84th Commencement
2026 Commencement Ceremony Dates/Times
Friday, May 15
- 1:00 p.m. – Nursing Pinning Ceremony, Newman Center Gymnasium
- 4:00 p.m. – Baccalaureate Mass, Sister Mary Dominic Tweedus Chapel
- 5:00 p.m. – Cocktail Reception, Dining Hall
Saturday, May 16
- 10:00 a.m. – Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony: School of Business & Computer Science and School of Nursing & Health Services
- 3:00 p.m. – Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony: School of Arts & Sciences
Sunday, May 17
- 10:00 a.m. – Graduate Commencement Ceremony: Master’s and Doctoral Degree Recipients.
Information for Graduates
Order your Class Rings
Balfour Co Ring Day Tabling
March 17 – Noon – 4 pm – Coop Wall
March 18 – Noon – 4 pm – Hall of Flags
Complete Student Loan Exit Interview!
Federal student loan borrowers must complete the exit counseling session at https://studentaid.gov/exit-counseling/. December graduates must complete the session by December 18, 2025.
May and summer graduates must complete the session by April 20, 2026. If the session is not completed, graduating students will not be permitted to pick up Commencement-related materials until it is.
Nominate a Student Speaker for Commencement
Each Commencement ceremony will feature an address delivered by a student speaker, with one student speaker selected for each of the following ceremonies:
Saturday, May 16 at 10:00 a.m.
Undergraduate Ceremony for the School of Business & Computer Science and the School of Nursing and Health Services
Saturday, May 16 at 3:00 p.m.
Undergraduate Ceremony for the School of Arts & Sciences
Sunday, May 17 at 10:00 a.m.
Graduate Ceremony for Master’s and Doctoral Degrees
*All students eligible for degree conferral are invited to be nominated for this prestigious opportunity.
Nomination Timeline:
Start Date: January 22, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.
End Date: February 24, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for nomination, students must meet the following requirements:
- Be an eligible graduating student (December 2025, May 2026, or August 2026).
- Be available to attend the designated Commencement ceremony during Commencement Weekend and wear the appropriate academic regalia for the degree earned.
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for bachelor’s degree candidates and 3.5 for graduate degree candidates.
- Exemplify the mission and values of Caldwell University.
- Be in good disciplinary standing with the University.
- Demonstrate strong public speaking skills.
- Show the ability to draft and present a Commencement speech outline to the selection committee.
- Commit to meeting all deadlines, incorporating feedback and revisions as requested, and fulfilling the expectations established by the selection committee.
Nomination Process
- Graduating students may nominate themselves or be nominated by others.
- All nominations will be reviewed by the Student Commencement Speaker Selection Committee, and nominees will be notified of their finalist status.
- Finalists will be invited to meet in person with members of the committee to present the proposed topic and an outline of the speech they intend to deliver at their Commencement ceremony.
- Academic eligibility, including GPA and disciplinary standing, will be verified confidentially by the Office of Student Life.
- Students selected as Commencement speakers will be paired with a faculty member who will provide coaching and guidance in preparation for their respective ceremonies.
NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
Information for Guests
We look forward to welcoming you to campus the weekend of May 16-17, 2026, for the 84th Commencement at Caldwell University!
Your graduate will have specific ticket information later this spring.
Your experience on our campus in May is important to us – check this page often as we make updates that will help you prepare for your celebration!
Information for Faculty & Staff
Regalia orders will be processed through Oak Hall, and the office of the VPAA will facilitate the process once the rental portal opens.
The Deans will disseminate updated information as soon as it becomes available.
Staff volunteers are needed to help ensure a smooth celebration for our graduates and their families. Please contact Erica Wyrovsky in the President’s Office to be added to the volunteer list.
Commencement FAQ’s
Q: How many guest tickets does each graduate receive?
A: As soon as all eligible students have completed their applications for graduation, we will be able to determine the number of tickets each student will receive.
Q: How long is each ceremony?
A: Doors will open 90 minutes before each ceremony, and ceremonies typically run about one hour in length. We try to be efficient!
Q: Will there be overflow seating for the undergraduate ceremonies?
A: Yes! While we have a limited number of seats in the Newman Center, additional guests can watch a live stream across the plaza in the Student Center Auditorium. Guests can also watch the live stream on our Facebook page. The link will be posted to this page the week of the event.
Q: Will there be professional photographers at each ceremony?
A: Yes! We work with the pros at Island Photography who will be snapping shots of each graduate as they cross the stage. We also have other professional photographers roaming all weekend, capturing candids that are available for download after the events are complete.