From the pop and sparkle of fireworks to the buzz and beat of New Orleans Jazz, Tulane's commencement is an experience unlike any other. In New Orleans and at Tulane we march to the beat of our own drum, and that spirit is infused into every part of commencement weekend. The University Commencement ceremony, where degrees are conferred, as well as individual school ceremonies and other Commencement activities will be held the week of May 12, 2025 with ceremonies taking place Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17.
The Unified Commencement ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 17, 6:00 p.m. at the Caesars Superdome. At this special milestone ceremony, which will feature an academic procession, keynote speaker, and live jazz, President Michael A. Fitts will officially confer degrees upon all Tulane University degree candidates (undergraduate, graduate, and professional).
The Unified Commencement ceremony will be livestreamed on this website.
In addition to the Unified Commencement ceremony, graduates are invited to the ceremony of the school awarding their degree. At these ceremonies, graduates’ names are called individually as they cross the stage. Visit the 2025 Schedule page for the full list of school ceremonies.
For questions regarding individual school ceremonies and events, please contact the following:
- A. B. Freeman School of Business: Business.Commencement@tulane.edu
- Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine: sphtmgraduation@tulane.edu
- Law School: lawacademicservices@tulane.edu
- School of Architecture: acruz5@tulane.edu
- School of Liberal Arts: libarts@tulane.edu
- School of Medicine: SOMevents@tulane.edu
- School of Professional Advancement: ehoff@tulane.edu
- School of Science and Engineering: sseevents@tulane.edu
- School of Social Work: tsswgraduation@tulane.edu
Check back in May for the school ceremonies' livestream information.
Tickets will be required for attendance at the Unified Commencement in the Caesars Superdome. Instructions for requesting tickets (up to 25 per graduate) will be shared in April via email and the Commencement website.
At this time, we do not anticipate ticketing for individual school ceremonies. Schools will communicate directly with their graduates about diploma and hooding ceremonies, and information will also be posted to the Commencement website. Please note that ticketing requirements are subject to change.
It is generally warm and humid in New Orleans in May, so graduates and guests should plan their attire accordingly. While there is no set dress code for most of the activities during commencement weekend, attire usually ranges from business casual to dressier options and is highly dependent on the variety of activities guests have planned.
All students intending to participate in Commencement exercises must complete their application for graduation by March 31, 2025 to have their names published in the Commencement program. The graduation application link can be accessed through the student tab of the Gibson online portal. If you do not see this link, please contact your academic advisor or program director. Students will receive a confirmation email once their application has been submitted through the Gibson portal. Students can also confirm submission of their graduation application on their degree audit. Questions regarding graduation applications can submitted through the Registrar Support portal.
Student Information Records / Confidentiality
If a student has chosen to withhold directory information from public disclosure by selecting the confidentiality box in their Gibson account, their name will not appear in the Commencement print program or any other public reports. Additionally, family members of students with confidential records will not receive any communications regarding commencement and graduation activities. If a student would like to update their confidentiality option via Gibson student tab, they must do so by March 31, 2025.
Applying to be Student Speaker
All undergraduate, graduate, and professional students receiving their Tulane degree in May are eligible to apply to be the student speaker for the University Commencement Ceremony. The deadline to apply (5 p.m. CT on Monday, March 24) has passed.
If you have any additional questions, please email the committee at tugrad@tulane.edu.
Tulane University strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To be respectful of those with allergies and environmental sensitivities, we ask that you please refrain from wearing strong fragrances.
To request disability-related accommodations at any Commencement-related event, please contact tugrad@tulane.edu.
Tulane University will provide reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act with sufficient notice.
Students must wear regalia at all in-person ceremonies to participate and/or cross the stage. We recommend ordering as soon as possible to ensure that regalia arrives in time. The final date for online orders (Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral souvenir regalia) is April 6, 2025 at Oak Hall's Tulane portal. Online orders will ship directly to students. When the online deadline passes, regalia can be purchased in person at the Tulane Bookstore. Any in-store regalia purchases made after April 18, 2025, will incur a $30 late fee. Other regalia deadlines are as follows:
- PhD Custom set must be ordered by March 2, 2025.
- PhD Rental Set must be ordered by April 6, 2025.
- MD Guest Hooder set must be ordered by April 6, 2025.
For further questions regarding regalia, please contact the Tulane Bookstore at 504-865-5913.
Tulane encourages graduates’ personal expressions of creativity in the decoration of mortar boards or second-line umbrellas. Graduates are permitted to wear stoles and honor cords earned through University Honors, official university-recognized organizations, U.S. military service (veterans who attain the prescribed academic achievement earn special cords), or purchased at the Tulane Bookstore. Personal stoles, cords, and robe decorating are not permitted.
Tulane memorabilia including diploma frames are available to order from the Tulane Bookstore. Contact the bookstore at 504-865-5913 for more information or to place an order by phone.
Show your pride with your Tulane class ring and share your graduation news with official Tulane announcements! Undergraduate students who have completed 60 credit hours and graduate students who have completed half of their required coursework are eligible to purchase their Tulane Ring. Order your rings and announcements from the Balfour website or by calling 1-866-255-3687 weekdays from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Production time for announcements is 7-10 business days.
Diplomas will be mailed to the diploma mailing address provided by the student on the application for degree. This address can be updated via Gibson Online at the “Update Diploma Address” link found under the Student tab.
Senior and Grad Student Yearbook Portraits
The Jambalaya Yearbook will offer several weeks of official Tulane Senior Yearbook and Grad Student Portraits during Spring 2025 semester by Lifetouch/Prestige March 17-21 and April 7-11 in the Kendall Cram Lobby of the Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life. Portrait sittings are free, and there is no cost to have to portrait appear in the yearbook. They will include photos in official Tulane regalia and also shots in the student’s professional and/or casual attire—cap and gown will be provided. These are for seniors and grad students only, and appointments are required. Appointments can be made online at https://bit.ly/tuportraits.
Students and parents/families will also have the option to purchase print packages to use for Commencement announcements, LinkedIn photos and as gifts to family and friends. Seniors not wanting to take a Senior Portrait can still have their photo included in the portrait section of the yearbook by uploading a photo of their choice online at tulaneyearbook.com.
Additional information about Senior Portraits and ordering the Tulane Jambalaya Yearbook can be found at tulaneyearbook.com.
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