Commencement Information

Please note there are important differences between graduation and commencement with which you should be familiar.

Graduation is a three-step process consisting of submitting an Application for Graduation form, completing all academic requirements for your degree, and settling all financial obligations. The administrative process of degree conferral will indicate your official date of graduation. 

Commencement refers to the ceremony where you share the excitement and importance of your academic accomplishments with peers, family, and friends. It is also a time for the University, Board of Trustees, senior administrators, and faculty to pay special tribute to you for the outstanding efforts you have shown in earning your degree. 

Students graduating in December 2025, January 2026, May 2026, and August 2026 are invited to participate in the May 2026 ceremony. 

The ceremony features remarks from the President, guest speakers, and the reading of your name, upon which you will proceed across the stage. 

Students can verify that their degree application has been submitted by checking the Commencement candidates list which will be posted on the Commencement Candidates page in early 2026. The lists are updated daily as degree applications are submitted. Students should check that their name is spelled correctly. How it appears on the list will be as it appears on your diploma. Any changes should be reported to the Registrar's Office at 609-896-5065. If you are not listed and feel you should be, please contact your dean’s office directly.

Diplomas are not distributed during the Commencement ceremony. Your actual diploma will be mailed to you 4-6 weeks after clearance from the Registrar and Dean for your specified degree conferral date (December 2025, January 2026, May 2026, or August 2026). If you would like a copy of your transcript, please request it through the Registrar's Office. Information and the Transcript Request Form can be found on the Registrar's Office website. Diplomas and transcripts indicate academic honors based upon the cumulative grade point average achieved at the end of the senior year.

Graduate and Undergraduate Ceremonies
Commencement will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at the Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton, NJ. 

Graduates and guests should plan to arrive at least an hour before their ceremony begins. 

• Graduate ceremony (for masters and doctoral graduates) begins at 9:30 a.m. Doors open for graduates at 8 a.m. and for guests at 8:30 a.m.
• Undergraduate ceremony begins at 2 p.m. Doors open for graduates at 12:30 p.m. and for guests at 1 p.m.

Accommodations are available for graduates and guests who require parking or seating due to a disability or special need. See the parking map on the Commencement website for Lot #2, which is designated for accessible parking. A placard or license plate for accessible parking is all that’s needed to access that lot.

Several areas around the arena are reserved for accessible seating. See the arena map for the ceremony that you wish to attend. The individual that needs seating in one of those sections plus one other guest can sit there. 
These areas are first come, first served.  

Other information about Cure Insurance Arena Accessibility Services can be found on the Cure Insurance Arena website.

Please contact commencement@rider.edu if you require special needs accommodations.

Rider University recognizes exceptional academic achievement at Commencement. Qualifications for academic honors at Commencement are based upon the student's academic average at the end of the first term of the senior year (December 2025 for May 2026 Commencement). Honors, as noted in the Commencement program and by tassel color, are awarded as follows:

Visit the Jostens' website to order your class ring today!   

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation! We look forward to celebrating this important milestone on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at the CURE Insurance Arena located at 81 Hamilton Ave, Trenton, NJ 08611. 

The arena offers the unique opportunity for your family and guests to watch Commencement from a private luxury suite on the upper level. Suites can accommodate 12, 14, 15 or 16 people with seating looking out over the stage and arena.