Here you'll find answers to common questions related to Commencement. For more information, please contact commencement@colum.edu.
Students who complete a graduation application and indicate that they intend to participate in their Commencement ceremony should monitor their Columbia email accounts regularly for announcements and updates about Commencement-related events, procedures, and deadlines. For additional information, please visit the Commencement website or email commencement@colum.edu.
When: Wednesday, April 9th, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Thursday, April 10th 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Where: Student Center, 754 S. Wabash
Grad Expo will take place on Wednesday, April 9th 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Thursday, April 10th 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. at the Student Center. Commencement tickets will be available for distribution starting with this event. Graduates will be able to speak with Columbia Central, order caps and gowns, take graduation and professional photos, sign up for Alumni membership, and more!
When: Tuesday and Wednesday, May 13th and 14th, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Where: The Student Center, 754 S. Wabash
This event is for all graduates and a second opportunity for those who were unable to attend Grad Expo. You will be able to sit for formal graduation photographs or head shots, sign up for Alumni Association membership, and get your Name Card that will be read as you cross the stage at your ceremony. Don’t forget to decorate your cap in the Makerspace!
No, a graduation fee is no longer being charged to students who apply for graduation or reach senior status.
Undergraduate students: Update your graduation application on the MyAcademics tab of your MyColumbia portal. Graduate students: email registrar@colum.edu with any changes as soon as possible.
You may order your cap and gown from Herff Jones on the Commencement webpage beginning Monday, January 27th. Columbia College Chicago will cover the cost of your cap and gown and, for master’s graduates, your hood. Please note that any purchases made through Herff Jones beyond cap, gown, or hood will be charged to you personally. Regalia ordered online will be shipped directly to you, so it is important that you order early. The last day to order online will be Monday, April 14th, 2025.
Students who submit graduation applications after April 13th can pick up regalia at the ‘That’s A Wrap’ Grad Expo. Please note that gown availability in your size cannot be guaranteed for late applicants. Graduation caps are one size fits all.
Undergraduate gowns are black with flowing sleeves and come with a black mortar board and tassel. Master’s degree student regalia is silver with long tails on the sleeves. It comes with a silver mortarboard and a hood featuring colors that correspond with the degree earned.
Yes. Each graduate will receive up to 7 guest tickets. Available seating capacity will be carefully monitored so that we remain in compliance with State of Illinois and City of Chicago guidelines for large indoor entertainment venues. Guests ages 2 years old and up require a ticket.
No, graduating students do not need a ticket for themselves for their ceremony.
The first opportunity to pick up guest tickets will take place at the Grad Expo on Wednesday, April 9th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursday, April 10th from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Student Center. After Grad Expo, tickets can be picked up from the Student Life Office in the Student Center according to the schedule below:
Ticket DistributionYou will need to bring your Columbia College Chicago student I.D. Tickets cannot be mailed, however, under extenuating circumstances, students can pick up tickets on Sunday, May 18th from the Credit Union 1 Arena’s box office.
You may send a representative to pick up your tickets at Grad Expo and Ticket Distribution. Please refer to the Proxy Pick-Up form on our website. Have your representative PRINT and bring the completed and signed form, along with a copy of your student ID to Ticket Distribution.
If you or any of your guests require special assistance at the Commencement ceremony, we will be happy to accommodate you. Please direct your inquiries to Jeanne Kelly (jkelly@colum.edu; 312.369.8134).
Graduates should arrive at the Credit Union 1 Arena, (525 S. Racine Avenue) no later than one hour before their ceremony. Be sure to include time for parking and navigating Credit Union 1 Arena. Graduates will be instructed on where to line up upon arrival. Guests must wait outside until the arena doors which will open one hour before each ceremony.
The Commencement Concert will begin 45 minutes before each ceremony. Plan to arrive early so your guests can enjoy a lively performance featuring Columbia’s talented student music ensembles!
Please follow these directions to plan your route to the Credit Union 1 Arena.
Be prepared to pay at least $20 for parking. Here is more information about parking.
Each ceremony will last approximately three hours.
You will receive a diploma cover when you cross the stage at Commencement. Your diploma will be mailed separately once you have met degree requirements and degrees are posted. If you aren’t attending a ceremony and would like to pick up a diploma cover after Commencement Weekend, a limited supply of covers will be available on a first come, first served basis at Columbia Central (600 S. Michigan, third floor) during regular business hours. Diploma covers will not be mailed.
Diplomas will be mailed approximately two weeks after the posting of your degree. (Degrees are posted in January for fall graduates, June for spring graduates, and September for summer graduates.) You must settle your outstanding financial obligations to the college and complete any required exit counseling before your diploma is mailed. For more information about these requirements, click here.
Your diploma will be mailed to your permanent address on file. If you have an alternate address for your diploma, please provide that address using our diploma mailing request form. You will receive an email to your colum.edu account when your diploma has been shipped. Feel free to call Columbia Central at 312.369.7140 with any questions.
Columbia College Chicago is pleased to offer new graduates the option to purchase a certified electronic diploma for $15.95. Please note that this is an optional feature, and students are responsible for covering the cost. Once purchased, the digital credential features unlimited sharing and is validated by the Registrar. Share your digitally secure document on LinkedIn and with future employers.
Fall 2024, Spring 2025, or Summer 2025 graduates who submit their graduation application by Friday, April 11th, 2025, are assured of getting their name in the printed Commencement program. We cannot guarantee the inclusion of your name in the program if we do not receive your graduation application by April 11.
There will be opportunities during the spring semester for you to sit for formal portraits or head shots at the Grad Expo and 'That's a Wrap' Expo with GradImages, our official Commencement photographers. GradImages will also be at the Credit Union 1 Arena taking your photo as you cross the stage. After the ceremony, you can visit the GradImages' website and purchase your photo package.
You can order personalized printed announcements, class rings, diploma frames, and other Commencement memorabilia through Herff Jones. Links for the above can also be found on the Commencement website.
Graduation with honors is based on a student’s cumulative GPA as a Columbia College Chicago undergraduate. Graduates with a 3.75-3.79 GPA graduate cum laude (“with honors”); students with a 3.80-3.89 GPA graduate magna cum laude (“with high honors”); and students with a 3.90-4.00 GPA graduate summa cum laude (“with highest honors”). These students wear a gold tassel on their mortarboards at Commencement. If you are graduating with honors, you will receive your gold tassel at the ‘That’s a Wrap’ Expo.
Columbia College Chicago’s Honors Program is a separate academic distinction. Students who complete the appropriate number of Honors courses and maintain at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will receive the designation “Honors Program Graduate” on their final transcripts. Honors Program graduates wear a gold stole with the College’s seal at Commencement. If you have met the Honors Program requirements, you can pick up your Honors Program stole with your cap and gown at the ‘That’s a Wrap’ Expo. Contact your Academic Advisor or honors@colum.edu if you have questions about the Honors Program.
Veterans are eligible to receive a special red, white, and blue cord to wear with their graduation regalia during Commencement. These military cords are only provided to graduating student veterans and active members of the military. Graduating student veterans may pick up their cord at one of the following times/locations.
Ticket Distribution
754 S. Wabash – Student Life Office, 3rd floor
Tuesday, April 15 – Thursday, May 8
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
‘That’s a Wrap! - Final Grad Expo
Student Center, 754 S. Wabash
Tuesday May 13 - Wednesday, May 14
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Please bring a government-issued I.D. when you pick up your cord.
Undergraduates: if you decide not to participate in the Commencement ceremony after having indicated that you would, please update your application in the MyColumbia Portal to indicate that you will not attend. Graduate students should contact registrar@colum.edu to modify their graduation application on file.
Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025 graduates will retain access to college systems, including email, Canvas, Adobe, and the MyColumbia portal until Thursday, August 14, 2025. After that, graduates will lose access to college systems. Prepare now by downloading anything you want to save and redirecting important communications (including account verifications and logins) to your personal email account.
Visit the Manifest website; manifest.colum.edu/ in the spring semester for information on how to participate.
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Information contained in these FAQ’s is subject to change.
Please stay up to date by visiting the Commencement website (students.colum.edu/commencement) and monitoring your Columbia email.