The 2025 Commencement Ceremony will take place on Friday, May 23 at 4:30 p.m. in the Physical Education Center (PEC) Arena.
Check back for information regarding the ceremony.
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 Tassel (formerly 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
Monday, April 14: Deadline to File an Application for Degree or Certificate
Your Application for Degree or Certificate must be submitted by Monday, April 14 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 2024, Spring 2025 or Summer 2025, it can take up to five (5) business days for you to be granted access to event registration in Tassel.
File an Application for Degree or Certificate
Wednesday, April 16: Graduation Expo
The Graduation Expo will be held on Wednesday, April 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Health Science Center (HSC) 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!
Friday, April 25: Deadline to Register in Tassel
Students planning to participate in the Commencement ceremony must register in Tassel by Friday, April 25. Students who access the Tassel system after this date will not be able to participate. If you have not filed your Application for Degree or Certificate by Monday, April 14, you cannot register in Tassel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find the answers to frequently asked questions about commencement at College of DuPage. If you have further questions, contact the Office of Student Records at commencement@cod.edu.
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 Tassel. 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.
Once you have signed up for the Commencement Ceremony, you will receive a link to order your cap and gown online. The deadline to order regalia and have it delivered to COD is April 3, 2025, and the deadline to order regalia and have it shipped to your home is April 18, 2025. Students who miss the deadline or who sign up after the cut off will be able to purchase a cap and gown in the bookstore starting in late April.
The package containing the cap, gown and tassel is $42.00.
All graduates who choose to participate in the Commencement ceremony, must wear the appropriate hunter green cap and gown, which can be purchased online 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.
There will not be a rehearsal for the ceremony this year. Stay tuned for more information.
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.
2024 Commencement Ceremony
More than 760 graduates received their diplomas during the 57th Commencement Ceremony. Outstanding graduates Lourdez Ardilla and Stephanie Chávez provided the keynote speeches to students participating in the annual ceremony and encouraged their fellow graduates to establish connections and make a difference in people’s lives.
The College invites all graduates to engage with our alumni community.
Commencement Video
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