Frequently Asked Questions

Candidates participating in a Commencement ceremony do not need a ticket for themselves; only guests need tickets.

Tickets are only given to candidates who purchase their regalia and plan on participating in a ceremony. Each participating candidate will receive 6 electronic, general admission guest tickets.  Electronic guest tickets can be accessed in MyPNW Life approximately two weeks prior to the Commencement ceremony date.

Outdoor Guest Seating Ticket Requirements for Spring Commencement (May)

Guests wishing to view the Commencement ceremony in person must have an electronic ticket supplied by the candidate for graduation. In order to comply with fire codes, every guest age 2 or older must have a ticket.  Infants and toddlers under the age of 2 who can sit on an adult’s lap for the duration of the ceremony will be allowed to enter into the venue without a ticket.  A child without a ticket must remain in arms for the entirety of the ceremony.

Guest tickets may not be sold.  Electronic tickets are generated with a unique identifier that is traceable back to the graduation candidate.  Any attempt to sell or produce electronic tickets will be considered a misuse of Purdue University Northwest property.

The Spring 2026 Commencement ceremony on PNW’s Hammond Campus will be Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 10:00 A.M., for all colleges.

Who may participate in the Spring 2026 Commencement:

• Students who graduated in Fall 2025
• Students graduating in Spring 2026
• Students planning to graduate in Summer 2026

For more information about what to expect on Commencement day, visit the Commencement Ceremony: Day-Of Guide where details are posted regarding parking, arrival and check-in, and the order of commencement exercises.

PNW holds in-person ceremonies to celebrate the achievements of our undergraduate, master’s and doctoral candidates for graduation.

Please note that certificate-only (non-degree) students must Apply to Graduate but do not participate in commencement ceremonies.

The livestream is broadcast directly from the ceremony as it happens, so only students who are participating on site in the in-person ceremony will have their names called as they walk across the stage.

PNW publishes a commemorative booklet that is distributed at the Commencement ceremonies. This booklet lists the name of every graduate for the semester. You can request a booklet when you pick up your diploma.

Yes! We are pleased to provide a livestream of the Commencement ceremony so that family and friends who are not attending in person can view the proceedings. The ceremony will be available for viewing here on the day of the event.

A candidate for the baccalaureate degree with distinction must have a minimum of 65 hours of credit earned at Purdue University included in the computation of the overall GPA.  The minimum cumulative GPA for graduation with distinction in each college is determined by the top 10% of it’s graduating class each fall.

Graduation regalia – cap, tassel and gown – must be purchased from Purdue Northwest’s Herff Jones web site. The deadline to order your regalia is TBA. Any late orders are not guaranteed ceremony participation or guest tickets.

You will need to know your height and weight at time of purchase, to ensure the appropriate-sized regalia.

All orders will be shipped directly to the student.  Please be sure that you have received all required items.

• Baccalaureate candidates should receive a cap, gown and tassel (color based on your major).
• Master’s candidates should receive a cap, gown, black tassel and hood (color based on your major).
• Doctoral candidates should receive a tam (cap), gown, black tassel and hood (color based on your major).  NOTE: This is a rental.

For more information about ordering your cap and gown, visit the Pre-Graduation Guide web page.

If your decorations are not offensive or obstruct the view of students behind you, then yes, you may decorate your cap.

Yes, please share your photos on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook using the hashtag #PNWGrad, and tag PurdueNorthwest. We want to celebrate with you!

Absolutely! We encourage our graduates and your families to visit either the Westville or Hammond campus to take photos with the outdoor lion statues, which will be sporting their mortarboards! You can also take photos with campus signage, artwork and other spots that may be a highlight of your PNW experience.