Cornell Commencement

Graduation at Cornell is comprised of two components: the ceremonial Commencement exercises where all university graduate and undergraduate degrees are formally conferred en masse, plus separate recognition ceremonies or receptions within each college/school. Saturday’s University Commencement Ceremonies are distinct from various college events happening over the course of the weekend. Also, Commencement should not be confused with Convocation, which will take place on Thursday, May 22nd and features an invited guest speaker. A student only event.

Over 8,000 candidates will earn degrees, including undergraduate and graduate degrees. Of those, a total of approximately 6,000 will participate in person this year, with 3,000 participating in each of the two ceremonies.

It takes approximately 45 minutes (9:15 a.m.-10:00 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.-2:30 p.m.) for students, faculty, administrators, and trustees to process into the stadium and be seated. An announcement and large banner will designate the arrival of each college at Schoellkopf Field. This is a fun & festive time – watch for your graduate on the Jumbotron or via livestream!

At these large university ceremonies, candidates do not cross the stage and names are not announced. Rather, each college’s degree candidates will rise when instructed, and degrees will be formally conferred en masse, by the university president. The ceremonies will end, at 11:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. respectively, with the singing of the Alma Mater.

After each of the commencement ceremonies, some graduates and guests will leave the stadium to go to the graduate’s college event, if planned for Saturday morning or afternoon. These events are happening at various locations across campus. Graduates exit the stadium at the north end of the field to walk to their next event and/or to meet up with their guests. Guests exit the stadium from the Crescent or from the south end of the field, then join their graduate at the next event or at a designated meeting point.

Make sure everyone in your party knows the graduate’s college/school and department if attending an event following the Commencement Ceremony.

Commencement Ceremony @ 2:30 p.m.

12:30 p.m.: Buses continue making loops around campus to transport guests from parking lots to Schoellkopf Field (Crescent side). 12:30 p.m.: Entrances open for the 2nd ceremony. 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Arrive on campus to allow time to park (follow signs to parking), then ride a bus to the Crescent Lot at Schoellkopf Field. Guests with Accessibility Plans should follow specific instructions received with their Yellow Plan. Allow time for safety and security measures at stadium entrances. NOTE: If arriving by vehicle with graduates, graduates MUST be on the Arts Quad at 12:30 p.m. assembling for the procession. 1:30 p.m.: Guests should plan to be in seating areas by 1:30 p.m., to watch the student procession arrive from the Arts Quad.

• General Seating and Accessible Blue Plan: Crescent bleachers.
• Accessible Yellow Plan: On the field in the south end zone.
• Indoor Livestream Viewing Locations: Statler Hall Amphitheater and Lynah Rink.

1:45 p.m. -2:30 p.m.: Procession arrives at Schoellkopf Field. Graduates are seated. 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.: 2nd Commencement Ceremony at Schoellkopf Field.

Students wear cap & gown to this event.
Guests may dress per their personal comfort level (business-casual is common) and comfortable walking shoes.  The stadium does not have a roof, so please be prepared for hot, cold, and wet weather by bringing sunblock, hat, umbrella, and jacket, as deemed necessary for the conditions.

Per Cornell tradition, the university president will deliver the Commencement address at each of the two (2) Commencement ceremonies and conferred degrees.

Both Commencement Ceremonies will be livestreamed starting at 9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 24, 2025.  Watch the livestream broadcast of each of the two in-person events or view the recorded broadcast at a later time. The links will be posted a few days before the events.

Saturday, all central campus roads, including those surrounding Schoellkopf Field, will be closed 6:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. for the safety of pedestrians.  Please review parking and directions for parking, buses, and accessibility information.

General Seating at Schoellkopf is in the Crescent which is bleacher-style with stairs and no back support. From the Crescent Lot, guests walk to the concourse underneath the Crescent, then walk through an entryway (portal) that leads into the Crescent bleachers inside the stadium. These entryways are 2/3 of the way up in the Crescent, not near the ground or field level. Guests walk up or down from the portals to find open seating. Earlier arrival is recommended for large groups hoping to find seating together.

Accessibility: Two types of Accessibility Plans are available upon request and are valid on Saturday. Click here for more information about Accessibility Planning.

Strollers: The Crescent is all bleacher seating, which is not conducive to large strollers. There is a place to park a stroller just inside the Crescent, at your own risk. Smaller umbrella style strollers are fine since they can be folded and stored on a lap.

Graduates: sit in chairs on the field, grouped by their degree-conferring college.

Parking: Review our Parking & Directions page for information about daily parking, buses, road closures, and maps.

SAFETY: To enroll your cell phone to receive emergency notifications, text “CornellVisitor” to 226787. The safety and security of everyone on campus is of great importance to Cornell University. so please review security measures for Commencement Weekend.

CLEAR BAG POLICY: To uphold health and safety protocols, minimize contact and ensure a swifter entry process, a clear bag policy is strongly encouraged at the University Commencement Ceremonies on Saturday at Schoellkopf Field. Other weekend events are encouraging clear bags as well.

If a bag is necessary, it must be clear and all bags are subject to inspection. Permissible bags include clear totes (not exceeding 12” x 6” x 12”), 1-gallon clear storage bags, or strapless/handheld clutches (not exceeding 6.5″ x 4.5″). Diaper bags must be accompanied with a child. Cornell reserves the right to search persons, property, and non-transparent bags at various entrances.

No alcohol or glass bottles allowed in the Stadium.

No pets allowed, unless a service animal at Schoellkopf Stadium. Review pet policy.

All graduates are to register themselves and the number of guests attending their conferring college ceremony at either 10 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. The registration will open on  January 15, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Go to the Student section for more details.

Please check back in mid-February for more details as to how the student will obtain tickets for the ceremonies in the stadium. We strongly encourage 4 guests per graduate.

In good and fair weather, the Commencement ceremonies will take place at Schoellkopf Field, as planned.  The stadium does not have a roof, so prepare for all weather conditions, including rain showers or several hours in the sun. Umbrellas are allowed in the stadium. If potentially dangerous weather, torrential downpour, high winds, lightning, or any other condition is deemed too unsafe to hold the ceremonies at the stadium, we will enact our Severe Weather Plan and events may be canceled and not rescheduled. Please review the Severe Weather Plan for Commencement Ceremonies.