2026 Undergraduate Commencement

Before you graduate

There are important steps you must take before you graduate (further instructions provided below):

• Register for Commencement events you plan to attend in Banner (registration opens in February)
• Order your regalia
• Pick up your regalia (if ordered before February 26) at Grad Fest on Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Gwinn Commons
• Close out your Falcon Card account

Registration & Undergraduate Commencement tickets

Registration is required for all students who intend to participate in Commencement Events.  This is a separate step from Applying to Graduate. Registration is required for Undergraduate Commencement ticket distribution. Registration closes on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.

To register for ceremony events, follow the instructions below:

1. Log into Banner Student  
2. Click on the four-square icon at the top left of the page
3. Select "Banner"
4. Select "Student Menu"
5. Select "Graduation Events Sign Up"
6. Complete the form and submit!

For Undergraduate Commencement at Angel of the Winds Arena on Saturday, June 6, tickets will be required for all guests. To ensure all graduates receive equal opportunity to invite family and friends, there will be a limit of 10 tickets per graduate. Graduates do not need a ticket. The tickets are electronic, free of charge, and easily transferable via email or direct sharing with your guests. 

Starting in early March, students who have registered in Banner to attend the Undergraduate Commencement ceremony will receive up to 10 tickets from Eventbrite via their SPU email.  

Students who request more than 10 tickets will receive 10 tickets and then be placed on a waitlist for additional tickets. If additional tickets are made available, those tickets will be released in late May. Please note that we cannot guarantee additional tickets will be released. 

For Ivy Cutting, held on campus on Friday, June 5, tickets will only be required for guests if the event is moved indoors due to inclement weather. Otherwise, tickets are not required.  

Ordering regalia

You will need to purchase your cap, gown, and tassel online through Josten's. 

Home delivery orders placed after midnight on Thursday, April 30, cannot be guaranteed for delivery prior to Commencement. After April 30, we highly recommend students purchase regalia at the SPU Store to ensure they have their items in time. 

See the cap and gown section below for more information.

Picking up regalia

If your regalia order is placed by Saturday, March 5, your regalia will be ready to pick up at Grad Fest on Thursday, April 9. If you do not purchase your regalia by March 5, you will be able to purchase it at Grad Fest or through the Jostens website for ship to home. See the cap and gown section below for more information.

Closing out your Falcon Card account

You must have a $0.00 Falcon Fund balance on your Falcon Card Account when you graduate. There are a few ways to achieve this. If you have Falcon Funds, you can start by spending down your balance on campus. All retail locations on campus take split payments to help you spend even your last pennies in Falcon Funds. If you cannot spend down your balance, you will need to complete the Falcon Fund Refund Request Form online. This form allows you to request a refund of your remaining balance or gift your remaining balance to SPU. A paper copy of the form will also be available for you to complete at Grad Fest, and Campus Card Services will reach out with a link to the form the week before Commencement - so keep your eye on your SPU email address. Contact falconcards@spu.edu with any questions.

Caps, gowns, and stoles

Regalia (caps, gowns, stoles, and tassels) is required for participation in the Ivy Cutting and Undergraduate Commencement Ceremonies. All caps and gowns are black, and the tassel color is legacy maroon. All undergraduate regalia packages include the SPU stole. 

Ordering

You will need to purchase your cap, gown, and tassel online through Josten's. Due to an unexpected issue with Jostens, order(s) placed after February 26 through midnight March 5 will arrive the week after Grad Fest (the week of April 13).

Home delivery orders placed after midnight on Thursday, April 30, cannot be guaranteed for delivery prior to Commencement. After April 30, we highly recommend students purchase regalia at the SPU Store to ensure they have their items in time. 

If you have any issues or questions associated with ordering regalia, please contact the SPU Store at 206-281-2137 or spustore@spu.edu.

Honor cords

If you have earned academic honors, you may pick up your honor cords at Grad Fest on April 9, or thereafter in the SPU Store. The SPU Store will have a list of those who qualify for academic honors. Honor cords are paid for by the University in recognition of students’ achievements. 

Honors fall into three categories:

            Cum Laude                           GPA: 3.5 – 3.74                    White Cord

            Magna Cum Laude               GPA: 3:75 – 3.89                  Silver Cord

            Summa Cum Laude              GPA: 3.9 – 4.0                      Gold Cord

Announcements, diploma frames, class rings, and affinity stoles

You can order announcements, diploma frames, and class rings, and affinity stoles through the Josten's website. A limited number of affinity stoles and diploma frames will also be available at Grad Fest and in the SPU Bookstore.

Wearing your regalia

For Ivy Cutting and the Undergraduate Commencement ceremonies, you will wear your tassel on your cap (also known as a mortar board) on the right side. At the Commencement ceremony, once all degrees are conferred, President Porterfield will instruct all undergraduates to move their tassels from the right to the left side.

Remember to wear comfortable footwear, as you will be on your feet quite a bit.

2026 schedule of events

Ivy Cutting

Friday, June 5, 10–11 a.m. (PT), Tiffany Loop

Undergraduate Commencement ceremony

Saturday, June 6, 1–3:30 p.m. (PT), Angel of the Winds Arena

Directions to Angel of the Winds Arena*

2000 Hewitt Ave, Everett, WA 98201

*Check traffic and current construction around Angel of the Winds Arena before planning your trip! 

Parking at Angel of the Winds Arena

There are several thousand parking spots available within walking distance to the Angel of the Winds Arena. There are additional parking garages near the arena as well. 

Check back in for our speaker announcement!