Male student waving his hands at the crowd wearing a cap and gown

Commencement Ceremony Information

The 2024 Commencement Ceremony will take place following the end of Spring semester in May.

Friday, May 17
7 p.m.

If you have questions, contact the Office of Student Records at commencement@cod.edu.

Important Dates

Register for Commencement

To participate in the Commencement ceremony, students must sign up through Marching Order. Students will receive an email with a personalized link to sign up, along with additional details involving commencement. Students are not required to participate in the Commencement ceremony to earn their degree or certificate. All graduates will receive their diploma in the mail six weeks after their final semester.

Monday, April 8: Deadline to File an Application for Degree or Certificate

Your Application for Degree or Certificate must be submitted by Monday, April 8 in order to register for the Commencement ceremony and be included in the commencement program. Students who submit applications after this date will not be able to participate in the event.

Once your Application for Degree or Certificate has been submitted and processed for Fall 2023, Spring 2024 or Summer 2024, it can take up to five (5) business days for you to be granted access to event registration in Marching Order.

Friday, April 19: Deadline to Register in Marching Order

Students planning to participate in the Commencement ceremony must register in Marching Order by Friday, April 19.  Students who access the Marching Order system after this date will not be able to participate.  If you have not filed your Application for Degree or Certificate by Monday, April 8, you cannot register in Marching Order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find the answers to frequently asked questions about commencement at College of DuPage.

If you have a chosen name that you would prefer to use throughout the ceremony, you will be able to enter this when registering in Marching Order.  Please note, this is the name that will be used for the ceremony, but your diploma will show the legal name associated with your record.

Caps and gowns can be purchased through the COD Bookstore during regular hours. The Bookstore has samples you can try on to ensure a proper fit. There are limits of each size available in-person so they will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Remember to bring your confirmation email from Marching Order, as this is required to purchase a cap and gown.

Package (cap/gown/tassel): $42.00

Gown Only: $29.00

Cap Only: $7.00

Tassel Only: $6.00

All graduates who choose to participate in the Commencement ceremony, must wear the appropriate hunter green cap and gown, which can be purchased at the COD Bookstore. If you forget your cap and gown, there will no extras available for loan.

Honor Society membership recognition is through the individual purchase of a stole or cord. Please contact your honor society advisor for information.

You may wear medals that you have been awarded while a student at COD.

Begin the ceremony with your tassel on the right side of your cap.

Yes, there will be a required rehearsal at 5:30 p.m. the day of the ceremony. 

Please bring your cap and gown to rehearsal and make sure that your guests have all the information they need regarding their tickets. You will not be able to meet up with your guests between rehearsal and the beginning of the ceremony.

Yes, the ceremony will be streamed on YouTube.

During the ceremony, a professional photographer from Grad Images will take a photograph of you at your special moment of recognition receiving your diploma cover.

Approximately one week after the ceremony you will receive an email with ordering information. You may also visit gradimages.com. There is no obligation to purchase a photo.

In order to ensure an orderly ceremony, we do not allow personal photographs and videos to be taken from the aisles. Personal photographs can be taken after the ceremony at the reception in the Arts Center lobby.

All graduates will receive their diploma in the mail six weeks after their final semester.

Congratulations to all of the COD graduates!

56th Annual Commencement Ceremony

One moment I couldn’t wait for was when I walked across the stage at graduation with my children in the audience watching me earn the degrees I worked so hard and sacrificed for. It will always be one of the most important moments in my life.

Erika AndersonCOD Graduate