who completed their degree program (degree has been conferred) in the Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 semesters are eligible to participate in the 2026 Commencement ceremony in Chicago. Students expected to complete their programs in the Summer 2026 or Fall 2026 semesters may be eligible to participate, pending their academic department approval. This includes all vocational, associate, bachelor, master, education specialist, and doctoral-level students. A student completing a certificate program is not eligible to participate in commencement.

For those expecting to complete their degrees in the Summer or Fall 2026 semesters, please review the policies below for your degree level to determine if you are eligible to participate in the 2026 Chicago ceremony:

Undergraduate Students

A bachelor student may be eligible to participate in a commencement ceremony if one of the following conditions is met:

1. All program requirements are completed.
2. All degree requirements will be completed no later than the semester (or two terms) immediately after the one in which the ceremony occurs, as confirmed by the academic department.

Graduate Students

A master, education specialist, or doctoral student may be eligible to participate in a commencement ceremony if one of the following conditions is met:

1. All degree requirements are completed.
2. For programs that require a research project (e.g., thesis, applied research project, advanced applied project, dissertation), the project must be successfully defended/passed and documented 30 days before the commencement date as confirmed by the Division/Department Chair.
3. For programs that do not require a research project (e.g., thesis, applied research project, advanced applied project, dissertation), all requirements will be completed no later than the semester (or two terms) immediately after the one in which the ceremony occurs as confirmed by the Division/Department Chair.

If the timeframe or above requirements impacts a student, they may consider submitting a Policy Exception request to participate in the commencement ceremony.

If you believe you will meet the qualifications stated above for your degree level, you should proceed with submitting an Intent to Participate form once it is open for the ceremony.

Intent to Participate Form

Submitting an Intent to Participate form is required by all participating students. Please expect the Intent to Participate to be released in Spring 2026.
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Regalia Information

Students may purchase their regalia for the ceremony through the Chicago School approved vendor. We will provide the link to order once it is available.

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Questions? Email [email protected]​.

Guest Information

Doors open at 10 AM​

Please plan on arriving no later than 10:30 AM. All guests must have a ticket. This includes any children that need a seat. Guests who require ADA related accommodations should contact [email protected]​.. Number of guests per graduate is determined by the total number of participants and venue capacity. Ticket information will be shared once the total number of participants has been determined.

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Questions? Email [email protected]​.