Commencement

Yes, students are permitted to attend USF Commencement one semester early or up to one year after they graduate. Please contact our office for assistance with registration and more information.

Commencement will be held at the Tampa campus Yuengling Center for all graduates from all campuses.

Parking is free on the Tampa campus for Commencement weekend.

While there’s no rehearsal for Commencement, Rocky’s “How-To” videos are a great way to get prepared and feel confident for the big day!

Doors open 60 minutes prior to the start of each Bachelor’s and Master’s-only ceremony, and 90 minutes prior to the start of each Doctoral and Doctoral/Master’s ceremony. Please remain in your vehicle and do not congregate outside the building until doors are open. Seating is first come, first served. Seat saving is not allowed. Bachelor’s and master’s students should arrive no later than 45 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony, and doctoral students should arrive no later than 60 minutes prior.

Bachelor's and Master's only ceremonies typically last approximately 90 minutes. Doctoral and Doctoral/Mater's ceremonies typically last two hours. 

Ceremonies at the Tampa campus inside the Yuengling Center are livestreamed via the USF YouTube channel.

Yes, if interested, regalia is available for purchase

In Fall 2023 USF debuted a new regalia design. If your friend/relative purchased their regalia you may borrow; simply ensure you have the correct tassel and/or hood color for your College. 

Students will be seated with their college (not alphabetically by name), so you may sit with your friends who are in the same college as you as long as you arrive to the arena floor together.

Graduates must return their rented regalia, with a postmark no later than the second Monday after Commencement weekend.. There was a pre-paid shipping label, provided with your order. If you have misplaced your shipping label you may print here.

Diplomas are mailed, to the address on file, approximately six to eight weeks after the end of the semester. If you have questions about about your diploma, please contact the Registrar's Office at graduation@usf.edu.

Photos are sent a couple days after Commencement weekend to your official USF email address. If you have not received them please contact Grad Images at ecc.giservice@gradimages.net.

Following the Commencement weekend, a limited number of programs are available on a first come first served basis at the USF Tampa campus bookstore. 

The Commencement Office does not create the list of names for inclusion in the program—they are provided to us by different departments. Students are included in the program based on different criteria for our different degrees.

• Bachelor’s and master’s students must apply to graduate on OASIS by the Registrar’s Office deadline.
• Ph.D. and Ed.D. students must complete their ETD submission by the Graduate Studies Office deadline.
• Au.D., DBA, DPT, DNP, PharmD and DrPH students must meet their program’s specific requirements for inclusion in the program.

Lastly, student names only appear in the program if they meet the appropriate deadline requirements, and they have the correct privacy settings set over their student records allowing the university to publish their name. Questions about omission from the program should be directed to the appropriate department as per the above requirements.

Undergraduate students may purchase an honors medallion (Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, or Cum Laude) if their name is on the official graduating with honors list from the Registrar’s Office. Medallions are available at all three campus bookstores two weeks prior to Commencement. Only undergraduate students wear honors medallions; master’s candidates do not qualify for honors and may not wear items earned as an undergraduate student.