Graduation FAQs

You can complete the Late Graduation Application form.

Remember, you must apply to graduate even if you do not plan to attend the graduation ceremony!

The University Commencement will be on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 10 am in EagleBank Arena 

Degree Celebration dates, times, and locations are on the Degree Celebration page, as each college/school has their own ceremony.

University Commencement

The University Commencement is the main university ceremony presided over by the President of the University. The ceremony includes a commencement speaker, student speaker and can include other special honors. Caps and gowns are worn.

Doctoral candidates will be hooded and individually recognized. Bachelor and master candidates will be recognized at their seats by major.

College/School Degree Celebrations

Each college/school has an individual ceremony where all graduates are individually recognized and photographed on stage. Celebrations include select speakers, performances and all graduates crossing the stage and having their name ready. Doctorals have already been hooded at the University commencement so they are not hooded at the degree celebrations. Caps and gowns are worn. 

Yes, all ceremonies will be viewable via live stream on George Mason's YouTube channel. More information on live streams will be made available as we get closer to the event dates.

At Degree Celebrations, all bachelors and masters students graduating in Spring or Summer 2024 are allowed to walk. Please see the Degree Celebrations page for the complete schedule.

During the Commencement ceremony, Doctoral graduates will be individually recognized and photographed on stage. All other graduates will be recognized as a group by major at their seats.

For Doctoral candidates, only Spring 2024 graduates confirmed by their colleges/schools are permitted to participate in the Commencement ceremony.

Students with special circumstances should contact the Office of University Events at gmuevent@gmu.edu.

Yes, accessible seating will be available. Check the location of each ceremony you will be attending, then check the location information below.

Eagle Bank Arena

Graduates needing special assistance should reach out to the Accessibility Office to let them know of your accessibility needs.

Guests requiring special assistance may be seated with one companion guest in easy-access sections of EagleBank Arena. Ushers will be available in the lobby to assist those requiring handicapped and special-assistance seating. Accessible seating is near the number 4, 8, 13, and 17 portal entrances with clear views of commencement proceedings. 

Center for the Arts

Ushers will be available in the lobby to assist those requiring handicapped and special-assistance seating. Please reach out to the Accessibility Office to let them know of you and your guests' accessibility needs.

Van Metre Hall - Mason Square

Please reach out to the Accessibility Office to let them know of you and your guests' accessibility needs.

If there is inclement weather the day of any ceremony, updates will be posted on the Graduation homepage.

University Events: 703-993-2853 / gmuevent@gmu.edu 

Yes, all guests, ages 2 and older, need a ticket to attend. Graduates will not need a ticket for themselves but are required to present a George Mason ID or G# to check in.

Yes, all guests, ages 2 and older, need a ticket to attend. Graduates will not need a ticket for themselves but are required to present a George Mason ID or G# to check in.

Ticket links for each Degree Ceremony for bachelor and master graduates are available on the Degree Celebration page starting April 5.  

Advance tickets for the Commencement ceremony are no longer available. However, please note that on the morning of Commencement there are normally seats available in the arena due to no-shows. On the day of Commencement, guests without tickets should go to the EagleBank Arena box office on the west side of the concourse to request available day of tickets. There will also be overflow viewing seating available across Patriot Circle at the Center for the Arts Concert Hall.

Please note: Only Doctoral graduates will be individually recognized and cross the stage at Commencement. Master and Bachelor graduates are individually recognized and photographed on stage at their school's Degree Celebration.

The Grad Fair is the perfect time to get all your graduation regalia and related purchases. It will be Feb. 27, 28, and 29 from 10am – 6pm in Dewberry Hall, Johnson Center on the Fairfax Campus.

If you are unable to attend the Grad Fair, regalia will be available in the University Bookstore starting March 1 or online. Please see the regalia page for more information.

Doctorals

• Last day to order if purchasing regalia: March 10
• Last day to order rental regalia online: March 31

Bachelors/Masters

• Last day to order online: April 14
• After that date, purchases available in person at the University Bookstore while supplies last.

Faculty

• Last day to order regalia:  March 31

Regalia cost depends on your degree.

• Bachelor's degree regalia (cap, gown, and tassel): $83.98;
• Master's degree regalia (cap, gown, tassel, and hood): $136.98 
• Doctoral regalia (for purchase): $973
• Doctoral regalia (rental): $178.98

If you are unable to purchase regalia on your own, please reach out to the Gowns for Grads Program as soon as possible.

Doctoral rental regalia should be returned to the University Bookstore no later than May 13.

Parking for graduation ceremonies on the Fairfax campus will be available in Lots K, L and parts of A, plus Mason Pond Parking Deck for ceremonies in the Center for the Arts, Concert Hall. Accessible parking will be available in Lot A of EagleBank Arena and on Mason Pond Drive. 

For ceremonies on the Mason Square campus, parking will be available in the Van Metre Garage, directly underneath Van Metre Hall. Accessible parking will be provided in the Van Metre Garage.

Yes. Overflow seating will be available in the Center for the Arts with a live stream of the ceremony.

Doctoral Candidates

Doctoral candidates should arrive between 8:15 - 8:30 am.  Detailed instructions will be emailed to each candidate.

All Other Graduates

All other graduates should arrive one hour prior to Commencement; please meet in Lot A, near the loading dock. 

Guests

Doors will open for guests one hour prior to the start of the ceremony. Tickets are required, but seating is general admission. 

Typically the ceremony lasts about two hours.

Graduates should arrive no later than one hour prior to the start of the ceremony. 

Doors open for guests one hour prior to the start of the ceremony.  Tickets are required, but seating is general admission.

The ceremonies average around two hours in length.

Yes. When you arrive, you will be given a reader card. You will be asked to fill it out with your name and pronunciation notes and keep it with you. You will hand the card to the reader when you walk onto the stage.  

Yes, the bookstore will be open at 8:30 am.

Technically, yes. However, the bookstore does not open until 8:30 am. Graduates need to start lining up at 9 am for the 10 am ceremony. As such, it is advised to pick up any regalia orders by the day before the ceremony.

Diplomas will be mailed six to eight weeks after commencement. Notify George Mason if you need to update your diploma mailing address.