Schedule & Timeline
2025
- October 27 – Graduation Application Opens
2026
- January 31 – Graduation Application & Commencement RSVP Close
- March 2 – Application for Extra Guest Tickets Opens
- March 13 – Application for Extra Guest Tickets Closes
- April 20 & 21 – Center City Graduation Fair
- April 22 & 23 – East Falls Graduation Fair
Graduation Application
The Graduation Application will open on October 27.
All students who intend to graduate during the 2025-26 academic year (Fall 2025, Spring 2026, Summer 2026) must apply to graduate through Banner by January 31, 2026. Students who do not intend to walk at their commencement ceremony must still submit a Graduation Application to ensure the timely conferral of their degree.
Students will not be able to edit their application once submitted. If any fields need to be updated prior to a student’s graduation date (e.g. diploma name, diploma mailing address), please email graduation@jefferson.edu. Changes made in Banner will NOT automatically be reflected in the Graduation Application.
Commencement RSVP
Students who are eligible to walk at commencement will receive a separate commencement RSVP invitation via email from Tassel. Commencement RSVP invitations will be sent out every Monday to students who submitted their graduation application the week prior.
All students who intend to walk at their commencement ceremony must complete the RSVP through Tassel by January 31, 2026.
If you do not receive a commencement RSVP invitation within one week of submitting your Graduation Application, please reach out to graduation@jefferson.edu.
Regalia
Students walking at commencement must wear proper academic regalia. Regalia will be ordered for students who RSVP “Yes” to walk at commencement. There is no cost.
Regalia will be ordered through Jostens and shipped directly to the address you provide on your RSVP.
You can expect to receive your regalia between late March and early April. If you do not receive your regalia by April 10, please email graduation@jefferson.edu.
All students will receive their cap, gown and tassel in the mail. Undergraduate-level and master-level students will also receive their academic hood.
All doctorate-level students will receive their hood on stage on commencement day.
Academic Honors
Students who meet the criteria for Latin Honors will receive a cord at check-in on commencement day. Only undergraduate-level students are eligible for Latin Honors.
Students who expect to receive cords or stoles from honor societies, academic departments, etc. should reach out to their respective contact person for distribution information prior to commencement. The Graduation Team is only responsible for the distribution of Latin Honors cords.
Guest Tickets
You will be able to claim guest tickets when you submit your commencement RSVP.
If you need more than the allotted amount of guest tickets, please indicate this on your RSVP and you will be added to our email list for extra tickets. If extra tickets are available, those on our email list will be notified on March 2.
We cannot guarantee the availability of extra tickets. Please plan accordingly.
Guest Ticket Pickup
Guest tickets are physical and will be available for pickup at the Graduation Fair.
Guest tickets not picked up at the Graduation Fair will be held in the Center City Registrar’s Office.
If you plan to send someone (a friend, family member, etc.) to pick up your guest tickets on your behalf, they must present a photo of your student ID or government-issued ID.
Graduation Fair
The Graduation Fair will be held on both the Center City and East Falls campuses the week of April 20.
Center City Graduation Fair
Hamilton 1st Floor Lobby
- April 20, 12PM – 6PM
- April 21, 10AM – 6PM
East Falls Graduation Fair
Kanbar Performance Space
- April 22 & 23, 10AM – 6PM
Representatives from the following vendors/departments will be in attendance:
- Alumni Relations (Cap Decoration)
- Career Services (East Falls Only, Free Gift)
- Island Photography (Senior Portraits by Appointment)
- Jefferson Campus Store (Diploma Frames)
- Jostens (Class Rings)
The Graduation Team will also be present to address any questions or concerns.
Diplomas
Diplomas will not be distributed at commencement.
Center City students can expect to receive their electronic diploma via Parchment within 4 weeks of graduation.
East Falls students can expect to receive their electronic diploma via Parchment within 8 weeks of graduation. For any questions, please contact Judith.McDevitt@jefferson.edu.
Physical diplomas will be printed and mailed out by Parchment once a student’s electronic diploma has been issued. You will be notified via your student email when your electronic diploma is available. At that time, you will have an opportunity to verify and update your physical diploma shipping address in Parchment if necessary.
Diploma Names
As part of the Graduation Application, students will provide the name they want printed on their diploma.
Students can opt to have a preferred first name printed instead of their legal first name. However, please note that because the diploma is a legal document, some employers/boards may require that the name printed on a student’s diploma match their legal name.
The surname printed on a student's diploma will match the student’s surname in Banner. If this needs to be updated, please reach out to the Registrar’s Office prior to submitting your Graduation Application. If you update your surname after submitting your Graduation Application, please email graduation@jefferson.edu so that we can manually update your application.
Diploma Sizes
- MD – 19x27.5 inches
- Doctorate & Master – 14x11 inches
- Bachelor & Associate – 10x8 inches
East Falls Shuttle
A shuttle will be available for students graduating from the East Falls campus. This shuttle will run from the East Falls campus to the Mann Center, then from the Mann Center back to the East Falls campus after the ceremony.
The shuttle is for graduating students only. Commencement guests (family and friends) will not be allowed on the shuttle.
Students who intend to ride the shuttle can reserve their spot on the RSVP form.
Commencement Day Procedures
Please refer to information sent from the graduation team regarding specific reporting times the day of the ceremony. Upon arrival, please proceed to the student check-in tables. These tables are organized alphabetically by last name. Here, you will receive your reader’s card and seat assignment. Do not lose your reader’s card and be sure to bring your reader’s card with you to the ceremony area.
After check-in, you will be guided to the student holding area. Please locate your assigned seat and place all possessions you do not intend to take with you to the ceremony area in the provided cubbies. Refreshments will be available. An announcement will be made when the procession to the ceremony area is ready to begin.
During the ceremony, you will be lined up to walk across stage. You will hand your reader’s card to the reader, pick up a congratulatory letter, shake hands with the Provost and Dean of your college, and take a photo with the President. If you are a doctorate-level student, you will be hooded prior to the photo with the President.
Your ceremony will be approximately 2 hours long. Out of respect for all students, we ask that you do not leave the ceremony until the entire program is complete.
