Please mark these important dates on your calendar:
This year, The Catholic University of America will hold a unified commencement ceremony. Previously, graduates would attend the main ceremony and then proceed to separate School ceremonies to be awarded their diplomas. The 2025 ceremony will allow all graduates (approximately 1,300) to graduate in one ceremony.
The University is providing a unified graduation ceremony so all students can graduate together. This change offers several benefits:
Yes. All graduates will have the opportunity to walk across the stage and be individually recognized during the unified commencement ceremony.
The University has implemented a streamlined process working with Tassel, our commencement service provider, to ensure each graduate's name is announced and they receive recognition while maintaining a reasonable ceremony length.
The commencement ceremony will last approximately 3 hours. The receptions following commencement will last approximately 1 hour. Please plan accordingly for seating, transportation, and any post-graduation celebrations.
After the commencement ceremony, schools will gather for receptions and to distribute diplomas. The locations of each reception will be listed here.
Tassel is the commencement service provider partnering with Catholic University for the 2025 ceremony. Tassel provides registration, pronunciation verification, and other services to help the ceremony run efficiently.
Graduate names will be accurately pronounced through a two-step system managed by Tassel. First, students can review and verify their name pronunciation before commencement, but must do so by April 21. During the ceremony, a University announcer will call each student’s name, using the pronunciation guidance provided by the student. This will significantly improve the likelihood that every graduate's name is pronounced correctly while maintaining the traditional human element of commencement.
This approach significantly improves the likelihood that each student's name will be pronounced correctly and is designed to help all 1,300 graduates walk across the stage in a timely manner. While no system is perfect, our goal is to honor each graduate individually with accurate name pronunciation while maintaining a reasonable ceremony length.
If you need to update the way your name is displayed, please email cua-commencement@cua.edu.
Bishop Robert Barron, founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, acclaimed author, and bishop of Winona-Rochester, will serve as the 2025 commencement speaker. Bishop Barron is a Catholic University alumnus (B.A. 1981, M.A. 1982).
Yes. In addition to Bishop Barron, the University will confer honorary degrees on five other individuals: Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Monsignor John Enzler, Jeanne Mancini, Dr. Steven Muncy, and Congressman Christopher Smith.
Candidates for degrees must assemble no later than 8:45 a.m. in the following locations:
Look for signage bearing your degree designation to help you find your location.
No. The Columbus School of Law will hold a separate commencement ceremony on Friday, May 23, 2025, at 10:30 AM at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
Yes! New this year, you will receive two professional photos from the Commencement ceremony:
You will be asked to provide a photo of yourself during registration so your professional photos can be properly identified and sent to you. Please register to receive your photos here.
Yes. The Catholic University has partnered with StageClip to provide you with a personalized video clip of your on-stage moment. You'll receive an email with a link to your clip a few days after the ceremony, which you can purchase to download and share with family and friends.
Additionally, the entire ceremony will be made available on Catholic University’s YouTube page.
Yes! Graduates and their families may submit photos and messages to be displayed during the Commencement Ceremony pre-show through the link provided in your email.
No. Tickets are not required to attend. Commencement events are open to all graduates and their guests. Seating is first come, first served, so please encourage your guests to arrive early for the best seats.
All guests should be seated prior to the beginning of the processional at 9:30 a.m. Once the processional starts, access to seating will be very limited.
Yes. Catholic University wants all graduates and their guests to have the best possible experience. A request form is available for students to complete for comprehensive consideration of accommodation requests for themselves and/or guests. More information on accommodations can be found on the Commencement Accommodations webpage.
Every attempt will be made to keep the Commencement exercises outside. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to the Upper Church of the Basilica. Due to space limitations, guests will not be permitted inside the Shrine if the rain plan is implemented. Instead, guests may view the ceremony at various viewing locations across campus, which will be announced prior to Commencement. Graduates will be notified via email and text alert if the rain plan is activated.
If you have additional questions about the 2025 commencement ceremony, please email cua-commencement@cua.edu.