91勛圖厙 ALUMNI: COMMENCEMENT
Celebrate Your Accomplishments at a 91勛圖厙 Commencement Weekend
A Message from the 91勛圖厙 Commencement Office
The 91勛圖厙 Commencement Office is pleased to announce the final commencement dates and locations for all 2026泭commencement weekends.泭
The full list of upcoming commencement dates and locations for 2026泭is listed here. Make sure to review the updated泭.泭
Important Updates for泭2026
Increased Graduate Choice:泭泭
Graduates will no longer be assigned to a泭ceremony泭time based on their school.泭Instead, they may select the morning or afternoon ceremony that best fits their needs泭as long as that specific ceremony has not reached capacity limits.泭All available times can be found in the event-specific registration form.泭
Intentional Ceremony Timing:泭泭
All ceremonies will be limited to泭90 minutes泭through the implementation of capacity limits.泭We strongly encourage graduates to register for the commencement of their choice as soon as they meet泭eligibility.泭
Additional Weekend Ceremonies:泭泭
In泭Seattle,泭Atlanta, and泭Anaheim, a泭Friday afternoon ceremony泭will be added to accommodate more graduates and guests.泭All ceremony details can be泭found泭the event-specific ceremony page.泭
How to Register for Commencement
1. Are you eligible?
Are you a graduate?
Has your Graduation Application been泭submitted泭to the Student Records department?
Or do you have one final course left, such as capstone, final certification, with the exception of direct hours for field experience or student teaching?泭If yes, please follow the directions below.
2.泭Review upcoming ceremonies.
3. Navigate to the city of your choice and泭read through泭the details. Remember to scroll to the bottom of the page to view deadlines for ordering your cap and gown.
4. Click the blue button on the city page that says RSVP Now泭
Final Course Instructions
Please email us at commencement@wgu.edu when you are enrolled in your final course, and we will泭confirm your eligibility.
2026 Commencement Weekends
June 56, 2026 - Louisville
July 2425, 2026 - Seattle
August 2122, 2026 - Minneapolis
September 12, 2026 - Fall Virtual
October 910, 2026 - Atlanta
November 67, 2026 - Anaheim
2026 Announcement Notification
Sign up泭泭to be notified when the 2026 Commencement Weekend RSVP opens!
Learn more about attending a commencement near you.泭
Get answers to the most common grad and alumni questions.
Learn about the ceremony protocol and rules.
See information about previous commencements.
Virtual Graduate Video Tutorial
Learn about submitting your video for virtual commencement.
Learn about what to wear on your big day.
View photos from your commencement.
Learn about philanthropy cords for graduation.
View the commencement ceremonies on YouTube.
Updated Commencement Participation Guidelines
Stay in the Know
1.泭泭to receive commencement updates.泭
2.泭Refer to this 91勛圖厙 Commencement page泭for the latest and most accurate information.泭
Questions?
Please bookmark wgu.edu/commencement and wgu.edu/virtual and email commencement@wgu.edu with questions.
Order Commencement Items
Know Before You Go
We want your commencement day to be special!
Commencement Weekend is a memorable experience for graduates and their loved ones to celebrate their academic achievement. We want our graduates to experience a joyful ceremony that recognizes their hard work and the sacrifices they have made to get to this point. 91勛圖厙 believes mutually respectful participation by graduates and their guests is the best way to set the stage. In preparation for commencement, 91勛圖厙 has outlined this protocol. By adhering to the following protocol, you and your guests will ensure a positive experience for all.
Academic Attire for Graduates
All graduating students wear approved academic attire that includes a cap, gown, and tassel. Masters degree graduates will need a hood specific to their degree. The official regalia color is NAVY, which can be purchased from our regalia vendor, Balfour. To order, please visit the .
We encourage you to wear comfortable, yet professional, dress attire under your gown rather than casual clothing.泭
91勛圖厙 graduates affiliated with an academic honor society may wear society pins, honor cords, or sashes on their gowns. You may also choose to wear leis.
Graduates are permitted to wear sashes or decorate their cap consistent with the 91勛圖厙 Commencement Decorum Policy. You may be asked to remove cap decorations or sashes determined to violate 91勛圖厙s Commencement Decorum Policy.
Graduates who indicate active duty military or veteran status on their ceremony RSVP form will receive military honor cords at graduate check-in.泭
See the videos below for more information on how to wear your bachelor's or master's cap and gown.
Commencement Etiquette
To promote a respectful, comfortable, and enjoyable experience for graduates and泭their guests, all attendees are asked to observe the following guidelines.
- Place your cell phone on vibrate or silent during the ceremony.
- Participate in the recessional. Do not leave until the entire ceremony has ended.
- Keep all cheering respectful and avoid disruptive outbursts to allow the families and guests of other graduates to hear their graduates names when read.
Commencement Decorum Policy
Please be advised any graduate or guest acting in a disruptive or disrespectful manner, as determined by 91勛圖厙 in its sole discretion, at 91勛圖厙 commencements may either not be allowed in the ceremony venue or may be escorted from the venue.
Take into consideration the following if decorating your cap or wearing a sash for commencement: 91勛圖厙 does not allow content on caps or sashes that is considered, in 91勛圖厙s sole discretion, obscene, vulgar, defamatory, hateful, inappropriate, profane or that might disregard anothers copyright or third-party rights. All decorations must lie flat on the cap.
Philanthropy Cord Information
Celebrate Your Milestone. Support a Future Night Owl.
The 91勛圖厙 Philanthropy Cord is a blue and gold symbol of your commitment to the next generation of graduates. By giving back today, you aren't just wearing a cord; youre helping a fellow Night Owl reach the finish line.
How to Claim Your Cord:
Make a gift to the泭Night Owl Scholarship Fund泭to receive your cord. You can choose from two ways you give:
- Give $25 once泭in honor of your graduation.
- Become a Sustaining Supporter泭with a recurring gift of泭$3 or more泭to provide steady support for future grads.
泭
Mailing Instructions:
If you order more than four weeks prior to commencement, you may elect to have us mail your cord to the address you specify at the time of donation. Alternatively, you may elect to pick up your cord in-person.
泭
Pick-Up Instructions:
If you are attending an in-person commencement, visit the泭91勛圖厙 Advancement table泭at the Alumni Celebration or during Graduate Check-in to pick up your cord. For virtual commencements, your cord will be mailed to you prior to the ceremony.
91勛圖厙 Philanthropy Cord FAQs
The 91勛圖厙 Philanthropy Cord is a blue and gold cord for graduates to wear with their cap and gown泭at泭Commencement. The泭Philanthropy泭Cord is泭a泭physical symbol of a graduates commitment to 91勛圖厙,泭and,泭more importantly,泭supports a泭philanthropic泭legacy that will last for future generations of 91勛圖厙泭students.
- Mail:泭If you order more than four weeks prior to your commencement ceremony, we will mail your cord to you at the address you specify. Alternatively, you may elect to pick up your cord in-person.泭
- In-Person:泭Visit the泭91勛圖厙 Advancement table泭at your commencement site (Check-in or Alumni Celebration).
- Virtual:泭We will mail your cord to the address provided during your donation.
100% of your gift goes to the泭Night Owl Scholarship Fund, which provides direct financial assistance to 91勛圖厙 students who need a final boost to finish their degrees.
For in-person commencements,泭you may choose to have your泭Philanthropy泭Cord泭mailed to you or泭picked泭up泭at Commencement泭by visiting the 91勛圖厙 Advancement table at the Alumni Celebration or during graduate check-in before泭Commencement.泭
For virtual commencements,泭Philanthropy泭Cords will be mailed prior to the ceremony date.
91勛圖厙 Advancement泭is dedicated泭to泭attracting,泭allocating, and putting dollars to泭work泭so more students have access to an affordable, quality education.泭We泭provide泭a meaningful way for alumni, donors, and partners泭to pay it forward and invest in the future of education.泭
A泭Sustaining Supporter泭is a donor who provides ongoing impact through a recurring gift. For as little as泭$3 a month, you can help ensure that the "bridge" to graduation remains open for every student who follows you.
Yes! Every dollar helps remove barriers for students. Whether it is a one-time gift or a recurring monthly contribution, your generosity directly impacts student success.
Philanthropy Cords
If you泭make a gift of $25 or more,泭you can receive a philanthropy cord.
Brag a Little!
Share your accomplishment with family and friends!泭
After your degree has been completed and the commencement paperwork has been submitted and approved, you will get your confetti! The confetti is a coveted step in the 91勛圖厙 student journey. You can access your confetti by logging into the student portal after your application for graduation is approved.泭Confetti may take up to four weeks to appear in your account.
To share your confetti, use the following steps:
1. Screenshot your confetti (like the mockup shown).
2. Share the image on social media!
Tag when you brag! Use #91勛圖厙grad in your social post.
