MSMC Commencement
Commencement Celebrations
Congratulations to the Class of 2026!
Friday, May 15 - Saturday, May 16, 2026.
Registration for Commencement events will open by February 27, 2026. Students planning on participating in the May 2026 Ceremonies must have submitted their intent to graduate form with the Registrar's Office by December 1, 2025. If you missed the deadline, contact registrar@msmc.edu.
For questions about eligibility, please contact your academic advisor.
Communications regarding the Commencement Ceremony will come from graduation@msmc.edu.
Commencement Events
All events will be livestreamed here.
Nursing Pinning Ceremony
Friday, May 15, 2026, 10:00 am, Aquinas Hall Theatre.
A long-standing Mount tradition! The Nursing Pinning Ceremony is a prelude to the college’s annual Commencement ceremony. Nursing pins are presented to the graduates by chosen family members and friends.
Baccalaureate Mass
Friday, May 15, 2026, 2:30 pm, Chapel of the Most Holy Rosary in the Dominican Center.
Commencement celebrations begin with a Baccalaureate Mass for graduates, their friends, and families.
The Principal Celebrant will be Fr. Gregoire Fluet, PhD, Chaplain and Vice President for Mission and Ministry. Fr. Greg requests that all graduates attending mass wear their graduation gowns. Graduates are not required to bring their caps to the Baccalaureate Mass.
Class Picture and Toast
Friday, May 15, 2026, 3:30 pm, Dominican Center Patio, directly following the Baccalaureate Mass.
This is a time for graduates to reminisce and to celebrate their time at Mount Saint Mary College! The Office of Student Engagement will offer a special toast to the Class of 2026. The event is open to all graduating seniors and their families. A champagne toast will be available for those with ID. All graduates should wear their gowns for the class picture.
Master’s Degree Ceremony
Friday, May 15, 2026, 5:30 pm, Aquinas Hall Theatre.
Graduates should begin arriving at Aquinas Hall 100 at 5:00 pm, no later than 5:15 pm. Line-up begins promptly at 5:30 pm.
Guests should be seated in the Aquinas Hall Theatre by 5:30 pm before the procession begins. The theatre will open for seating at 4:30 pm, no guests will be admitted while the procession is entering the theatre.
The ceremony will last approximately 1 hour.
Bachelor’s Degree Ceremony
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 10:00 am, Kaplan Gymnasium.
Graduates check in at Aquinas Hall/MST Atrium at 9:00 am – no later than 9:30 am. Line-up begins promptly at 10:00 am.
Guests should be seated in Kaplan Gymnasium by 10:00 am before the procession begins. No guests will be admitted while the procession is entering the gym. Doors open for guest seating at 9:00 am.
The ceremony will last approximately 1.5 hours.
More Information
Degree conferral will be done by the Registrar’s office beginning the week of June 8, 2026. A digital diploma will be sent upon conferral. The printed diplomas will be printed and mailed via Parchment within a 4-week window to the graduates’ permanent address on file. To update their address, graduates must send a request to registrar@msmc.edu via their MSMC email address.
Only those students who have fulfilled all academic responsibilities along with all financial obligations will be issued a diploma. Diplomas will not be distributed at the Commencement ceremony.
PLEASE NOTE: Latin Honors in the Commencement Program will be based on your cumulative GPA after Fall 2025 grades; Latin Honors will be updated on the transcripts and diploma, if needed, after all Spring 2026 grades are in. Latin Honors do not apply to Master’s degrees. Honors standings are calculated based on all attempted college-level work. All attempted college level work includes transfer credits, dual enrollment credits and all credits earned at MSMC.
Diplomas state the degree earned, ex: Bachelor of Arts, or Bachelor of Science, or MBA. It will not list the major or concentration. The major, concentration, etc. is listed on the student’s transcript.
PLEASE NOTE: The degree conferral date on transcripts will be 5.16.26 for both May 2026 ceremonies.
If you would like to order Commencement Announcement cards for your friends and family, or a frame for your diploma, you may do so through the Herff Jones website. Get started here.
Ceremony Photos
- Each graduate will be photographed by a professional photographer as he/she receives a congratulatory handshake on stage. Color proofs will be sent to the graduates and orders may be placed directly with Island Photography at www.islandphoto.com.
- During the Ceremony, guests may not approach the stage or stand in aisles to photograph any part of the Commencement ceremony.
- Photo stations will be set up on the Mount’s scenic campus so that graduates may pose for pictures with family and friends. Faculty will be available to take pictures with graduates immediately after the Commencement ceremony at designated areas.
Release Statement
All attendees of, and participants in, the Commencement ceremonies consent to be photographed, videotaped, and recorded by Mount Saint Mary College or its designees, for the purpose of producing a documentary of the event for distribution to the college community and the news media. All attendees and participants release and otherwise agree to hold the College harmless and to indemnify the College and its licensees and/or assigns from any and all claims arising out of, or resulting from, their appearance or statements in the above documentary.
Cap and Gown Orders
Graduates are responsible for ordering and picking up their caps and gowns. Get started here.
- All orders shipping to the Campus Store must be made by April 3 and will arrive at the store on April 28.
- All orders shipping to your home must be made by April 11 and take 2-3 weeks to ship.
- Graduates who miss the April 11 order deadline will be able to purchase their items at the Campus Store after April 28.