Class of 2023, we look forward to celebrating your hard work and accomplishments at Class Day! To honor your achievements, an entire week of celebrations, ceremonies, and special events is planned for you.
We look forward to proudly marking this milestone with you, your family, your friends, your classmates, your faculty, your advisors, your dean, and the entire Columbia community. So many people are waiting to recognize this major accomplishment.
Graduation Events
Columbia Engineering Class Day – May 15
Monday, May 15, 2023
12:30–3:30 p.m.
South Lawns, Morningside Campus
General admission
A celebration of the accomplishments of all bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree candidates of the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Graduating students will be individually recognized and addresses are given by the president, dean, a keynote speaker and other individuals.
Columbia College Class Day - May 16
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
8:00–10:30 a.m.
South Lawns, Morningside Campus
General admission
A celebration of the accomplishments of all bachelor’s degree candidates of Columbia College. Graduating students will be individually recognized and addresses are given by the president, dean, a keynote speaker and other individuals.
Columbia University Commencement – May 17
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 10:30 a.m.
Morningside Campus
Limit 4 guest tickets per undergraduate student. The process for reserving tickets is expected to open in April, after spring break.
A University-wide commencement ceremony for all eligible April, May, and June 2023 degree candidates, and February 2023 and October 2022 graduates, from all schools and colleges affiliated with Columbia University, as well as family and friends. President Bollinger officially confers degrees to the graduating students en masse and addresses are made en masse.
Please note that due to the large number of attendees we are unable to provide additional tickets to University commencement.
What is the Difference Between Class Day and Commencement?
Class Day is the graduation ceremony hosted by your school, when your name will be read aloud by the dean and you and your classmates will be individually recognized for your outstanding achievements. You will hear remarks from President Bollinger, Dean Sorett, Dean Chang and alumni and student leaders, specific to you and your fellow graduates. Columbia College and the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences each host their own Class Day, on separate days. All family members and guests are welcome to attend Class Day.
Commencement is a University-wide ceremony in which President Bollinger officially confers degrees to the graduating students en masse. Graduating students from all of the schools of Columbia University participate. Attending the University Commencement ceremony is not required to graduate from the University and receive your diploma, but it is a rich, deeply symbolic tradition that graduates and their families have enjoyed for over a century.
Other Services and Celebrations
Baccalaureate Service
Sunday, May 14, 2023, 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul's Chapel
The Baccalaureate Service is a multifaith service celebrating the completion of each undergraduate's academic career from Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, the School of General Studies, and Barnard College. Service highlights include hymns, musical selections, readings, reflections, and speeches by students.
The Baccalaureate Service is believed to have originated at Oxford University in 1432 when each bachelor was required to deliver a sermon in Latin as part of his academic exercise. Columbia University began this tradition in 1897.
Learn more about the Baccalaureate Service.
Jewish Life Graduation Celebration
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Columbia/Barnard Hillel will celebrate the Class of 2023 at this annual Commencement Brunch. Family, friends, and loved ones are welcome. Jewish dietary laws will be observed.
Learn more about the Commencement Brunch.
Multicultural Graduation Celebrations
In honor of Columbia’s diverse student community and complementing the school- and University-wide graduation celebrations, we are proud to also offer Multicultural Graduation Celebrations, which provide a more intimate setting for students who self-identify in a variety of ways. These events invite community members to reflect on personal growth and community experiences that have impacted their time as students through to graduation. All undergraduate students are invited to participate in these celebrations.
- Multicultural Affairs Graduation Cord Ceremony: Tuesday, May 2
- Lavender Graduation Celebration (LGBTQIA+ community): Wednesday, May 3, 6:00–8:30 p.m.
- Asian Graduation Celebration: Thursday, May 4, 6:00–8:00 p.m.
- FLI Graduation Celebration (First-generation and/or low-income community): Monday, May 15, 5:00–6:30 p.m.
- Black Graduation Celebration: Tuesday, May 16, 2:00–4:30 p.m.
- Latinx Graduation Celebration: Tuesday, May 16, 6:30–9:00 p.m.
- Native Graduation Celebration: Wednesday, May 17, 2:00–4:00 p.m.
The registration forms for graduates and guests are now open.
Each ceremony has a corresponding regalia accessory (stole, medallion, pin, or tassel). The registration deadline to reserve your regalia accessory is Sunday, March 26. (For graduates registering after March 26, the receipt of regalia accessories will be determined on availability and is not guaranteed.) The registration deadline to participate in the celebrations is Sunday, April 30.
Disability Affinity Graduation Celebration
This event is a University Life Social Justice Mini-Grant initiative and will be held in the Journalism Lecture Hall on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.
Leadership and Excellence Awards
Monday, May 1 at 6:00 p.m., Low Library Rotunda
At the end of each academic year, Undergraduate Student Life and partner offices recognize students with awards and honors for leadership, co-curricular accomplishments, and noteworthy contributions to the Columbia community.
Department Receptions
Dates will be announced during the spring 2023 term.
From toasts and salutes to award presentations and fond farewells, almost every Columbia College and Engineering department hosts its own, unique end-of-year celebration to recognize their graduating seniors.
International Graduation Celebration
Sunday, April 30, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.