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Students move the tassels on their caps to signify they are officially graduates.

Congratulations on achieving your academic goal – conferral of your degree! As we draw closer to commencement, if you have any questions about the completion of your final semester, please contact your academic adviser. (Photo by Annemarie Mountz)

Penn State's commencement ceremonies for the Fall 2024 semester will take place on Sunday, December 22 at Bryce Jordan Center.

9 a.m.: College of Education students receiving master's or doctorate degrees. This ceremony is university-wide.

4:30 p.m.: College of Education students receiving baccalaureate and associate degrees. This ceremony will be held in conjunction with the College of Arts and Architecture, the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, the College of Health and Human Development, the College of Liberal Arts, the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing and the Eberly College of Science.

 

Information for Baccalaureate Degree Candidates

  • Graduates are asked to arrive one hour prior to their ceremony start time.
  • Gates open 90 minutes prior to the ceremony.

Academic dress or the uniform of one of the U.S. Armed Forces is required in order to participate in graduation exercises. Candidates for the baccalaureate and associate degrees should wear the tassel of the cap on the right front edge. Students may order and purchase their caps and gowns from the Penn State Bookstore or our vendor Jostens directly. If you need assistance, please contact the Penn State Bookstore at 814-863-0206.

Note: Schreyer Honors Medals and cords received through the University (academic distinction and/or military cords) are University recognized commencement attire. Additional ornamentation is not permitted.

Diplomas will be mailed by the Office of the University Registrar to the graduate’s home address or LionPATH diploma mailing address approximately four weeks after graduation. For more information, visit registrar.psu.edu. 

Graduates with Disabilities: Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. Information about commencement is available in alternative media on request.

Parking for Guests with Disabilities: Parking for guests with disabilities is available. For an ADA access map of campus, visit the ADA Access Interactive Map.

ADA seating will be available in each venue.

Graduates, if you anticipate needing any type of accommodation not mentioned above or have questions about the physical access provided for Commencement, please contact the Office of Campus and Community Events at [email protected]. Accommodation arrangements should be made at least 2 weeks prior to commencement to allow sufficient time to effectively meet your access needs.

It is the expectation that all graduates will remain on the floor until the conclusion of the ceremony out of respect for the importance and dignity of this occasion. Early departures are disruptive to other graduates and their families. Remaining says much about who we are as a community of Penn Staters and is a true demonstration of “WE ARE…PENN STATE!”

Attendance at any public event involves certain unavoidable risks such as exposure to or infection by transmissible diseases, viruses, and other illnesses (including, but not limited to, COVID-19 and its variants). Your presence at events or programs hosted by The Pennsylvania State University indicates your assumption of any and all such risk as well as your agreement to adhere to all University policies including, but not limited to, those intended to mitigate the spread of transmissible illnesses. As a member of our community or guest, it is your responsibility to practice basic health, safety, and sanitation measures. The University prohibits your attendance if you are symptomatic of any commonly spread transmissible illness.

Information for Families and Guests

  • Gates open 90 minutes prior to the ceremony.
  • Tickets are not required and there is no guest limit. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Parking for Guests with Disabilities: Parking for guests with disabilities is available. For an ADA access map of campus, visit the ADA Access Interactive Map.
  • ADA seating will be available.
  • If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation not mentioned above or have questions about the physical access provided for Commencement, please contact the Office of Campus and Community Events at [email protected]. Accommodation arrangements should be made at least 2 weeks prior to commencement to allow sufficient time to effectively meet your access needs.
  • Guests are welcome to bring any hand-held photo and video device that can be used from their seats.
  • In the event that you are unable to attend commencement at University Park but would like to join in celebrating your graduate’s achievement, all in-person ceremonies ​at University Park will be viewable via livestream. The College of Education ceremony will be streamed at this link. Check this website for the full list of livestream URLs. Penn State will make every effort to keep live streaming and captioning available for the commencement ceremonies. Recordings of the livestream will be archived and available for viewing later if you miss any part of the ceremony.
  • Please be advised that if your graduate does not attend the ceremony, their name will not be called.

Commencement is a formal academic ceremony. All families are waiting to hear the name of their individual graduate; please hold all noise and clapping until all students have crossed the stage platform.

Attendance at any public event involves certain unavoidable risks such as exposure to or infection by transmissible diseases, viruses, and other illnesses (including, but not limited to, COVID-19 and its variants). Your presence at events or programs hosted by The Pennsylvania State University indicates your assumption of any and all such risk as well as your agreement to adhere to all University policies including, but not limited to, those intended to mitigate the spread of transmissible illnesses. As a member of our community or guest, it is your responsibility to practice basic health, safety, and sanitation measures. The University prohibits your attendance if you are symptomatic of any commonly spread transmissible illness.

Bag policy

The complete Bag Policy can be found at this website.

Questions?

Please refer to the main Penn State commencement website at http://commencement.psu.edu for more information.