Be In the Know
Everything graduating students need to know before walking the stage.
Please make sure to click on all the sections below for more information on Commencement 2026. Additional details are posted as soon as they are confirmed.
Prior to Commencement
For Commencement, the Cal State LA email address, alternate email address, and the mailing address listed on the graduating candidate's GET account is the information that will be used for the following:
- Commencement registration and ticketing (only Cal State LA email address)
- Commencement notifications and reminders (Cal State LA email address and alternate email address)
- Commencement photography (Cal State LA email address, alternate email address, and mailing address)
In spring 2025, the Graduation Office will start to submit the names of the eligible graduating candidates to the Commencement Office for inclusion in the Commencement ceremonies. Graduating candidates must make any updates to their contact information in GET by March 16, 2025, to ensure receipt of Commencement-related notices.
Please make sure to check your Cal State LA email address regularly for Commencement emails related to ticketing, important deadlines, and ceremony details. If you do not see any notifications, please check your spam folder.
For graduating students who require assistance during Commencement, please contact the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) at (323) 343-3140, or by email at [email protected], two weeks or more before the ceremonies.
OSD can assist graduating students with:
- Check-in
- Seating
- Getting to and from the stage
- Recessional
For graduating students who require mobility equipment, please make arrangements on your own according to specific needs.
The Office of International Programs and Global Engagement at Cal State LA will no longer produce letters of invitation for the purpose of inviting students’ family members to visit the United States or attend the student Commencement ceremony. These letters are not required by the United States Consular Offices in order for families to obtain visitor visas.
The Office of International Programs and Global Engagement is providing an invitation letter sample for students who wish to write their own letter to invite family members to the United States. Please note that this letter is not required to obtain a visitor visa.
Before the Ceremony
Shrine Auditorium
665 W Jefferson Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90007
The Commencement 2026 map for graduating students and guests will provide guidance for navigating the Shrine Auditorium and other designated Commencement areas within the Shrine complex.
Coming Soon!
Information about parking and transportation options for Commencement 2026 at the Shrine Auditorium.
Coming Soon!
Cal State LA is committed to creating a safe and comfortable experience for the graduating students and their guests. All attendees will go through security checkpoints, metal detectors, and possible bag searches.
Click on the Safety and Security button below to get more information about the Code of Conduct, prohibited items at the Shrine, and Service Animals disclaimer.
University Bookstore
During Commencement, the University Bookstore will have a satellite location at the Shrine Auditorium lobby, on May 18, 19, and 20, 2026, with limited merchandise.
Commencement Group
Class T-shirts, sweatshirts, flower bouquets, Cal State LA custom Kukui Nut Lei and more! Graduation gifts are available on-site to purchase on the day of the ceremony. Pre-ordered items will be available for contact-free pick up at the Commencement Group booths.
For convenience, the Shrine Auditorium concession stands will be open. Attendees can have food and refreshments at the lobby, but they are NOT allowed inside the auditorium. Please note that the Shrine is a cashless venue. They are unable to accept cash for concession purchases.
Graduating students are strongly encouraged to arrive 75 minutes, before the ceremony to accommodate for traffic, parking, and large crowds.
The graduating student entrance is at the Shrine Expo Hall on 32nd Street. For safety and security, graduating students must pass through security protocols including metal detectors and possible bag check.
After clearing security, you will receive your Stage Pass QR code sticker at check in to enter the venue. Your Stage Pass will also be scanned on stage to display your name and play your personalized name recording during the ceremony.
For bachelor’s and doctoral degree graduating candidates, Commencement team members will help you line up by degree and major. Please be prepared to take your seat in the main auditorium 30 minutes before the ceremony begins.
For master’s degree graduating candidates, you will be guided to the Graduate Recognition Hall, located within the Expo Hall, for a special hooding ceremony with faculty from your department. Hooding will begin 30 minutes prior to the main ceremony and will last about 15 minutes. Once hooded, you’ll be directed to the main auditorium and seated by degree and major with your fellow graduating students.
After checking in and obtaining their Stage Pass sticker, master’s degree students will be welcomed into the Graduate Recognition Hall, where they will line up by degree program for the pre-commencement ceremony hooding of the graduates. Hooding will begin promptly 30 minutes before the main ceremony and will last approximately 15 minutes.
Prior to being hooded, each student’s Stage Pass will be scanned to ensure their name and degree title appear correctly on the livestream. A personalized video clip of each graduate’s hooding will be shared after Commencement—perfect for celebrating and sharing this special moment with family and friends.
Following the hooding ceremony, graduate students will be escorted to the main auditorium and seated for the ceremony, which will begin as scheduled. During the presentation of candidates at the Shrine Auditorium, students will scan their Stage Pass once more so their name can be proudly displayed on the jumbotron and announced as they are recognized
Only graduating students and authorized personnel are allowed in the graduating student seating areas.
For safety reasons, all children and guests, including infants, must remain in the audience seating area with a designated caregiver/graduate’s guest. Graduates may not bring children into the graduate seating area or on stage.
GRADUATING STUDENT SEATING
Graduating students will be pre-seated 30 minutes before the ceremony start time by college (if more than one college per ceremony), degree, and major.
Pre-seating will temporarily stop five minutes before the start of the ceremony to prepare for the academic procession of the faculty and platform (stage) party. All graduating students who arrive late will be seated after the national anthem.
ACCESSIBILITY SEATING
Wheelchair accessible spaces and designated accessible seating will be clearly marked at the graduating student seating areas at the Shrine Auditorium. Ceremony personnel will be available to assist and direct graduating students to these spaces.
For graduating students who require assistance during Commencement, please contact the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) at (323) 343-3140, or by email at [email protected], two weeks or more before the ceremonies. They can assist with check-in, seating, getting to and from the stage, and the recessional.
During the Ceremony
The Commencement ceremony is a time-honored tradition designed to celebrate the achievements of graduating students. To maintain the dignity of this important event, we kindly ask graduating candidates to adhere to the following guidelines:
Show Respect: Graduates should conduct themselves with respect and courtesy toward fellow graduates, guests, and the speakers on stage.
Honor the Ceremony: It’s important to respect all those present, including students, faculty, administrators, and guests, who have gathered to witness the conferring of degrees. After crossing the stage, please return to your seat and remain there until all graduating students have walked. Stay for the entirety of the ceremony.
Be Considerate: Kindly clean up after yourself and leave your area tidy.
Thank you for helping to preserve the integrity of this special occasion!
Each ceremony will be between 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours in duration. The order of events may vary per Commencement ceremony and will include most of the activities below.
- Academic procession of faculty and stage party
- National anthem
- Welcome greeting by the college dean
- President's remarks
- Honorary Doctoral Degree
- Honorary Doctoral Degree remarks
- Academic honors
- Hooding and presentation of doctoral degrees
- Presentation of master's degrees
- Presentation of bachelor's degrees
- Conferral of degrees by the president (including the traditional turning of the tassel for baccalaureate degrees)
- Closing remarks
- University hymn
- Recessional of stage party, faculty and conferees of doctoral, master's, and bachelor's degrees
During the candidate presentation at the Shrine Auditorium, students will scan their Stage Pass again. Once they cross the stage, their name will appear on the jumbotron, and their pre-recorded name will be announced.
The University will be livestreaming the ceremonies, which will be able to be viewed through the Cal State LA website and the Cal State LA YouTube channel.
Sign language interpreters will be projected on the jumbo screen during each Commencement ceremony.
Closed captioning in English and Spanish will be available to all attendees during the ceremonies via their mobile devices. The closed captioning link will be active during the ceremonies from May 18-20, 2026.
The official graduation portrait photographers, will be at Commencement taking photos when they cross the stage. Graduating students will receive their photo proof after the ceremony via email.
University photographers will be photographing the ceremonies and candid photos will be available for free download on the Cal State LA Smug Mug webpage during Commencement week.
After the Ceremony
Immediately after each ceremony, all attendees will be directed to on Royal Street or Jefferson Boulevard. Across the main entrance to the Shrine Auditorium on Royal Street, the Shrine West Lot is where you can meet your graduate and companions. The area will have photo backdrops.
Post Commencement
Graduating students will automatically receive their diploma by mail, whether or not they attended Commencement or not, after official certification that you have successfully completed all degree requirements. Please allow up to 4 weeks for the Graduation Office to review ALL applicants individually.
After your degree is awarded, you can track the progress of your diploma by clicking on the button below.
For graduating students who did not attend Commencement and wish to receive a diploma cover, they will be available for pick-up only at the Graduation Office two weeks after the ceremonies.
For graduating students receiving their baccalaureate degree who did not attend Commencement, please contact the Commencement Office two weeks after the ceremonies for additional information.
Stay connected! The Alumni Association provide official representation of more than 260,000 alumni in matters that affect the general welfare of the University. Through involvement in the Alumni Association, graduates keep in contact with each other and assist the University through a network of various affiliate groups.
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All information, including dates and activities, are subject to change.
If you are attending Commencement, please read the audio and visual media release disclaimer.
Commencement website last updated: January 28, 2026