The 56th Annual Commencement Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 19 at 7 p.m. in the arena of the Physical Education Center (PEC). All students who earned a degree or certificate in December 2022 or who are candidates for May and August 2023 are invited to participate in the Commencement ceremony.
Students must have an Application for a Degree or Certificate on file by Wednesday, March 15 in order to be included in the commencement program. The deadline to sign up to walk in the ceremony is Friday, April 21.
If you have questions, contact the Office of Student Records at commencement@cod.edu.
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.
Important Dates
Graduates should keep an eye on the following dates and deadlines.
Wednesday, March 15: Application to be Included in Commencement Program
If you are graduating from College of DuPage between Fall 2022 and Summer 2023, planning to participate in Commencement and want your name to appear in the Commencement program, the first step is to submit your completed Application for Degree or Certificate to the Office of Student Records by Wednesday, March 15.
While you may be able to attend Commencement if you miss this deadline, your name will not appear in the program.
Tuesday, March 21: Graduation Expo
The Graduation Expo will be held on Tuesday, March 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Student Services Center (SSC) Atrium. This optional event will provide graduates with the opportunity to check their status, confirm they are signed up for the ceremony, as well as connect with important services related to finishing at College of DuPage. If you still need to finalize your plans after graduation, this is a great opportunity to get some information!
Monday, April 10: Deadline to File an Application for Degree or Certificate
Your Application for Degree or Certificate must be submitted by Monday, April 10 in order to register for the Commencement ceremony. 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 2022, Spring 2023 or Summer 2023, it can take up to five (5) business days for you to be granted access to event registration in Marching Order.
Friday, April 21: Deadline to Register in Marching Order
If you have not filed your Application for Degree or Certificate by Monday, April 10, you cannot register in Marching Order.
If you have already applied for a degree or certificate, keep an eye on your email for more details from Marching Order. You must register in Marching Order to be able to participate in the commencement ceremony. This is also where you will request tickets for the ceremony and indicate any required special accommodations.
Once your Application for Degree or Certificate has been submitted and processed for Fall 2022, Spring 2023 or Summer 2023, it can take up to five (5) business days for you to be granted access to event registration in Marching Order.
Commencement Tickets
Tickets are required to attend the Commencement ceremony. Guests over the age of one are required to have a ticket to enter. Tickets can be requested through Marching Order and emailed to guests. Each graduate is allowed four ceremony tickets, which can be reserved through the graduate's Marching Order account.
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, email commencement@cod.edu with your information and the name you would like to have read. You will receive a follow-up via email regarding your request.
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. Please remember to bring your confirmation email from Marching Order, as this is required to purchase a cap and gown.
Yes, the ceremony will be streamed on Facebook and YouTube, with the link available on this page the day of the ceremony.
2022 Commencement Ceremony
The 2022 Commencement ceremony, held on Friday, May 20, was the first in-person COD graduation ceremony since before the pandemic.
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