Graduation Details
Class of 2026
SPS Graduation Ceremony: Friday, May 15, 2026
The May 2026 SPS Graduation is intended to celebrate the accomplishments of students with a degree conferral date of October 2025, February 2026, and May 2026. SPS Graduation will be broken into two ceremonies, and each graduate will be able to bring up to six (6) guests. Graduate and guest information will be sent to all graduates via email in the Spring of 2026.
Ceremony Location
Graduation will take place on the Morningside Campus, South Lawn. Graduate check-in will take place 90 minutes before the ceremony start time in Lerner Hall, Broadway Entrance. Guests will enter campus through the Carman or John Jay gates on 114th Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue). Guests may arrive one hour before the start of their graduate’s ceremony.
There will be two ceremonies held on the South Lawn in front of the main entrance of Butler Library. Click here to view the location on the University map. Please note that graduates must attend their assigned academic program ceremony.
Morning Ceremony
Time: 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM EST
Academic Programs Assigned:
• Applied Analytics
• Construction Administration
• Human Capital Management
• Insurance Management
• Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
• Nonprofit Management
• Political Analytics
• Sports Management
• Technology Management
• Wealth Management
Afternoon Ceremony
Time: 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM EST
Academic Programs Assigned:
• Actuarial Science
• Bioethics
• Enterprise Risk Management
• Information & Knowledge Strategy
• Narrative Medicine
• Strategic Communication
• Sustainability Management
• Sustainability Science
Details about guest tickets, registration, procession participation, and ceremony instructions will be shared in the spring semester.
View the 2026 Graduate Checklist
Live Stream and Recording
SPS Graduation is available on the Commencement website for live, online viewing during the event. Recordings of the ceremony will be available for on-demand viewing on the Commencement website after the event.
University Commencement
The university-wide commencement will take place on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. For more information, please review the commencement website here or email commencement [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu.
Additional Information
Commencement season is a time to celebrate and enjoy the accomplishments of our graduates. To honor the spirit and significance of this occasion, we do not permit the interruption of speakers or audience disruptions. Currently, all participants and guests attending Commencement season event(s) are expected to follow the responsibilities outlined in University policies, including the Rules of University Conduct and Standards and Discipline and agree to these terms upon registering. Those found in violation will be asked to discontinue and may be asked to leave the venue. If there are any future updates or changes, we will communicate directly to all registered guests and graduates.