Graduating students
Get ready for NAU Commencement
We’re proud of your accomplishments as a Lumberjack and want to help you prepare for this exciting day. To verify your college, please go to your LOUIE account and click on the Academics tab. If your college is listed as Online, Statewide, and Education Innovation OR Provost Office, you will participate in the NAU Online and NAU Yuma college ceremony. The following information will provide details about regalia, announcements, and prepping for the ceremony.
A guide to commencement
Eligibility for commencement Accordion Closed
Northern Arizona University holds commencement exercises in December and May of each year, and degrees are awarded at the end of Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer terms.
- Baccalaureate students graduating in the spring or summer term are included in the spring ceremony, and their names are published in the May commencement program.
- Baccalaureate students graduating in the fall or winter term are included in the fall ceremony, and their names are published in the December commencement program.
- Graduate students graduating in the spring term are included in the spring ceremony, and their names are published in the May commencement program.
- Graduate students graduating in the summer, fall or winter term are included in the fall ceremony, and their names are published in the December commencement program.
Apply for graduation Accordion Closed
Candidates with an approved graduation application on file with the Registrar are invited to participate in the Commencement exercises. Candidates must apply before the appropriate graduation deadline.
Applying for graduation:
Purchase your cap and gown Accordion Closed
The NAU bookstore and Herff Jones both offer convenient options to purchase all of your commencement items:
- Cap/tam, gown, tassel, honor cords, stoles of gratitude, and class rings
- Announcements and regalia
- Deadline for online cap and gown purchases is April 11, 2023
- Online purchases cannot be made after April 11, 2023
Undergraduates are eligible for Latin Honors if they have successfully completed 30 units at NAU and have an exemplary grade point average. Master students with a GPA of 3.9 may also purchase honor cords. To order, call the NAU Bookstore at 1-800-426-7674.
Purchase your honors cord Accordion Closed
The NAU Bookstore and Herff Jones both offer convenient options to purchase all of your commencement items:
- Cap/tam, gown, tassel, honor cords, stoles of gratitude
- Announcements and regalia
- More information coming soon
Undergraduates are eligible for Latin Honors if they have successfully completed 30 units at NAU and have an exemplary grade point average. Master students with a GPA of 3.9 may also purchase honor cords. To order, call the NAU Bookstore at 1-800-426-7674.
When and where to assemble Accordion Closed
- Please arrive one hour prior to your ceremony start time. Proceed to the Skydome floor for student staging, accessed by the stairs at the north end of the Skydome.
- Only graduating students and faculty in cap and gown will be permitted to participate in commencement.
- Please do not bring anything with you to the student gathering area on the floor of the Skydome — leave coats, purses, etc. with family or friends.
- You will NOT be allowed to carry backpacks or bags/purses to the floor with you.
- Alcohol, air horns, balloons/beach balls are not permitted in the guest or student seating areas.
- More information is emailed the week of commencement.
Commencement t-shirts Accordion Closed
Online orders will be available for pickup on the day of commencement. To receive your order, prior to the ceremony, please stop by our booth which is conveniently located in the east concourse of the Skydome.
Ticketing information Accordion Closed
Tickets are required for guest attendance and seating
- Each graduating student will be guaranteed up to eight (8) guest tickets if requested by Friday, April 14. They were sent an email to their NAU email with a direct link and instructions
- Students participating in the commencement ceremony will not need a ticket but must be wearing academic regalia (cap and gown) to gain entrance into the Skydome.
- If there are additional tickets available following the April 14 deadline, an email will be sent to all graduating students on Monday, April 24. From that point until tickets are sold out, students can request up to eight (8) additional tickets for their guests.
- When there are NO additional tickets available, an email will be sent to all students. If you did not receive a link for tickets, please email Commencent@nau.edu from your NAU student email.