A guide to commencement
Prepare for commencement by following these steps:
We strongly recommend everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear a face covering when inside the Skydome for Commencement ceremonies. Masks are required for anyone riding on an NAU shuttle.
Eligibility for commencement
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
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.
Apply for graduation – undergraduate Apply for graduation – graduate
Purchase your cap and gown
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 10, 2022
- Purchases after April 10th will incur a $19.95 expedited shipping charge
- Online purchases cannot be made after April 14, 2022
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
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
- 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 coming soon
Commencement T-shirts
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.
