Graduation

December 2025 Live Stream ACES Convocation   December 2025 Convocation PDF Program 

May 2026 ACES Convocation 

Saturday, May 16, 2026 | 5:00 P.M. 
State Farm Center 

• You must register by April 13 to have your name called and listed in the online program at the ACES ceremony. 

• The registration form will be sent via email to all students on the pending degree list by March 1, 2026. 

• Tickets are not required for this event.  

• Graduates should arrive by 4:40 P.M. to line up. The ceremony will begin promptly at 5:00 P.M.  

• The ceremony will end no later than 7:00 P.M.  

• The event is subject to change as the semester progresses.  

If you have questions, please email us at ACESGraduation@illinois.edu.  

Regalia 

Academic rental attire is ordered online on the Herff Jones website. Regalia will be shipped to the address you provide in the U.S.  

Early Order Discount by April 13: 
Regular by April 28: 

Rental fees are paid in full when you order online with Herff Jones. Regalia may be returned via the prepaid shipping label. Students and faculty participating in multiple ceremonies should keep their regalia to wear in all ceremonies throughout the Convocation season. More information on Regalia can be found on the University Commencement website. 

Eligibility Information 

August degree candidates may petition to participate in the May ceremony. 

Bachelor’s Degree Candidates

Bachelor’s degree candidates with 13 or fewer hours remaining who expect to complete their degree requirements in August 2026 may participate in Commencement; however, their names will not appear in the universitywide Commencement Program until May 2027.

Bachelor’s candidates who have not yet indicated their intention to graduate should contact their college office immediately.

Master’s Degree Candidates

Master’s degree candidates with eight or fewer hours remaining who expect to complete their degree requirements in August 2026 may participate in Commencement; however, their names will not appear in the universitywide Commencement Program until May 2027.

Master’s candidates who have not yet indicated their intention to graduate should contact the Graduate College.

Doctoral Candidates

Recipients of doctoral degrees must have deposited their dissertations in the Graduate College Thesis Office by 5 p.m. Central Time on Friday, May 1, 2026, in order to participate in the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony and unit Convocation ceremonies.

Doctoral candidates who have not yet indicated their intention to graduate should contact the Graduate College.

Photos

Pre-register now to access graduation images after the ceremony. Your family can view your pictures too by sharing the link directly with your family.  Photo services by Memory Lane Photography.

Checklist

As you start your last semester of coursework, use this checklist to make sure you are ready to graduate. 

1. Place yourself on the 'Pending Degree List' in your Illinois Self-Service Account
   • In the main menu, select “Graduation.”
   • Next, select “Apply to Graduate.”
   • Check the appropriate term
   • Submit
   • Note that a "Pending Graduation' registration hold is placed on all graduating students. This hold will not prevent you from receiving transcripts or earning your diploma.
2. Check your degree audit.
   • At the top of the audit, it should say, "ALL REQUIREMENTS COMPLETE USING IN PROGRESS COURSES."
     If it does not, you need to meet with your advisor.
   • If you have already put yourself on the 'Pending Degree List', your degree audit will say, "Attention, this student is on the spring/fall/summer degree list". If it doesn't, you can have your name added to the degree list by emailing ACES-Academics@illinois.edu

Diplomas typically arrive in the mail within 9 weeks of graduation. If you need a transcript documenting the completion of your degree before that, you may order it from the Office of the Registrar and ask that it be held until the degree is posted. More information on how to change your name on the diploma and where your diploma will be mailed is available on the Office of the Registrar's website.

Recording of May 2025 ACES Graduation May 2025 Convocation Program
December 2024 Recording ACES Graduation   December 2024 Convocation PDF Program
Recording May 2024 ACES Graduation    May 2024 Convocation PDF Program 
Recording of May 2022 Graduation 
Recording of December 2022 Graduation  December 2022 Convocation Program
Recording of May 2023 Graduation    May 2023 Convocation Program 
Recording of December 2023 Graduation  December 2023 Convocation Program 

May Ceremony Graduation: