Frequently Asked Questions

The 2025 universitywide Commencement ceremony is TBD, at Homewood Field, 111 W University Pkwy, Baltimore, MD 21210. Should weather prohibit the Thursday morning ceremony, the rain date is scheduled for the following day.

Divisional ceremony information for master’s and doctoral candidates can be found on the Ceremonies by School page.

All bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral candidates are invited to attend.

During the ceremony, all degrees from all nine schools will be conferred and doctoral and bachelor’s candidates will be called to cross the stage. (This ceremony includes those candidates whose degrees were awarded earlier in the year.) Master’s candidates in attendance will stand at their seats as a group as their degrees are conferred and will not cross the stage.

Yes, we welcome all friends and family to the universitywide Commencement ceremony.

Some individual school ceremonies are ticketed, however, so please refer to the ceremonies by school page for more details.

Yes, all graduates will be required to RSVP to attend the ceremony. Please note, this is different than completing your graduation application in SIS. Graduates will have received an email on or about March 4 with their login information for MarchingOrder. Students must log in to MarchingOrder to register for all ceremonies they plan to attend. Please login to your MarchingOrder account to register for your ceremony.

Graduates are required to wear appropriate regalia (cap and gown) in order to participate in the school-specific and Universitywide Commencement ceremonies.

Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, since graduates will be walking on turf and uneven walkways.

*Please note, the deadline to purchase regalia online will be in April 2025. After that deadline, graduates must purchase their regalia in-person at the Barnes and Noble Bookstore. To order regalia online visit JHU Barnes and Noble, or you can order in person at 3330 St Paul St, Baltimore, MD 21218.

Visit the Commencement homepage on the day of the ceremony or Senior Toast, any weather updates will be posted there. Graduates can provide their cell phone number in MarchingOrder when they RSVP for their ceremony or ceremonies, weather-related text messages will be sent in the event of inclement weather to those that have provided a cell phone number.

The gates to Homewood Field will open one hour prior to the ceremony start time. Upon entering the stadium, all guests will pass through a metal detector and bags may be searched.

Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests should be in their seats by 8:45 a.m. for the ceremony. Please allow time for parking, walking to Homewood Field, and finding a seat.

It is recommended that you leave personal items at home or at your accommodation. All bags and purses may be searched upon entering the stadium, and restrictions are as follows:

• Bags and purses larger than 13” x 15”, including luggage, are not permitted. Diaper bags are permitted.
• Backpacks and luggage are not permitted. Please plan to have your large bags or luggage stored at your hotel/accommodation if you need to check out prior to the ceremony. Bags that do not meet the requirements will not be permitted into the stadium and bag check will not be provided.
• Wrapped gifts and balloons are not allowed.
• Signs, posters, banners, and flags will not be allowed inside the stadium for safety reasons.
• Umbrellas are not permitted inside the stadium. In case of rain, please bring a rain jacket. If needed during the ceremony, ponchos will be provided.
• Food and drinks are allowed in the stands but may not be brought onto the field.  Only water will be permitted on the field.
• Alcohol, drugs, and tobacco are strictly prohibited, including e-cigarettes.
• Pets are not permitted in or around Homewood Field with the exception of Service Dogs.
• Knives, fireworks, laser pointers, lighters, or weapons of any kind are not permitted.
• Firearms are not permitted (including non-uniform law enforcement officer and concealed carry permit holders).
• Horns, cow bells, whistles or any artificial noisemakers or laser pointers are not permitted.

Guests are permitted to bring an unopened water bottle, and a seat cushion or seat back.

The ceremony will be livestreamed and anyone with internet access will be able to view it. You can view the livestream here.

Family and friends from abroad who wish to visit and/or attend JHU international students’ graduation ceremony may apply for a B-2 visa from the United States consulate nearest to the place of their residence. Students needing assistance should create a SEAM ticket.

Please visit the Parking and Transportation page for complete details on parking and other transportation options for the ceremony.

The ceremony will have a designated seating area for persons needing ADA seating. Seating is available for the individual with the disability and one companion on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests registered for ADA seating and their companion should enter the stadium through the Homefield Field Lot. To register for ADA seating, please follow this link.

For other guests with mobility disabilities, it is strongly recommended that you arrive early to ensure you can find a seat that meets your needs. The gates will open at 8:00 a.m. For assistance, please see an usher or Commencement volunteer.

Wheelchairs are not available at Homewood Field. For more information or to arrange a wheelchair rental for the event, please call Northern Pharmacy & Medical Equipment at (410) 254-2055.

Captions will be available on the livestream of the ceremony. An ASL interpreter will be broadcasted in front of the accessible seating area.

Any graduate or guest requesting ASL should contact the Commencement Office, [email protected], by April 20.

In all situations, a good faith effort (up until the time of the event) will be made to provide accommodations.

A limited number of large-print copies of the Commencement program will be available on the day of the event. Please see an usher to obtain a copy. Requests for Braille program books need to be received by April 20.

Food and drinks will be available for purchase at concession stands located outside the stadium. Please note that no food or beverages, other than water, are permitted on the field. When making plans for meals after the ceremony, please note that the ceremony is expected to conclude around 12:00 p.m.

Food and drinks will be available for purchase at concession stands located outside the stadium. Please note that no food or beverages, other than water, are permitted on the field. When making plans for meals after the ceremony, please note that the ceremony is expected to conclude around 12:00 p.m.

Bottled water will be available for guests and graduates inside the stadium at no charge. Guests are also permitted to bring in an unopened bottle of water.

Out of respect for the other graduates, all graduates and their guests are expected to stay until the ceremony ends, at approximately noon. However, if it is necessary to leave early, we ask you to move quickly and quietly to an exit to avoid disrupting others. Please note there is no re-entry upon leaving the stadium.

We suggest identifying a “meeting point” outside of Homewood Field. Guests will not be permitted on the field, in the graduate seating area, once the ceremony is over.

Spring diplomas will be mailed to all graduates in June as degrees are cleared, regardless of attendance at the ceremony. If you have additional questions, please visit registrar.jhu.edu/diplomas/