Main Ceremony

• The main ceremony features the commencement speaker, president, and other notable speakers and honorees. Students will be recognized alongside their school or college. All graduates and six of their guests are invited. Please visit the ticketing section below for additional details. 
   

• The individual school, college, or department ceremony is where students individually walk across the stage and have their names read. The event is managed by the graduates’ school, college, or academic department. 

Visit the Accessibility page for additional information.

Accessible parking spaces are available throughout campus. Guests with a state-issued license plate or hang tag can park in any marked accessible space. Ceremony-specific accessible parking recommendations are below.

Main Ceremony
Accessible parking spaces will be available on a first-come, first-served basis in Stadium Drive Garage; a state-issued license plate or hang tag is required. Additional accessible parking spaces are available in lots 1 and Z.

School and College Ceremonies

• The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center: Accessible parking is located in lots 1 and Z. You may also drop off guests in the drop-off loop directly in front of the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center prior to parking.

• Memorial Chapel: Accessible parking is located at Regents Drive Garage. Wheelchair-accessible shuttles are available between Regents Drive Garage and Memorial Chapel. You may also drop guests off on Chapel Lane directly beside Memorial Chapel before parking.

• Reckord Armory: Accessible parking is located at Regents Drive Garage. Wheelchair-accessible shuttles are available between Regents Drive Garage and Reckord Armory. You may also drop off guests behind Reckord Armory prior to parking.
  Xfinity Center: Accessible parking for the Xfinity Center is available in Terrapin Trail Garage; a state-issued license plate or hang tag is required.

• Main ceremony: Yes. ASL interpreters will be available at section 27. Closed captioning will be provided on SECU stadium screens.

• Individual school, college, or department ceremonies: ASL interpreters and closed captioning can be made available at any venue. Please contact the coordinator for your ceremony.

Please request any accommodations for the main ceremony in advance at commencement@umd.edu.

The University is growing, which means there are several construction projects on and off campus. Please plan for traffic delays and plan to arrive early, and use free campus shuttles as needed.

Parking permits are not required, and meters will be turned off, on campus from May 20 to May 23. Shuttles will be provided for all ceremony sites by Shuttle-UM; a transportation map with route details will be available soon. Be sure to obey all posted signage throughout campus, as details may change. 

• No, diplomas will be mailed to the address listed when applying for graduation via TESTUDO. For any questions about your diploma, please contact Diploma Services: 301.314.8270 / diploma@umd.edu.

• You will receive a commemorative gift at your individual school, college, or department ceremony.

Yes, concessions will be available on site with water and food options. Only cashless payment options are available.

Undergraduate and graduate students who are close to completing their degree requirements may be permitted by their college, at the request of the student, to participate in spring departmental, college, and/or campus commencement activities if they can demonstrate that they intend to complete all degree requirements before the first day of classes in the next fall semester.

Students can view the full guidance and apply for early participation by using the early participation request form. 

All graduates who completed their degrees in Summer 2024, Fall 2024, or are on track to complete their degree in Spring of 2025 are eligible to attend.

Graduates must complete all the requirements for graduation and apply to graduate through the Office of the Registrar.

The university does not issue invitation letters for guests to visit the U.S. to attend commencement ceremonies. These letters are not required by the embassy to issue a B2 visa, which is designated for tourist activities such as sightseeing, visiting friends and relatives, and obtaining medical treatment.

The graduating student should submit a copy of their I-20 or DS-2019 to the relative applying for the tourist visa. Students can also send an Enrollment Verification Certificate along with a copy of their passport. An Enrollment Verification Certificate can be requested from the Office of the Registrar.

GradImages, the university’s official photographer, will take photographs of each graduate as they cross the stage at their ceremony. While there is no obligation to purchase the prints, the graduate will receive color proofs emailed approximately two weeks after commencement. In order to receive the proofs, be sure to complete the company’s address card distributed in the line-up area prior to the procession.

Yes, each ceremony is both recorded and live-streamed. Live stream links will be available on this website in late spring 2025.

Yes, guests are permitted to take photos and videos at the main ceremony. All cameras must fit in bags that comply with the bag policy. 

Graduates are offered the chance for photos to be featured during the main commencement ceremony by submitting photos through our photo submission form by May 2, 2025.

Yes, regalia must be worn to participate in any ceremony.

Visit the Regalia Information page for details on ordering.

Yes, cap decorating is permitted. Please visit the prohibited items list to review decoration guidelines. 

Signage, apparel, or other Items that display, depict, or represent recognizable symbols and/or words, including nooses and swastikas, that incite, intimidate, or threaten members of the University of Maryland community are prohibited.

• Main ceremony: Each graduate is eligible to claim six guest tickets and one personal ticket to the main ceremony. Tickets will be available to claim on April 15, 2025, at 8:30 a.m., via the Athletics student ticket site. Graduates should visit the "Sign In as Student" link to claim their tickets.
  
  Learn more about the mobile ticketing system and how to transfer your tickets to guests here.
   

• Individual school, college, or department ceremonies: Most individual ceremonies do not require tickets and do not have a guest limit. All ticketed ceremonies have been indicated as such on the School & Colleges Ceremonies page; if you have additional questions after reviewing, please contact your school, college, or department using the contact information on that page.

No. While tickets may list a seat and section number, guests can sit in any open section of the stadium.

The Athletics Ticketing Office can troubleshoot technical issues with ticket claims. Contact the office at 1-800-IM-A-TERP for assistance.

Children two and under do not require a ticket.

In the event of a weather delay, the main ceremony will be moved to Thursday, May 22. The student processional will begin at 6 p.m.

The main commencement bag policy at SECU Stadium is as follows:

• Graduates - Graduates should bring only necessary items they can carry throughout the ceremony. Clutch-sized bags no larger than 4.5" x 6.5" are permitted and do not have to be clear. Backpacks and bags larger than 4.5"x6.5" are prohibited.
   

• Guests - Clear bags no larger than 12"x12"x6" are permitted. They will be searched, which can delay entry, so we recommend avoiding bags if possible. Backpacks are prohibited.

• Artificial Noisemakers

• Balloons

• Dangerous or Disruptive Behavior

• Fireworks / Firearms

• Flammables of any kind

• Illegal Substances

• Laser Pointers

• Outside Food or Drink of any kind*

• Pass-Outs / Re-Entry

• Pets*

• Resale of Ticket

• Sign Poles or Sign Sticks

• Signage, Apparel or other Items that display, depict or represent recognizable symbols and/or words, including nooses and swastikas, that incite, intimidate, or threaten members of the University of Maryland community.

• Skateboards / Bicycles

• Smoking

• Soliciting / Loitering / Trespassing

• Strollers

• Umbrellas

• Video Cameras (Large only; small hand-held permitted)

• Weapons (both real and facsimiles)

• Any other items or actions deemed dangerous or disruptive to any guest experience

*Exceptions will be made for those with medical requirements and/or special needs.

For questions about the main ceremony, contact the office of special events at commencement@umd.edu. For questions about your school, college, or department ceremony, contact your ceremony coordinator.

• All eligible graduates are automatically registered to receive commencement update emails. No further action is needed.

• Guests who wish to receive commencement update emails may sign up using this form.