The next formal commencement ceremony is Thursday, 27 March, 2025.
A YouTube link for the ceremony will be posted closer to the event date.
The information below is for graduates in Masters or Doctoral degree programs.
When is graduation?
The Graduate School awards degrees every quarter and has formal commencement ceremonies in March and September. Check the academic calendar for exact dates.
There is no ceremony when I graduate (Jun/Dec). How do I get my diploma?
Diplomas are ready for pick-up on the Friday after graduation day. If you are in the local area, you can pick up your diploma from the Registrar Section in building 641 room 102. If you are not in the local area, your diploma will be mailed to you. Please ensure the Registrar Section has the correct mailing address.
I graduate in Jun (or Dec). Can I attend commencement?
Of course! June graduates are welcome to walk in the September ceremony, and December graduates are welcome to walk in the March ceremony. We refer to that as “Return to Walk”. We try to contact prior term graduates as we prepare for commencement, but the contact information is not always updated. You should receive information by mid-Feb or mid-Nov as applicable, but feel free to contact us if you do not get notification. Please note that the Graduate School cannot fund travel to return for commencement.
What do I wear for commencement?
All PhD graduates will wear academic regalia (cap and gown). Military will wear the dress uniform (or service equivalent) under. It is okay to remove the uniform jacket once in the ready room and put in on again after the ceremony. Wearing the jacket under the PhD gown can get quite warm.
All military master’s graduates will wear the dress uniform (or service equivalent).
All civilian master’s graduates will wear academic regalia (cap and gown).
Academic regalia is provided at no cost. Student Services will inquire on height to ensure the appropriate sizes are ordered. All regalia pick-up and drop-off will be in building 641 room 102.
Academic regalia is provided at no cost. Student Services will inquire on height to ensure the appropriate sizes are ordered. All regalia pick-up and drop-off will be in building 641 room 102.
Do I need tickets?
Tickets are dependent on the venue. The March commencement is usually held at the National Museum of the United States Air Force and has attendance limitations. Although the official guidance will be issued during Winter term, expect 3 or 4 tickets per graduate. No ticket is needed for the graduate, but every guest (ages 0-125) will need a ticket. Be aware that not every graduate will need the full complement of tickets, so there may be opportunity to re-distribute unneeded tickets.
The September commencement may vary in location, which will drive ticket requirements. More information will be released during Summer term.
Is commencement mandatory?
The commencement ceremony is mandatory for military graduates located at WPAFB and optional, but highly encouraged, for civilians/contractors. All mandatory attendees unable to attend must have approval from the Associate Dean of Students. Status of attending/not attending should be annotated on the Application for Graduation.