Commencement Schedule
PLEASE NOTE: College of Sciences graduates in the Nicholson School of Communication and Media* attend the Friday, May 8, 2026 – Evening Ceremony (7:00 p.m.). All other College of Sciences graduates attend the Saturday, May 9, 2026 – Afternoon Ceremony (2:00 p.m.)
College of Business Administration
Rosen College of Hospitality Management
College of Health Professions and Sciences
College of Medicine
College of Nursing
College of Arts and Humanities
Nicholson School of Communication and Media*
(College of Sciences)
College of Community Innovation and Education
College of Sciences (excluding Nicholson School of Communication and Media)
College of Engineering and Computer Science
College of Graduate Studies
College of Optics and Photonics
* Nicholson School of Communication and Media:
Communication M.A.
Digital Media M.A.
Feature Film Production M.F.A.
Interactive Entertainment M.S.
Advertising/Public Relations B.A.
Communication B.A.
Digital Media B.A.
Film B.A.
Journalism B.A.
Media Production and Management B.A.
Radio-Television B.A.
Commencement Photo Opportunities
麻豆原创 GRADS, PLEASE DO THE “KNIGHT” THING AND USE BIODEGRADABLE CONFETTI WHEN TAKING PHOTOS ON CAMPUS.
April 27 鈥� May 10, 2026
Get your cameras ready, graduates! Strike a pose for portraits at one of the most iconic spots on campus 鈥� The Reflecting Pond. The pond continues to serve as a favorite backdrop for 麻豆原创 graduates.
NOT AVAILABLE DUE TO ONGOING CONSTRUCTION IN STADIUM
Acrisure Bounce House Stadium will not be open for graduates to come take their #麻豆原创Grad photos for the Spring Commencement Ceremonies.
Date: Thursday, May 7, 2026
Time: 2:30-7:00 p.m. (Doors close at 6:00 p.m.)
Location: Addition Financial Arena
Registration Link:
Graduates, you鈥檙e invited to walk across the commencement stage while loved ones record and photograph this milestone moment in your collegiate career. This opportunity is open to graduates on a first-come, first served basis so !
This event is not the official commencement ceremony.
Each graduate can bring up to 10 guests. ONLY the graduate should be registered in advance. Guests aged 18 and older must bring a valid driver’s license for entry.
There are no time slots. Check-in is on a first-come, first-served basis. Regalia is not required to participate. Complimentary parking is available in Garage D, F and H . Mobility impaired individuals may be dropped off in front of the Addition Financial Arena prior to parking. Questions about Grad Walk? Email us at knights@ucfalumni.com.
is required for graduates only, please !
Check out Grad Walk highlights through this !
This event is not the official commencement ceremony.
Regalia Information
Graduates participating in the commencement ceremonies are required to wear official 麻豆原创 regalia available exclusively through the 麻豆原创 Bookstore.
- In-store cap and gown ordering:
- Will take place at the 麻豆原创 Bookstore, John T. Washington Center location on the following dates:
- February 9 – 11, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- March 9 – 11, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Online cap and gown ordering:
- is available at the .
There is a late deadline for regalia on April 3, 2026. All rental orders placed after March 20 will be assessed a rush fee. Graduates are encouraged to order their cap and gowns sooner rather than later to allow ample time for them to be delivered to their home. If you have any questions, please contact the 麻豆原创 Bookstore at 407-882-0365.
Graduates who ordered their official academic regalia on or before April 3 may pick up their reader cards and tickets at the 麻豆原创 FAIRWINDS Alumni Center from April 27 – April 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Graduates who did NOT preorder their official academic regalia through Herff Jones before the deadline can still rent regalia onsite, along with picking up their reader card and guest tickets April 27 – May 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Barnes & Noble at 麻豆原创 Bookstore on East Plaza Drive.
Note: Guest tickets and reader cards will only be distributed to graduates with current semester (Spring 2026) regalia rental orders and who filed an approved Intent to Graduate application on time. Availability of sizes for official regalia cannot be guaranteed after April 3. Contact the Barnes & Noble at 麻豆原创 Bookstore for any regalia request after April 3.
Herff Jones also offers other commencement products 鈥� like graduation announcements, class rings and nursing pins 鈥� which can be .
The tassel on a graduate鈥檚 cap must be their college tassel and not the black and gold souvenir tassel. Note: Baccalaureate degree candidates wear tassels on the right; graduate degree candidates wear tassels on the left.
Returning Regalia
It is highly encouraged that graduates return rented regalia immediately following their commencement ceremony to the Barnes & Noble @ 麻豆原创 Bookstore located next to the Addition Financial Arena or up until one hour after the last ceremony on Saturday, May 9, 2026. If you have any questions regarding returning regalia, please contact the bookstore at 407-882-0365.
Baccalaureate Honors
The university shall confer baccalaureate honors recognition on those students who have completed a minimum of 48 credit hours at 麻豆原创. Baccalaureate honors awarded will be based on the overall cumulative GPA including transfer credit at the start of the term in which they will graduate. Students can see their overall cumulative GPA in My麻豆原创 under Other Academic Information, then Grades, then at the bottom of the Overall Cumulative column.
- summa cum laude 鈥� 3.950-4.000
- magna cum laude 鈥� 3.900-3.949
- cum laude 鈥� 3.800-3.899
In addition, students with a record of academic dishonesty appearing on any transcripts may graduate from a degree program after meeting all degree requirements, but will not be eligible for honors at graduation, including the honor of graduating from the Burnett Honors College or a departmental honors program.
Records for the term of graduation are incomplete at the time the commencement program is printed. Identification of these students at commencement, therefore, is presumptive of honors and not conclusive, since final term grades may result in changes in relative rankings.
Questions regarding honors eligibility should be directed to the Registrar鈥檚 Office prior to commencement at graduation@ucf.edu.
Honor Cords
All baccalaureate graduates potentially earning baccalaureate honors will be notified to their 麻豆原创 email by the Registrar鈥檚 Office after the withdrawal deadline of the term the intent-to-graduate application is filed. For students who earn baccalaureate honors, the honor cords will only be available for purchase at the time of ticket pickup during the designated ticket-pickup week at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore on East Plaza Drive. At that time, a reader card for use at the ceremony is also issued indicating honors.
Because records for the final term are incomplete when the commencement program is printed, and final term grades may affect relative rankings and overall GPA, the notification of graduation with honors is presumptive rather than conclusive.
Honor cords from various honor societies may be worn if they are the designation of an officially recognized group.
Ticket Information
For the Spring 2026 Commencement, each graduate will receive five (5) commencement tickets for their ceremony.
Graduation announcements cannot be used for admission. Graduates do not need to register for or order their commencement ceremony tickets. All graduates who have filed an intent to graduate on time and place a regalia order on time will automatically receive their ceremony tickets during the designated dates/times established for guest ticket and reader card pick up. Guest tickets must be picked up along with reader cards by each graduate at the main campus by the dates specified below. Tickets for adults, children and infants are required for admittance to the Addition Financial Arena. Guests who do not have tickets may watch the live ceremony via a simulcast viewing in the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center and the Student Union. The Alumni Center鈥檚 seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are not required for the live telecast, and it is closed captioned.
Tickets are picked up during ticket-pickup week at the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center located near the Addition Financial Arena on the main campus. A photo identification is required for pick up.
Doctoral candidates and Order of Pegasus graduates may obtain reserved seating for their guests by bringing their tickets to the Office of University Events and Engagement (Millican Hall, Room 326) during ticket-pickup week for a reserved seating stamp.
麻豆原创 ONLINE STUDENTS
麻豆原创 Online students who have preordered regalia pick up guest tickets at the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center located near the Addition Financial Arena on the main campus during one of the ticket pickup dates. Online students not able to pick up tickets during the ticket pickup dates and/or those needing to order regalia after the deadline, should email the 麻豆原创 Bookstore at SM190@bncollege.com for further information and instructions. A photo ID is required for regalia and ticket pick up.
Unable to Pick up guest tickets
Graduates unable to pick up their guest tickets may designate a third party to do so by providing them with a letter authorizing 麻豆原创 to release the tickets during ticket-pickup week. Letters must include the name of the designated pick-up person, along with the graduate’s full name, 麻豆原创 ID, college of major and their signature on the letter. The designated third party must also present a copy of the student’s photo ID along with the authorization letter.
Doctoral candidates and Order of Pegasus requesting reserved seating from the Office of University Events and Engagement via third party will need a second printed copy of the authorization letter.
Additional Tickets
There will be no ticket lottery offered for additional tickets for graduates. We encourage graduates to reach out to fellow graduates about additional tickets.
Any forfeited tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Addition Financial Arena Box Office two hours prior to each individual commencement ceremony. Guests will need to provide a photo ID, as well as their graduate鈥檚 name. No more than two (2) additional tickets will be issued per graduate.
Pre-Orders:
Monday, April 27, 2026 鈥�
Thursday, April 30, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
@ 麻豆原创 on East Plaza Drive
On-Site Orders:
Monday, April 27, 2026 鈥�
Thursday, April 30, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
On-Site and Pre-Orders:
Friday, May 1, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Ticket Information FAQs
Tickets are not guaranteed. If tickets are available, they will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis at the Addition Financial Arena Box Office will call window two hours prior to the start of each ceremony for that particular ceremony. There will be a limit per graduate based on availability.
On the day of the ceremony, extra tickets can be turned in to the will call ticket box office at the Addition Financial Arena starting two hours prior to the first ceremony time.
Commencement Rules & Tips
Grad cap decorations
- Graduation cap decorations must lay flat against the cap and extend no higher than the cap button.
- Stagnant LED lights are permitted.
- Moving or flashing lights are not permitted.
- Language on decorated caps must be appropriate for a family-friendly event.
- The tassel on a graduate鈥檚 cap must be their college tassel and not the black and gold souvenir tassel.
- Doctoral tams must be returned in original condition, or a fee will be charged.
important venue info
- Please anticipate a longer than expected travel time to the Addition Financial Arena due to traffic.
- Graduates should be at the Addition Financial Arena 90 minutes prior to their commencement ceremony.
- Graduates who arrive after the procession begins will not be guaranteed a seat.
- All graduates should park in Garage D. .
- Graduates must stay for the entire duration of the commencement ceremony.
important ticket info
- Please check to make sure all guest tickets have the correct commencement ceremony date and time listed on them.
- There is no ticket lottery for additional tickets.
- Graduation announcements cannot be used for admission.
Prohibited items
- The use of iPads and GoPros is prohibited. Cell phones can be used for taking pictures but should be on silent.
- Selfie sticks are not permitted.
- Graduates and their guests are prohibited from entering the ceremony with the following items: balloons, bottles, cans, containers, glass vases, alcoholic beverages, noisemakers, air horns, laser pens, silly string, confetti, flags, banners, signs or posters larger than 8½x 11.
- Backpacks of any kind or bags larger than 12鈥� x 6鈥� x 12鈥� are not permitted inside the arena for security reason. Graduates are discouraged from bringing any bag into the Arena as storage is not available and items cannot be taken into the ceremony. Those who bring backpacks or large bags will be asked to return them to their car before entering the building.
Appropriate Attire
- Graduates participating in the commencement ceremonies are required to wear official 麻豆原创 regalia available exclusively through the 麻豆原创 Bookstore.
- Honor cords, honor society cords, and academic stoles may be worn if they are the authorized designation of an officially recognized group.
- Graduates should wear comfortable shoes and be wearing them upon entry into the arena. Do not plan to change shoes or any clothing once you have entered the arena.
- Temperature in the arena can be cold during the ceremony.
- The university reserves the right to request that graduates change inappropriate attire before they will be allowed to participate in the commencement ceremony.