Commencement Ceremony

Commencement is the annual event in June where we celebrate our graduates’ accomplishments along with family, faculty and staff, and the community. The RSVP for commencement is separate from applying for graduation.

Commencement 2025 will be held Friday, June 20, 2025 at Alaska Airlines Arena. Visit the Seattle Colleges Commencement website for more details. 

Commencement Checklist

  • RSVP for the Commencement Ceremony
  • Attend graduation events
  • Order your cap and gown (or ask Student Life about loan program)
  • Review name in ctcLink
    • For your name to appear in the Commencement Program, you must complete your Graduation Application by May 12, 2025
  • Invite friends, family, and supporters
  • Review the Seattle Colleges Commencement website to know what to expect on the day of, including getting your grad pass, parking, photos, information for your guests, and FAQs.

Nope! You don’t need your diploma to participate in commencement. Commencement is a celebration of your hard work and achievements—it’s the ceremony where we honor all graduating students, even if your final grades or official diploma aren’t ready yet.

Here’s how it works:

  • You can walk in the commencement before your degree is officially posted.
  • Your diploma and final transcript will be available after all your courses are completed and final grades are processed.

Just remember:

  • You must apply to graduation to get your official diploma, so don’t skip that step!
  • You must apply to graduation by May 12 to have your name included on the Commencement Ceremony Program.

So yes, you can celebrate now and get your diploma later!