Check-in 

Procession

Your Turn on Stage

Recession

Ticket Information

• Please view the Class Day Guest Map for information on entrances, water stations and restrooms. 
• Seating will open at Noon. Guests should join the general event admission queue located at 115th Street and Amsterdam. Please note that, because of a ceremony occurring immediately prior to the Engineering ceremony, guests of Engineering students will be prohibited from entering the tents until the official gates open at Noon.
  • Seating is first-come, first-served. Encourage your guests to arrive early to find seats. Seats cannot be saved.
  • Guests with disabilities should enter campus at 116th Street and Amsterdam and will queue just inside the gates on College Walk. Seating in the disability section will open at Noon.

• We look forward to celebrating our graduates and welcoming their families and loved ones to our ceremony. We have updated guidelines for graduates and guests to keep our celebrations safe, respectful, and running smoothly.
• All participants and guests attending Commencement season events understand and agree to follow the responsibilities outlined in University policies, including the Rules of University Conduct, Anti-Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment Policy, and Standards and Discipline. 
  • As usual, students are responsible for the actions of their guests.
  • Those found in violation will be asked to discontinue and may be asked to leave the venue.
• What to bring. To be a prepared Class Day attendee, we recommend bringing the following items:
  • Tickets
    • All graduates must be pre-registered to attend, and must bring their CUID (or, if they graduated in October or February, a print-out of registration and a government ID). 
    • Guests must have a ticket saved, loaded, and/or ready to scan. All guests over the age of 3 must have a ticket.
    • Photo ID is required for guest and graduate entry.
  • Regalia is required to participate in all Commencement events. Graduates must arrive with regalia unzipped, as checks may take place before entry or during lineup.
  • Pre-filled, reusable water bottle
  • Prepare for inclement weather
  • Wear comfortable footwear
  • Fully charged phone (and maybe even an external battery)
  • Bags, backpacks, and purses larger than 12” x 6” x 12” are not permitted inside the venue. Security will check all bags upon entry.
• What not to bring. We want to work together as a community to provide a safe, positive, and unobstructed experience for all our graduates and guests. The following items are not permitted:
  • Obstructive or Disruptive Items
    • Signs, placards, or banners of any kind
    • Flags
    • Balloons or sky lanterns
    • Any item that obstructs views or interferes with amplified sound
    • Noise-making devices, including airhorns and cowbells
    • Any item that may interfere with or distract graduation speakers, graduates, or guests
  • Dangerous Items
    • Weapons of any kind, including pepper spray or mace
    • Glass bottles or projectiles
    • Lighters, matches, or flammable materials
    • Sharp objects or laser pointers
    • Any other item deemed dangerous, inappropriate, or in violation of University policies
• Additional Reminders
  • Only guests with tickets will be allowed into the event venue. No exceptions will be made.
  • All exits are final. Re-entry is not permitted.
  • Face coverings are not permitted unless required for religious or medical reasons.
  • Mortarboards, stoles, or other regalia should not contain language, symbols, or imagery that could violate University policies.
  • By participating in the University Commencement ceremony and/or your school-specific ceremony, all participants are giving consent to being photographed, filmed, and recorded. Please note that these photos and recordings may be shared publicly or on social media at the discretion of the University, and an archived video will be made available online for viewing after the event.

• Graduates may enter campus at the 120th Street Gate between Broadway and Amsterdam beginning at 7:30 a.m. Do not attempt to use a lower campus entry point.
• Once on campus, graduates should begin to assemble with their school at their assigned line-up location. All school line-up areas will be marked with banners with your abbreviated school name. Plenty of event volunteers will be present to help direct you.
• Wear your cap and gown and carry your University ID. If you no longer hold a University ID, bring a photo ID and your Commencement registration confirmation or a letter from your school on University stationery.
• All graduates must present their electronic graduate ticket to gain admittance to the line-up location. Staff will be scanning tickets and only graduates with a ticket will be allowed to line-up and participate.
• The candidate procession will begin by 9:00 a.m. at the latest, but may begin earlier. 
• Please bring water and dress appropriately for the weather. The ceremony is held rain or shine.

Be Prepared

• Please view the Commencement Guest Map for information on entrances, water stations and restrooms. 
• Have Your Ticket Ready: Screenshots are encouraged for quick and easy access. Tickets are required for entry and there is no re-entry.
• Your ticket shows your assigned viewing location—head straight there. Seating is first-come, first-served and seats cannot be saved.
  • South Lawn Guests join the queue at 115th St. & Broadway Ave. starting at 8:30 a.m.
  • ADA Guests arrive at 116th St. & Amsterdam Ave. Entry will begin at 8:30 a.m. Disability services staff will be on-site on the day of the event to direct and assist individuals to their seats.
  • Levien Gymnasium Guests join the queue at the corner of 120th St. & Broadway Ave. starting at 8:30 a.m.
  • Note: guest seating areas are separate from graduate seating on Low Plaza.
• Ceremony Timing: 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
• Post-Ceremony Meet-Up: With large crowds and limited campus access, finding your graduate afterward can be tricky. Pick a meeting spot ahead of time to avoid confusion.
• Stay Hydrated & Prepared:
  • Bring a reusable water bottle—fountains and refill stations will be available.
  • Don’t forget a valid ID.
  • Rain or shine: The ceremony goes on! Pack for inclement weather—umbrellas, ponchos, or sun hats, depending on the forecast.
• What NOT to Bring:
  • ​Pack light! Bags, backpacks, and purses larger than 12" x 6" x 12" inches are not permitted. All bags are subject to a bag check at entry. 
  • See the full list of what you can and cannot bring.
• If you are feeling sick or cannot make it to the ceremony, join us virtually.

• We look forward to celebrating our graduates and welcoming their families and loved ones to our ceremony. We have updated guidelines for graduates and guests to keep our celebrations safe, respectful, and running smoothly.
• All participants and guests attending Commencement season events understand and agree to follow the responsibilities outlined in University policies, including the Rules of University Conduct, Anti-Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment Policy, and Standards and Discipline. 
  • Those found in violation will be asked to discontinue and may be asked to leave the venue.
• What to bring. To be a prepared attendee, we recommend bringing the following items:
  • Tickets
    • All graduates must be pre-registered to attend, and must bring their CUID.
    • Guests must have a ticket saved, loaded, and/or ready to scan. All guests over the age of 3 must have a ticket.
    • Photo ID is required for guest and graduate entry.
  • Regalia is required to participate in all Commencement events. Graduates must arrive with regalia unzipped, as checks may take place before entry or during lineup.
  • Pre-filled, reusable water bottle
  • Prepare for inclement weather
  • Wear comfortable footwear
  • Fully charged phone (and maybe even an external battery)
  • Bags, backpacks, and purses larger than 12” x 6” x 12” are not permitted inside the venue. Security will check all bags upon entry.
• What not to bring. We want to work together as a community to provide a safe, positive, and unobstructed experience for all our graduates and guests. The following items are not permitted:
  • Obstructive or Disruptive Items
    • Signs, placards, or banners of any kind
    • Flags
    • Balloons or sky lanterns
    • Any item that obstructs views or interferes with amplified sound
    • Noise-making devices, including airhorns and cowbells
    • Any item that may interfere with or distract graduation speakers, graduates, or guests
  • Dangerous Items
    • Weapons of any kind, including pepper spray or mace
      • Glass bottles or projectiles
      • Lighters, matches, or flammable materials
      • Sharp objects or laser pointers
      • Any other item deemed dangerous, inappropriate, or in violation of University policies
• Additional Reminders
  • Only guests with tickets will be allowed into the event venue. No exceptions will be made.
  • All exits are final. Re-entry is not permitted.
  • Face coverings are not permitted unless required for religious or medical reasons.
  • Mortarboards, stoles, or other regalia should not contain language, symbols, or imagery that could violate University policies.
  • By participating in the University Commencement ceremony and/or your school-specific ceremony, all participants are giving consent to being photographed, filmed, and recorded. Please note that these photos and recordings may be shared publicly or on social media at the discretion of the University, and an archived video will be made available online for viewing after the event.

Now, celebrate! On the night of University Commencement, from dusk until after midnight, the top of New York’s iconic Empire State Building will be lit in blue and white in honor of the Columbia University Class of 2025. Congratulations on your remarkable achievements.