Commencement

Apply to Graduate

Applying to graduate with Degree Checkout in Registrar Services is the first step in your degree completion process. Please see instructions for how to apply.

Register for Commencement

Commencement registration will open on April 15, 2026, and remain open through May 5, 2026.  Registration Links will be emailed directly to all eligible graduates.

Order your Cap and Gown

Official CWU regalia is required for participation in Commencement. The CWU Wildcat Shop oversees regalia orders. To order, please navigate to wildcatshop.net and click on the “Commencement” tab.

Attend Grad Kickoff

Grad Kickoff, sponsored by the Wildcat Shop, is your one-stop-shop for all things Commencement. You can pick up your cap and gown (if ordered by TBD), purchase a class ring, have your grad photo taken and much more!

Grad Kickoff Dates

Ellensburg Campus (SURC Ballroom)

TBD for 2026: 10:00am – 5:00pm
TBD for 2026: 10:00am – 5:00pm

Des Moines Campus

TBD for 2026: 1:00 – 7:00pm

Lynwood Campus:

TBD for 2026: 1:00 – 7:00pm

Pick up your Namecard

Ellensburg Commencment Ceremonies

Beat the lines on Commencement day and pick your namecard up early! Available for pick-up beginning the Tuesday of Commencement week (June 9th) at the Info Center inside the SURC between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm. Cards will be available at the info center until the Friday before Commencement. Please remember that your namecard is vital to your Commencement participation, so do not forget to bring it with you on Commencement day!

Check Ceremony Information

• Application to Graduate 
• Commencement Registration Opens – April 15, 2026
• Grad Kickoff (Ellensburg) – April 14 and 15, 2026, starting at 10 a.m.
• Grad Kickoff (Des Moines) – April 22, 2026, 1:00 - 7:00 p.m.
• Grad Kickoff (Lynwood) – April 21, 2026, 1:00 - 7:00 p.m.
• Commencement Registration Closes – May 5, 2026
• Namecard Pickup – Week of Commencement

CWU’s Commencements are divided by college. The college that your major falls under determines which ceremony you will walk in.

Check this list to see which ceremony your major is a part of.

Ellensburg AM Ceremony

College of Arts and Humanities, College of the Sciences
Saturday, June 13th, 2026 – 9:00AM
Tomlinson Stadium
*A.M. and P.M. Graduates must report to the SURC on Commencement morning for line-up

Ellensburg PM Ceremony

College of Business, College of Education and Professional Studies
Saturday, June 13th, 2026 – 2:00PM
Tomlinson Stadium
*A.M. and P.M. Graduates must report to the SURC on Commencement morning for line-up

Commencement registration will be open on April 15, 2026. All eligible students will be emailed a direct link to register.

The Ellensburg Commencement Ceremonies are for Master's and Education Specialist graduates and undergraduates. It will be held on Saturday, June 13th, at 9:00 am and 2:00 pm in Tomlinson Stadium. Please check in at the SURC no later than 7:45 am for the AM ceremony or 12:45 pm for the PM ceremony.

Line-up: Graduates should arrive in regalia (cap, gown, and hood*, if a Master’s and Education Specialist graduate) at the SURC east entrance (by the Wildcat statue) no later than 7:45 am for the AM ceremony or 12:45 pm for the PM ceremony. Please arrive early as the processional will begin promptly.

Processional: The processional lines will begin at the SURC and walk up Walnut Mall to Tomlinson Stadium. You will line up and be led by the college in two rows. Your name card will be color-coded to ensure you are in the proper ceremony and lined up accordingly. CWU staff will be present to guide you.

Student marshals will lead the processional and recessional and assist with the ceremony. They will be in silver caps and gowns and will aid you during the entire commencement experience. 

Thirty minutes before the start of the ceremony, the processional lines will begin moving toward the stadium. The order of the processional will be: 

1. Faculty in two lines 
2. Master’s and Education Specialist graduates in two lines
3. Undergraduates in two lines 
4. Faculty Marshal (with the University Mace) 
5. The Presidential Platform Party

Ceremony: The ceremony will consist of selected university speakers, including an undergraduate student speaker and a graduate student speaker. Following the speaker portion of the ceremony, graduate students will proceed to the stage first, be hooded by the Dean of Graduate Education, Research, and Strategic Initiatives, shake hands with the President, receive their diploma covers, and return to their seats. Following the graduate students, the undergraduate students then proceed to the stage, receive their diploma covers, shake hands with their respective college deans and the President, and then return to their seats.  The ceremony will conclude with a small speaking portion, and the recessional will begin.

Recessional: The order of the recessional is: 

1. The Faculty Marshal (with the University Mace) 
2. The Presidential Platform Party 
3. The Faculty (faculty will form a congratulatory line for all graduates to walk through as they leave the field) 
4. Master’s and Education Specialist graduates in two lines
5. Undergraduates (The last row will exit first)

AM Ceremony

Please note that we will be setting up for the second ceremony immediately following the first. Please have your guests exit promptly and direct them to meet you outside of the stadium.

Apply to Graduate

Applying to graduate with the School of Graduate Studies and Research is the first step in your degree completion process. Please see the instructions in your Canvas "Graduate Student" course. You will find them within the "Process for Graduating or Earning a Certificate & Deadlines" module.

Register for Commencement

Commencement registration will open on April 15, 2026, and remain open through May 5, 2026.  Registration Links will be emailed directly to all eligible graduates.

Order your Cap and Gown

Official CWU regalia is required for participation in Commencement. The CWU Wildcat Shop oversees regalia orders. To order, please navigate to wildcatshop.net and click on the “Commencement” tab.

Attend Grad Kickoff

Grad Kickoff, sponsored by the Wildcat Shop, is your one-stop-shop for all things Commencement. You can pick up your cap and gown (if ordered by TBD), purchase a class ring, have your grad photo taken and much more!

Grad Kickoff Dates

Ellensburg Campus (SURC Ballroom)

TBD for 2026: 10:00am – 5:00pm
TBD for 2026: 10:00am – 5:00pm

Des Moines Campus

TBD for 2026: 1:00 – 7:00pm

Lynwood Campus:

TBD for 2026: 1:00 – 7:00pm

Pick up your Namecard

Ellensburg Commencment Ceremonies

Beat the lines on Commencement day and pick your namecard up early! Available for pick-up beginning the Tuesday of Commencement week (June 9th) at the Info Center inside the SURC between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm. Cards will be available at the info center until the Friday before Commencement. Please remember that your namecard is vital to your Commencement participation, so do not forget to bring it with you on Commencement day!

Check Ceremony Information

CWU’s Commencement website is home to all Commencement-related information. Make sure you check back often, as the most up-to-date ceremony information will be listed here first. Find all relevant information regarding your ceremony in the left-hand side bar. CWU’s Commencement website is home to all Commencement-related information. Make sure you check back often, as the most up-to-date ceremony information will be listed here first. Find all relevant information regarding your ceremony in the left-hand side bar.

Master's Student Graduation Procedures, Dates, & Deadlines

• Students earning a degree in any quarter will need to request a Final Folder Check by the end of the first week of classes for that specific quarter. You should be requesting this step ONLY if you have communicated with your exam, project, portfolio review or capstone committee ahead of time. You will find the folder check request and deadlines within your Graduate Student Canvas course in the “Process for Graduating or Earning a Certificate & Deadlines” module.
• Summer Quarter Graduate Students: If you will be earning your degree summer quarter, and wish to participate in the Commencement Ceremony which takes place in June, you must complete your final folder check within the first week of Spring Quarter. Please note on your Folder Check Request that you are finishing summer quarter but wish to participate in the ceremony. You will be eligible to participate however; the Graduate School processes the folder check request summer quarter.

Commencement Ceremony Dates & Deadlines

• Commencement registration opens – April 15, 2026
• Commencement registration closes – May 5, 2026
• Grad Kickoff (Ellensburg) – April 14 and 15, 2026, starting at 10 a.m.
• Grad Kickoff (Des Moines) – April 22, 2026, 1:00 - 7:00 p.m.
• Grad Kickoff (Lynwood) – April 21, 2026, 1:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Contact the School of Graduate Studies & Research with further questions.

Ellensburg AM Ceremony

College of Arts and Humanities, College of the Sciences
Saturday, June 13th, 2026 – 9:00AM
Tomlinson Stadium
*A.M. and P.M. Graduates must report to the SURC on Commencement morning for line-up

Ellensburg PM Ceremony

College of Business, College of Education and Professional Studies
Saturday, June 13th, 2026 – 2:00PM
Tomlinson Stadium
*A.M. and P.M. Graduates must report to the SURC on Commencement morning for line-up

Commencement registration will open on April 15, 2026. Please check back then!

The Ellensburg Commencement Ceremonies are for Master's and Education Specialist graduates and undergraduates. It will be held on Saturday, June 13th, at 9:00 am and 2:00 pm in Tomlinson Stadium. Please check in at the SURC no later than 7:45 am for the AM ceremony or 12:45 pm for the PM ceremony.

Line-up: Graduates should arrive in regalia (cap, gown, and hood*, if a Master’s and Education Specialist graduate) at the SURC east entrance (by the Wildcat statue) no later than 7:45 am for the AM ceremony or 12:45 pm for the PM ceremony. Please arrive early as the processional will begin promptly.

Processional: The processional lines will begin at the SURC and walk up Walnut Mall to Tomlinson Stadium. You will line up and be led by the college in two rows. Your name card will be color-coded to ensure you are in the proper ceremony and lined up accordingly. CWU staff will be present to guide you.

Student marshals will lead the processional and recessional and assist with the ceremony. They will be in silver caps and gowns and will aid you during the entire commencement experience. 

Thirty minutes before the start of the ceremony, the processional lines will begin moving toward the stadium. The order of the processional will be: 

1. Faculty in two lines 
2. Master’s and Education Specialist graduates in two lines
3. Undergraduates in two lines 
4. Faculty Marshal (with the University Mace) 
5. The Presidential Platform Party

Ceremony: The ceremony will consist of selected university speakers, including an undergraduate student speaker and a graduate student speaker. Following the speaker portion of the ceremony, graduate students will proceed to the stage first, be hooded by the Dean of Graduate Education, Research, and Strategic Initiatives, shake hands with the President, receive their diploma covers, and return to their seats. Following the graduate students, the undergraduate students then proceed to the stage, receive their diploma covers, shake hands with their respective college deans and the President, and then return to their seats.  The ceremony will conclude with a small speaking portion, and the recessional will begin.

Recessional: The order of the recessional is: 

1. The Faculty Marshal (with the University Mace) 
2. The Presidential Platform Party 
3. The Faculty (faculty will form a congratulatory line for all graduates to walk through as they leave the field) 
4. Master’s and Education Specialist graduates in two lines
5. Undergraduates (The last row will exit first)

AM Ceremony

Please note that we will be setting up for the second ceremony immediately following the first. Please have your guests exit promptly and direct them to meet you outside of the stadium.

The Ellensburg AM Commencement Ceremony is for the College of Arts and Humanities and the College of the Sciences. It will be held on Saturday, June 13th at 9:00am in Tomlinson Stadium. Please check-in at the SURC no later than 8:00am. In keeping with the traditions of this ceremony, we request that all participants dress in academic regalia.

• Line-up: At 8:00am, line-up will begin inside Holmes Dining Hall in the SURC. Please access the SURC through the West Entrance (off of Walnut Mall). Faculty will form two lines and be escorted out the doors onto Walnut Mall.
• Processional: The procession will begin at 8:30am and move toward Tomlinson Stadium. Faculty will follow the Faculty Gonfalon and two student marshals north on Walnut Mall, across Nicholson Boulevard, between Purser Hall and Nicholson Pavilion, through the south gates of Tomlinson Stadium, and up the center aisle.
• Recessional: The Faculty Marshal will lead the Presidential Platform Party down the center aisle and back to the SURC. The Student Marshals will direct faculty in the first row to walk down the center aisle followed by the second row, etc., and toward the south gates of Tomlinson Stadium to form a congratulatory line. (PLEASE wait for a Student Marshal to direct your row). The Student Marshals will then direct the students, beginning with the last row and moving to the front row to go through the congratulatory line. The Student Marshals will lead the Masters and Undergraduates toward Nicholson Pavilion to avoid congestion. Once the final Undergraduate has gone through the congratulatory line, you may be dismissed.

If you have any questions regarding the commencement ceremonies, please contact commencement@cwu.edu.

The Ellensburg PM Commencement Ceremony is for the College of Business, College of Education and Professional Studies. It will be held on Saturday, June 13th at 2:00pm in Tomlinson Stadium. Please check-in at the SURC no later than 1:00pm. In keeping with the traditions of this ceremony, we request that all participants dress in academic regalia.

• Line-up: At 1:00pm, line-up will begin inside Holmes Dining Hall in the SURC. Please access the SURC through the West Entrance (off of Walnut Mall). Faculty will form two lines and be escorted out the doors onto Walnut Mall.
• Processional: The procession will begin at 1:30pm and move toward Tomlinson Stadium. Faculty will follow the Faculty Gonfalon and two student marshals north on Walnut Mall, across Nicholson Boulevard, between Purser Hall and Nicholson Pavilion, through the south gates of Tomlinson Stadium, and up the center aisle.
• Recessional: The Faculty Marshal will lead the Presidential Platform Party down the center aisle and back to the SURC. The Student Marshals will direct faculty in the first row to walk down the center aisle followed by the second row, etc., and toward the south gates of Tomlinson Stadium to form a congratulatory line. (PLEASE wait for a Student Marshal member to direct your row). The Student Marshals will then direct the students, beginning with the last row and moving to the front row to go through the congratulatory line. The Student Marshals will lead the Masters and Undergraduates toward Nicholson Pavilion to avoid congestion. Once the final Undergraduate has gone through the congratulatory line, you may be dismissed.

If you have any questions regarding the commencement ceremonies, please contact commencement@cwu.edu.

Faculty wishing to order rental regalia for the 2026 Commencement ceremonies can do so online at Jostens.

• TBD is the LAST DAY TO PLACE REGALIA ORDERS.
• Orders may be picked up at the Wildcat Shop in Ellensburg, at the Lynnwood center or at the Des Moines center.
• Faculty are Financially responsible for any regalia that is returned late or damaged.

If you have any questions regarding the Commencement ceremonies, please contact commencement@cwu.edu.