Commencement 2025

Students graduating between summer 2024 and summer 2025 with a major from the College of Science are invited to join the 2025 Walking Ceremonies! These are not official commencement ceremonies and therefore the College of Science does not determine or check graduation eligibility of candidates.

The College of Science Graduation Ceremonies and OSU Commencement at Reser Stadium are very different experiences. The College of Science Ceremonies are organized by department, and much smaller than the one in Reser, which allows the College the opportunity to be more personalized, read the names of each graduate in attendance, and to give graduates a graduation gift. Graduates (other than Ph.D. candidates) will NOT have their names read at Commencement in Reser Stadium on June 14. The College of Science ceremony feels more intimate and casual and graduates’ names are read aloud.

However, Commencement in Reser Stadium delivers the wonderful sense of “pomp and circumstance” that one may expect from a university as large as OSU, and diplomas are also handed out at Commencement. Graduates are invited and welcome to attend either or both ceremonies as they choose, but should be aware of the differences.

You must register separately for each ceremony that you would like to attend. Registering only for OSU Commencement does not register you for the College of Science Ceremony, and registering only for the College of Science Ceremony does not register you to walk in Commencement. You are welcome to attend both, but you must register separately for both.

Although there is no real dress code, many graduates and guests choose to dress up for this special day. We suggest Business Casual attire, and encourage you to consider how you want to look in photos from your graduation day. Regalia (cap and gown) is optional, but you are welcome to wear it - about 95% of the students who attend Science Graduation choose to wear their cap and gown. Students can purchase regalia from the OSU Beaver Store.

Check in at the registration table to receive your name card. Graduates will not be seated; seating is reserved for guests and students requiring physical accommodations. Graduates will listen and watch for when their major is lining up, and will be directed to line up on the east side of the stairs outside Kidder Hall (nearest to Milne). Following brief remarks from the Dean, graduates will have their names called using their name cards and proceed across the stage and through a faculty receiving line. Please remain onsite for the whole ceremony to help celebrate your classmates. A reception with cupcakes and snacks will follow your departmental ceremony.

Diplomas are only provided at the OSU Commencement on Saturday. Please refer to the Registrar's Office with any questions about your diploma and eligibility at Commencement. Spring graduates who are not attending Commencement will be able to order their diplomas after spring degrees have been conferred. Emails will be sent to graduates’ OSU email accounts with instructions on how to order.

You are welcome to attend both major ceremonies if you would like. Because we will not be reading the titles of majors during this ceremony, if you are double majoring in two of our majors (i.e., BioHealth Sciences, Chemistry, Mathematics, Microbiology, or Physics), then you can choose to walk in one or both of those majors’ designated times.  

Please do! We want you to be able to celebrate with your guests and loved ones. There is no guest limit for the 2025 College of Science Undergraduate Graduation Ceremonies, but we do ask that you let us know how many guests you expect to bring with you when you register for your ceremony. Guest seating is first-come, first-served and cannot be guaranteed. Please note that there is a limited number of chairs that we would like to prioritize for those who really need them. Guests are welcome to bring blankets and lawn chairs to sit in the grass.

Physical tickets will not be provided, and guests do not need to check in. Graduates must check in by name at the registration table, where their names will be checked against the registration sheet. Guests can be seated immediately without checking in.

No, reserved seating is NOT available. Seating is first-come, first-served. Feel free to bring picnic blankets and camping chairs if you are concerned about your guests having a spot to sit.

Visitor parking information and maps can be found at the OSU Transportation Services website. Guests are welcome to use the Beaver Bus — route maps can be found here.

The College of Science Graduation Ceremonies are a rain or shine event. Although umbrellas are not permitted during the ceremonies, sun visors or rain ponchos are suggested in case of rain. Sunscreen is recommended.

College of Science staff do not have access to your Commencement registration or diploma information. Contact the Office of the Registrar with Commencement-related questions.

If you are a graduate with disabilities who may need accommodations at the College of Science Ceremonies, please email [email protected] with your request by June 6, 2025.