Commencement Weekend Schedule

Frequently Asked Questions Commencement 2025 Order Cap & Gown 2025

2025 Commencement Weekend Schedule 

Senior Social, President's Reception, Center for Global Education Reception, Breakfast, Baccalaureate & First Gen pinning ceremony (marked with *) require registration.

To register for the Senior Social, click HERE

To register for the President's Reception, Commencement Breakfast and Baccalaureate, click HERE

To register for the First Gen pinning ceremony, please contact Julie Carballo, jmcarballo@noctrl.edu

Thursday, May 1

Senior Night at Two Brothers Roundhouse* 7-10 pm

Enjoy a night out with your fellow seniors. 

Friday, May 2

Student Portraits  10 am - Noon Old Main Lawn (Old Main, Smith Hall, 2nd Fl. if raining) This is a walk in event, no registration required.

Graduation Rehearsal - MANDATORY(cap/gown attire not required) 12:30 - 2:00 pm  Residence Hall/Recreation Center

College Scholars Cording Ceremony and Reception:

      Ceremony  2:30 pm  Meiley-Swallow Theatre

      Reception  3:30 pm Meiley-Swallow Lobby      

Cardinal First Pinning Ceremony*  4:30 - 5:30 pm  Wentz Concert Hall  

President's Reception* 5:30 - 7 pm Wentz Concert Hall Lobby & Madden Theatre Lobby

Saturday, May 3

Master of Occupational Therapy Pinning Ceremony 9 - 10 am  Wentz Concert Hall 

Master's and Doctoral Degree Hooding Ceremony and Reception

(Graduates for this event check in at 10:15 am in Madden Lobby)

      Ceremony 11 am   Wentz Concert Hall

      Reception 12 pm Wentz Concert Hall Lobby

Doctor of Physical Therapy Recognition Ceremony 1:30 pm Wentz Concert Hall

Center for Global Education Reception* 3 - 5 pm Wentz Science Center - Stevenson Hall

Sunday, May 4

Graduate and Undergraduate students - It's the BIG DAY!

Commencement Breakfast*  8:30 - 10:30 am Kaufman Dining Hall

Baccalaureate Service*  9:15 - 9:45 am Koten Chapel (wear cap & gown, line up starts at 9 am)

Doors Open to Begin Guest Seating  10:30 am Residence Hall/Recreation Center (seating is first come first serve; no tickets required)

Graduate Line-Up  11 am Gregory Arena in Merner Field House 

(Please wear cap & gown, tassel and cords. Graduate students please wear your hood.) 

Processional  11:40 am From Merner Field House to Residence Hall/Recreation Center

Commencement Ceremony  12 pm  Residence Hall/Recreation Center (click on link to find out more information about the venue.)     (Live broadcast of the ceremony available at the Wentz Concert Hall and online on the College's website during ceremony)

Army ROTC Commissioning  3 pm  Smith Hall (2nd Floor, Old Main) Ceremony honoring two 2025 North Central College graduates and ROTC cadets as they are commissioned as 2nd Lieutenants in the United States Army.

* The planned schedule of events is subject to change and will be updated as necessary.

Alumni Resources

Even after graduation, you're still an important part of the North Central family. We welcome you back on campus anytime, especially during Homecoming and other annual alumni events. Once a Cardinal, always a Cardinal.