Posted by Graduation is just around the corner, and it is finally time to celebrate your countless late-night study sessions, group projects, and all the hard work that brought you to this moment. This is a monumental milestone. With so many details to manage, it’s easy for the excitement to turn into feeling a little overwhelmed.
Don’t worry—we’re here to help you stay organized and enjoy every moment. A detailed graduation checklist is your best friend for a smooth and memorable commencement experience. From sorting out your cap and gown to planning for your family and future, a good plan will ensure that nothing gets missed. Think of this guide as your personal graduation planning checklist, designed to walk you through every step of the process.
This ultimate graduation preparation checklist will cover everything you need to do before, during, and after the big day. Let’s make graduation 2026 a stress-free and joyous celebration!
Pre-Graduation Preparations
Before you can walk across the stage and toss your cap in the air, there are a few important tasks to complete. This part of the commencement checklist focuses on the essential academic, financial, and administrative steps you need to take to ensure you are actually cleared to graduate.
Academic Requirements
Meet with Your Advisor:
Schedule a final meeting with your academic advisor to confirm you’ve met all graduation requirements. (It doesn’t hurt to double check!) This includes verifying your total credits, confirming your major/minor requirements are fulfilled, and checking that your overall GPA meets the standard.
Finalize Your Coursework:
Ensure all your assignments, exams, and projects are completed and submitted on time. Senioritis is real; don’t let a last-minute deadline sneak up on you and jeopardize your diploma!
Apply for Graduation:
Most institutions require students to formally apply for graduation to trigger the degree audit process. Check the deadline and submit your application through your student portal immediately. This is a crucial step you don’t want to miss.
Financial Obligations
Settle Outstanding Balances: Check your student account for any unpaid tuition, lab fees, or library fines. You’ll typically need a zero balance to receive your diploma and official transcripts.
Complete Exit Counseling:
If you have student loans, federal regulations require you to complete exit counseling. This session provides important information about loan repayment options, grace periods, and consolidation, so be sure to complete it early.
Return Rented Materials:
Return any library books, rental textbooks, lab equipment, or other borrowed materials to avoid holds on your account.
Administrative Tasks
Confirm Your Personal Information: Double-check that your school has your correct legal name and mailing address on file. Your name will be printed on your diploma exactly as it appears in their records, and your diploma will likely be mailed to the address on file after the ceremony.
Update Contact Information:
Provide a non-school email address and phone number so your institution can stay in touch with you as an alumnus for networking opportunities and future events.
Attire and Accessories
Looking the part is a big part of feeling the part! This section of your graduation day checklist covers everything you need to know about your regalia and accessories.
Caps, Gowns, and Tassels
- Order Your Cap and Gown: Your school will provide instructions on how to order your official graduation regalia. Pay close attention to sizing charts—height and weight matter for the flow of the gown—and order deadlines to ensure you get the right fit on time.
- Check Your Tassel: Make sure your tassel is the correct color for your degree and field of study (e.g., white for Arts, gold for Science). It’s a small detail, but it’s an important part of the tradition!
- Beige/Drab: Business, Commerce, Accounting
- Brown: Fine Arts, Architecture
- Crimson/Red: Journalism, Communications
- Golden Yellow: Science
- Light Blue: Education
- Orange: Engineering
- Pink: Music
- Purple: Law
- Silver/Gray: Computer Science
- White: Humanities
- Prepare Your Gown: Your gown will likely arrive folded and wrinkled. A few days before the ceremony, take it out of the packaging and hang it up. You can use a steamer or a cool iron to get rid of any stubborn creases, but be careful not to damage the synthetic fabric.
Honor Cords and Stoles
- Confirm Eligibility for Honors: If you’re graduating with academic honors (such as cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude), check with your department or the registrar’s office about receiving honor cords or stoles. Check out our blog about which color you should wear.
- Collect Your Accessories: Find out where and when you can pick up your honor cords, stoles, or any other special accessories for club involvement or leadership roles.
What to Wear Underneath
- Choose Comfortable and Appropriate Attire: Select an outfit that is both comfortable and respectful of the occasion. Business casual is a safe bet. Think dress shirts, slacks, skirts, or a simple dress. Remember, the gown can get warm!
- Pick the Right Shoes: You’ll be doing a lot of walking, standing, and potentially navigating stairs or grass. Comfortable shoes are a must. Avoid extremely high heels or brand-new shoes that haven’t been broken in to prevent blisters on your big day.
Guest and Family Arrangements
Your family and friends have been your biggest supporters, and having them there to celebrate is special. Use this graduation ceremony planning checklist to make sure their experience is as smooth as yours.
Send Out Invitations:
Formally invite your guests and let them know the date, time, and location of the ceremony. Digital invitations are convenient, but traditional paper cards make for great keepsakes.
Manage Tickets:
Find out how many guest tickets you’re allotted and if there’s an option to request more if you have a large cheering section. Distribute physical or digital tickets to your guests ahead of time.
Arrange Accommodations:
If you have guests traveling from out of town, help them find accommodations early. Booking hotels or Airbnbs in advance is always a good idea, especially since other families will be doing the same and prices may rise.
Plan Transportation and Parking:
Provide your guests with information about parking at the venue or public transportation options. Campuses get gridlocked on graduation day, so carpooling or using ride-shares can be a great way to simplify things.
Designate a Meeting Spot:
Choose a specific spot to meet your family and friends after the ceremony (e.g., “by the main fountain” or “near the statue”). It will be crowded, so having a designated location will make finding each other much easier than just saying “outside.”
Ceremony Day Essentials
The big day is here! Make sure you have everything you need by following this final graduation day checklist.
- Tickets and ID: Don’t leave home without them! You’ll need your student ID to check in for the procession and your tickets (or passes) for your guests to enter the venue.
- Fully Charged Phone/Camera: You’ll want to capture all the memories, so make sure your devices are fully charged. A portable power bank is also a great idea to ensure you don’t run out of battery before the post-ceremony photos.
- Personal Items: Keep your personal items to a minimum. A small bag with essentials like keys, your phone, and a slim wallet is all you really need. Some venues have clear-bag policies or restrictions on bag sizes, so check the rules beforehand.
- Snacks and Water: Ceremonies can be long and hot. Having a sealed bottle of water and a small snack (like a granola bar) on hand before the procession starts can be a lifesaver.
- Positive Attitude: Most importantly, bring a positive attitude! This is your day to celebrate your achievements. Soak it all in and enjoy the moment.
Post-Graduation Plans
The ceremony might be over, but your journey is just beginning. Here’s a checklist to help you navigate your next steps after graduation.
Update Your Resume and LinkedIn:
Add your new degree to your resume and update your LinkedIn profile immediately. Highlight any honors, relevant coursework, capstone projects, or leadership roles you completed.
Start Your Job Search:
Begin applying for jobs in your field. Use your university’s career services, professional networking sites, and job boards to find opportunities.
Consider Further Education:
If you’re planning to pursue a master’s degree or other advanced certification, start researching programs and application deadlines now.
Network with Alumni:
Connect with alumni from your school. They can be a fantastic resource for career advice, mentorship, and job opportunities.
Set Future Goals:
Take some time to think about your long-term personal and professional goals. Setting clear goals will help you stay focused and motivated as you start this new chapter.
Your Next Chapter Awaits
Congratulations, graduate! Completing your degree is a monumental achievement, and you should be incredibly proud. By using this graduation planning checklist, you can navigate all the details of your commencement with confidence, leaving you free to focus on celebrating with your loved ones.
As you prepare for the 2026 graduation ceremony, remember that this is more than just an event; it’s the start of your next great adventure. We wish you a wonderful graduation day and all the success in the world for your future endeavors!