APRIL 24-25, 2026
Commencement Weekend in New York
Alumni Celebration*
Friday, April 24, 2026
6:00 - 9:00 pm
Location
TBA
Commencement*
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Morning Ceremony
Graduate Check-in: 8:30 am
Ceremony start: 9:30 am
Afternoon Ceremony
Graduate Check-in: 12:30 pm
Ceremony start: 1:30 pm
UBS Arena
2400 Hempstead Turnpike
Elmont NY, 11003
*Details Subject to Change
RSVP Information
To RSVP, you must have either your Graduation Application submitted to the Student Records department or be enrolled in and only have their final course left, such as capstone or final certification, with the exception of direct hours for field experience or student teaching.听If you don鈥檛 currently meet this requirement, wait to RSVP until the requirement is met.
Students who are enrolled in their final course may submit an email to听commencement@wgu.edu听with 鈥淔inal Course鈥 in subject line along with desired commencement ceremony.
For more information, review the听.
If you have any questions, please contact us at听commencement@wgu.edu听or by phone 385.428.2085.
Attention iOS users (iPhone/iPad): please use Chrome or Firefox browser to submit your ceremony RSVP form. If you use Safari (default iOS browser) to complete your RSVP form, you will receive a false application rejection message. If uncertain, please complete the ceremony RSVP form on a computer rather than your iOS device.
Additional Information
New York Deadlines:
Deadline: March 25, 2026
Deadline: February 27, 2026
Deadline: March 6, 2026
- 听
Deadline: March 27, 2026
New York Details:
- Commencement Guidebook- coming soon!
- 听Ceremony Program - coming soon!
Learn More About Commencement Day
Watch this video to see what a typical in-person commencement day looks like for a graduate.
Parking
Details Coming Soon
Bag Policy
Details Coming Soon
Hotel Discounts
Fairfield Inn New York LaGuardia Airport/Flushing
28-66 College Point Blvd. Flushing NY 11354
Room rate: $199/ night
Must book by: 04,02, 2026
Nights rate is valid:听04/23/2026 - 04/25/2026
How to guarantee your room: Book with the link below and provide a credit card to guarantee the room.
Cancellation: Individual cancellation may occur up to 48 hours before arrival date, otherwise the 1st night鈥檚 room + tax will be charged.
Link to book reservations:
*Subject to availability, limited quantity available.
Courtyard New York JFk Airport
145-11 North Conduit Ave, Jamaica, NY 11436
Room rate: $219 a night for King / $209 a night for 2 double
Must book by: 03,24, 2026
Nights rate is valid:听04/23/2026 - 04/25/2026
How to guarantee your room: Book with the link below and provide a credit card to guarantee the room.
Cancellation: Individual cancellation may occur up to 48 hours before arrival date, otherwise the 1st night鈥檚 room + tax will be charged.
Link to book reservations:
*Subject to availability, limited quantity available.
Fairfield by Marriott Fresh Meadows
183-31 Horace Harding Expressway, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365
Room rate: $219 a night for King / $229 a night for 2 Double
Must book by: 03,02, 2026
Nights rate is valid:听04/23/2026 - 04/25/2026
How to guarantee your room: Book with the link below and provide a credit card to guarantee the room.
Cancellation: Individual cancellation may occur up to 48 hours before arrival date, otherwise the 1st night鈥檚 room + tax will be charged.
Link to book reservations:
*Subject to availability, limited quantity available.
Courtyard by Marriott Fresh Meadows
183-31 Horace Harding Expressway, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365
Room rate: $229/ night听for King听and $244/night听for 2 Queen
Must book by:听03,02, 2026
Nights rate is valid: 04/23/2026 - 04/25/2026
How to guarantee your room: Book with the link below and provide a credit card to guarantee the room.
Cancellation: Individual cancellation may occur up to 48 hours before arrival date, otherwise the 1stnight鈥檚 room + tax will be charged.
Link to book reservations: 听
*Subject to availability, limited quantity available.
Alumni Celebration in New York
Details Coming Soon
听
Date:听April 24, 2026
Time:听6:00 - 9:00 pm
Location:
TBA
Contact Information听
91制片厂 Alumni Celebration contact:听alumnievents@wgu.edu .听
91制片厂 Alumni Celebration accessibility:听alumnievents@wgu.edu
91制片厂 Commencement questions:听commencement@wgu.edu
Parking Information
TBA
听
Frequently Asked Questions
- Commencement Ceremony FAQs
- Ceremony Participation and RSVP FAQs
- Regalia FAQs
- 91制片厂 Philanthropy Cord FAQs
- Letter of Invitation for Abroad & Commencement Announcements FAQs
- Graduation Application and Diploma FAQs
Commencement Ceremony FAQs
A commencement guidebook with check-in details, parking, maps, and more will be loaded onto the and emailed to each graduate two weeks prior to the ceremony.听
When registering for a commencement weekend, a graduate may choose the ceremony time that fits听their needs best听as long as听the event has not reached capacity.听All options can be seen at the event-specific registration link.听
All schools will听participate听in each ceremony.听
Due to听varying听space limitations, Alumni Celebration and Commencement guest count听policies听are different.听Please refer to the specific guest count policy on the weekend-specific page听for further information.听
Alumni听Celebration:听听
Guest capacities听are implemented at alumni celebration events to accommodate as many graduates as possible while allowing everyone to enjoy the festivities with their loved ones.听Guest capacities may be adjusted based on venue size and availability.听
For the alumni celebrations in New Orleans, New York, Louisville, and Minneapolis graduates are invited to bring up to 6 guests.听
For the alumni celebrations in Seattle, Atlanta, and听Anaheim,听graduates听are invited to bring up to 4 guests.听
Commencement:听Guests are recommended to bring up to 8 guests to ensure our event听doesn鈥檛听reach venue听capacity.听
Tickets are not听required听to enter the听commencement听ceremonies in New Orleans, Louisville, Minneapolis, and Anaheim.
Tickets will be听required听for听the听commencement ceremonies听in听Elmont, New York at UBS Arena,听Atlanta, Georgia at Gas South Arena听and in Seattle, Washington at Climate Pledge Arena.听Event-specific ticketing information will be provided听8 weeks听prior to the event.听听
The names of graduates who physically attend an in-person commencement will be read as they cross the stage. All Virtual Commencement participants鈥 names will be read during the Virtual ceremony.听
No. Graduates are called to the stage by schools and not in alphabetical order.
Please arrive dressed in your cap and gown for the commencement ceremony. Due to the number of graduates and听precise听schedule, it is not practical to change into regalia at the venue.
*This may be adjusted according to venue requirements.听Additional听information will be included in the Commencement Guidebook听and on the event-specific website.
You can watch the commencement ceremony on the at any point after the start of the ceremony.
The commencement photos will be available approximately 2-3 weeks after the ceremony. Those photos will be available for viewing at
听
Did you know that WGU Alumni have access to hundreds of discounts? Log in to to search for deals on flights, hotels, car rentals, and more.
Ceremony Participation and RSVP FAQs
There is not a time limit on when a graduate may walk in a commencement. Graduates may only participate in one commencement ceremony per degree program completed.
Generally,听commencement听ceremonies听last听approximately听90 minutes.
Yes,听ceremonies have capacity听limits. We听suggest that you听submit听an RSVP to your desired ceremony as soon as you are eligible.
Please review the located in the student handbook, which outlines student eligibility to attend commencement. If you have additional questions, you can contact the Commencement Office at commencement@wgu.edu.
Graduates who wish to participate in an in-person or virtual commencement ceremony must meet eligibility requirements and register for their desired event.听
Eligibility Guidelines听 听
- Students must have submitted their Graduation Application for the completion of their degree program OR
- Students must have only their final course remaining, such as capstone or final certification, with the exception of direct hours for field experience or demonstration teaching.听
- Students who meet the above final course requirements may submit an email to听commencement@wgu.edu with "Final Course" in the subject line along with desired commencement ceremony.
- Once eligibility has been confirmed the student or graduate MUST submit an RSVP via the commencement .听 听
If you don鈥檛 currently meet either of these requirements, wait to RSVP until one of the requirements is met.
No, the graduation application process is separate from submitting a RSVP to a Commencement Weekend. If the Commencement Office has granted a final course exemption and you have RSVP鈥檇 to your desired ceremony you do not have to have your graduation application submitted to walk at Commencement.
Yes. The鈥痗eremony RSVP form鈥痠s a separate process from the graduation application. The completion of the ceremony RSVP form reserves your seat at commencement and generates your听information on a听name reading听card听for听the announcer.鈥
After a graduate submits the ceremony RSVP form, a confirmation email is automatically sent to the email address listed on the completed RSVP form. Please check your junk inbox. If you do not see a confirmation email for your ceremony RSVP, please contact us at commencement@wgu.edu with additional questions.
No. Once registration has closed, no late additions, including day-of听(walk-up)听will be听permitted.听Registration for all听in-person听commencement events ends one month prior to the event date, and registration for virtual ceremonies ends听
No. As of January 2022, a graduate may participate in one ceremony per degree, either a virtual or in-person ceremony.
A听StagePass听is听a digital QR code听issued to each graduate registered for an in-person听ceremony听the week of commencement.听It听contains听the information that will听be displayed听on the screen as your name is听read,听and you cross the stage.听To access their听StagePass听at the ceremony, graduates will need their phone with them at graduate check-in and as they cross the stage.
Your听StagePass听will be emailed to you听on Monday and听Friday,听the week of听the听commencement听weekend.听If you do not receive it, please contact the Commencement Office at听commencement@wgu.edu听with the subject line, 鈥淪tagePass听Not Received鈥.
We will send commencement updates to the email address you entered on your RSVP form.
Regalia FAQs
91制片厂 works with听official regalia vendor听Balfour听(caps, gowns, tassels, hoods,听stoles). Ordering will听open at the end of 2025听for all 2026听ceremonies.听Regalia ordering can be found听.听
For bachelor鈥檚 degree, post-baccalaureate teacher programs, or endorsement preparation program (English Language Learning), you should鈥痮rder a鈥痗ap, bachelor's gown, and tassel.听
For鈥痶hose earning a master's degree or endorsement preparation program (Educational Leadership), you should鈥痮rder a鈥痗ap, master's gown, tassel, and a master's hood.听
Click听听to see a tutorial on how to wear your cap & gown the day of commencement.听
The following master鈥檚 hoods are available for purchase听from听our regalia vendor听Balfour.听
Education -听Blue听
Business (all MBAs) -听Drab听
Technology -听Gold听
Nursing 鈥撎鼳pricot听
Integrated Healthcare Management -听Salmon听
Master of Health Leadership -听Sage green
91制片厂 works with听official听commencement听goods vendor听Balfour听for听additional听commencement goods and announcements. Visit them at https://www.balfour.com/wgu to see their听selection.听
Prior to the conferral of degrees, bachelor's degree graduates wear听their听tassel on the right while master's degree graduates wear their tassel on the left for the entire commencement ceremony.
A graduate should wear academic attire听appropriate to听the awarded degree. The master's gown differs from a bachelor's gown. If you already have a cap and tassel, you can order a听master's听gown as an individual item on听our commencement vendor鈥檚 website.听Please note that the academic attire for a master's graduate includes a cap, tassel, master's gown, and hood.
Yes, WGU graduates affiliated with an honor society may wear society pins or honor cords/sashes/stoles to听represent听their academic achievements, affiliations, or identity听on their gowns.听
Teacher graduates affiliated with the WGU chapter of the听international honor society听of Kappa Delta Pi (KDP) may order honor cords at听.听听
Graduates who are members of The National Society of Leadership and听Success听may wear honor cords听indicating听this affiliation.
91制片厂 graduates who are veterans or active-duty military will be provided with a military honor cord. For virtual commencements, cords will be shipped to the address provided on their RSVP. For in-person commencements, cords will be picked up at听the Alumni Celebration or at Commencement听during听graduate check-in. On your RSVP form, please mark that you are a veteran or active duty.
Graduates are听permitted听to decorate their听graduation听caps. Take into consideration the following if decorating your cap for commencement:听
91制片厂 does not allow content on caps or sashes that is considered, in WGU鈥檚 sole discretion, obscene, vulgar, defamatory, hateful, inappropriate, profane or that might disregard another鈥檚 copyright or third-party rights. All decorations must lie flat on the cap.
91制片厂 Philanthropy Cord FAQs
The WGU Philanthropy Cord is a blue and gold cord for graduates to wear with their cap and gown听at听Commencement. The听Philanthropy听Cord is听a听physical symbol of a graduate鈥檚 commitment to WGU,听and,听more importantly,听supports a听philanthropic听legacy that will last for future generations of WGU听students.
Graduates can receive a听Philanthropy听Cord by making a gift of $25 or more to WGU鈥檚 Fellow Night Owl Scholarship, a fund听established听to help current WGU students facing financial hardship cross the finish line to graduation. To donate, graduates can text 鈥淲GUCord鈥 to 41-444 or听听
All WGU Philanthropy Cord donations support WGU鈥檚 Fellow Night Owl Scholarship, a fund听established听to help current WGU students facing financial hardship cross the finish line to graduation.
For in-person commencements,听you may choose to have your听Philanthropy听Cord听mailed to you or听picked听up听at Commencement听by visiting the WGU Advancement table at the Alumni Celebration or during graduate check-in before听Commencement.听
For virtual commencements,听Philanthropy听Cords will be mailed prior to the ceremony date.
91制片厂 Advancement听is dedicated听to听attracting,听allocating, and putting dollars to听work听so more students have access to an affordable, quality education.听We听provide听a meaningful way for alumni, donors, and partners听to 鈥減ay it forward鈥 and invest in the future of education.听
Letter of Invitation for Abroad & Commencement Announcements FAQs
Yes, students may send an email to听records@wgu.edu听with the family member's full name, relationship to the student, and foreign address. Once provided, the Records Department will prepare documents听containing听information about the commencement and student's earned degree. These prepared letters will then be sent to the student to听forward听them to the correct parties. It may take 5-10 business days for the letters to be mailed to the student.
91制片厂 works with听official听announcements and听commencement听goods听vendor听Balfour. Ordering will open at the end of 2025听for all 2026听ceremonies.听
Announcements can be found听on听Balfour听听听
Graduation Application and Diploma FAQs
Visit the听听in the student handbook for the most current information on how to apply for graduation.
Visit the鈥痠n the student handbook for the most current information on how to receive your diploma.听
No, please leave your diploma at home.听You will receive a complimentary diploma cover at the end of the commencement ceremony.听
