Important Information for Graduates

Class of 2026

Applying for Graduation

Your Graduation date is determined by the semester that you complete all your academic requirements and have been cleared to graduate by the Office of the Registrar. You should have already had a graduation audit with your advisor or Department Chair to determine what semester you will be eligible to graduate.

Seniors who are eligible to graduate will receive an email from the Office of the Registrar. The email will contain a link to the Application for Graduation. You will need to complete that in the semester in which you will complete all your requirements. If you do not think that you will complete all your requirements during that semester, DO NOT COMPLETE THE APPLICATION. Only complete the application in the semester in which you will fulfill all your requirements.

Graduation Policy

December graduates are invited to participate in the May commencement that immediately follows their program completion. Students who complete graduation requirements in May are invited to participate in the May commencement of that same year. With the permission of the school dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs, students who have not fulfilled select graduation requirements may be allowed to walk in the commencement ceremony provided that: (1) the Registrar has confirmed that six (6) or fewer semester credit hours are needed to meet graduation requirements upon successful completion of the currently enrolled courses; (2) the students have completed all service-learning hours required for graduation; and (3) the students have registered and financially cleared for the remaining courses to be taken in the summer session.

ALL students must be in good disciplinary standing at the College to participate in Commencement exercises.

PROCEDURE: Students must submit requests for exceptions to this policy to the Registrar for consideration. The request form may be accessed through Tiger Portal under Academic Forms.

Application Deadlines

The deadline for submitting your Application for December Graduation and paying your Senior Fees is Friday, September 26, 2025.

The deadline for submitting your Application for May Graduation and paying your Senior Fees is Friday, February 6, 2026

Keep in Mind...

If for whatever reason, you submit your Application for Graduation but do not complete all your requirements, you will need to apply again in the next semester and pay an additional $75.00 re-application fee.

Seniors who graduate in December are eligible to march in the May Commencement Ceremonies

Senior Fees

Your Senior Fees are $150.00. You can pay that online through the Office of Student Accounts on the Benedict College website.

Pay My Senior Fees

Your Senior Fees are $150.00 The deadline for paying your Senior Fees for December Graduates is Friday, September 26, 2025 The deadline for May Graduates is Friday, February 6, 2026. You can pay your fees anytime up until that deadline.

The Senior Fees include the following:

Diploma
Diploma Cover
Miniature Diploma
Seals
Honor Cords
Kente Cloth
1st-year Alumni Dues
Senior Class Activities
Shipping

YOUR CAP AND GOWN ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE SENIOR FEES. You will need to order your regalia separately. You must order your regalia from Jostens no later than March 15, 2026.

Cap & Gown Information

You will need to order your own Cap & Gown. You will need to make sure that you place your order at least 5 to 6 weeks prior to graduation to ensure that your gown is shipped to you in time. It is strongly recommended that you place your order no later than March 15th. You will order your regalia from Jostens.

Order Regalia: Jostens.com

Once on the site, you will need to select Benedict College as your school. Make sure that you enter the correct title of your degree to ensure that you receive the correct regalia.

You can also order class rings and graduation invitations from them. If you go to the site and cannot find Benedict College, please try again later to allow them to activate our information.

Be aware that you can also order customized invitations from our Campus Print Shop. (Custom invitations must be submitted via email and will take 48 to 72 hours for completion. Please review guidelines and tips for preparing files for printing on the Campus Print Shop web page. You will be notified of the cost for your approval and when your order is ready for pick up. Payments can be made online).

Senior Week

Wednesday, May 6, 2026: Commencement Rehearsal will be held in the Charlie W. Johnson Stadium at 9:00 a.m. Graduates must bring their Cap, Tassel, and Hood to the rehearsal. Make sure to wear sunscreen and bring water with you.

Wednesday, May 6, 2026: Baccalaureate Services and Honors Program Capstone Ceremony will be held in Antisdel Chapel at 3:00 p.m. This service is for Undergraduates and their families and friends. Graduates must be in full academic regalia. Line-up will begin at 2:30 in the lobby of Fine Arts.

Thursday, May 7, 2026: The Senior Class Banquet and Dance will be held in the Campus Center beginning at 6:00 p.m. This event is semi-formal and each graduate may bring 1 guest only.

May 2026 Commencement

May 2026 Commencement will be held on Friday, May 8. 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Charlie Johnson Stadium.
December graduates and May graduates are invited to march at the May commencement.
All participants must check-in no later than 5:30 p.m. in full academic regalia.
This commencement is for Graduate Students as well as undergraduate students.
The diplomas for December Graduates will be mailed to the graduates in December 2025.
Diplomas will be mailed to May Graduates in May 2026.
All graduates will also receive a free Official Transcript with the mailing.

Commencement Parking

Graduates should park in the lot on the Visitor’s side of the stadium. Graduates who are being dropped off should also do so on the Visitor’s side.

Link to Graduation Photos

Graduation photos will be available in the Website Photo Galleries.

All graduates should ensure they have met all requirements for graduation. Please log-on Tiger Portal to review the pre-Commencement checklist.

Click here to log-on to Tiger Portal.

Class of 2026