Celebrate Our Grads

Photos 

Graduates will have the opportunity to pose for portraits with loved ones during our Grad Fair on May 7- 8, 2025 in Campus Center. In addition, WASIO will be taking photos of all graduates during the ceremony. More information will be shared soon. 

Commencement Rehearsal 

It is strongly encouraged for all graduation participants to attend Commencement rehearsal to familiarize themselves with procedures and etiquette for the ceremony. The rehearsal will be from 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, at the San Jose Civic.

Information regarding event parking will be shared on this webpage as the event draws near. 

Regalia

All students participating in the Commencement ceremony must wear the regalia of a black cap, black gown and Commencement tassel. 

Regalia will be available for sale at the Grad Fair Wednesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 8 from 10 am – 4 pm. Cash will not be accepted.

You may also order regalia to be shipped to your home for an additional shipping fee. To order your regalia for home shipping, please go to the following website and place your order  Herff Jones .

The deadline to order your regalia for home shipping is May 8, 8:59 pm PST. The last chance to purchase your regalia will either be in person at the Grad Fair, or via the home shipping site mentioned above. The deadline to order your regalia for home shipping is May 8, 8:59 pm PST.

Free LGBTQIA Pride stoles will be available for anyone wishing to show their pride during the ceremony. 

Degree and Certificate Information 

At Mission College, we offer various degrees and certificates, including Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS), Associate in Art for Transfer (AAT), and Associate of Science for Transfer (AST) degrees as well as Certificates of Achievement (CA) and Certificates of Proficiency (CP).

The Office of Admissions and Records will evaluate all petitions for graduation or completion to determine eligibility for these degrees and certificates. Candidates for a degree or a certificate will receive a commemorative diploma cover at the ceremony to symbolize the conferring of a degree or a certificate.

The official degree or certificate will be mailed to graduates in the summer or early fall. 

Academic Honors

Academic honors are for AA and AS as well as AA-T and AS-T recipients only and are determined by your degree applicable cumulative grade point average. High marks will be recognized in the Commencement program booklet provided at the ceremony as follows:  

• Summa Cum Laude: 3.8 or higher GPA and designated in the program with three stars next to their name.  
• Magna Cum Laude: 3.5 to 3.79 GPA and have two stars next to their name.  
• Cum Laude: 3.30-3.49 GPA and is noted with one star next to their name. 

Guests and Parking Information 

We encourage graduates to invite family members and friends to attend the Commencement Ceremony. Parking is available at Almaden & Woz Lot as well as the Woz & 87. 

Grad Fair Schedule

From Monday, May 5 to Friday, May 9, we’ve planned a variety of events and resources to support your transition from student to graduate.

What’s in store?

• Celebrations: Enjoy the Associated Student Government (ASG) Grad Picnic with food, games, music, and cap decorating!
• WASIO Photography will be capturing fine art portraits of graduates on May 7-8, also in the Campus Center. Limited spots are available, so reserve yours to capture this memorable moment.
• Grad Picnic: You're invited to a picnic on Thursday to celebrate our grads with food, games, and fun for family and friends!

Take full advantage of these events as we celebrate your hard work and get you ready for the next chapter.

Learn more.

Tickets

Family and friends are encouraged to attend Commencement. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. No ticket is necessary or will be provided. 

Disability Accommodations and Access

Mission College is committed to ensuring our Commencement ceremony is accessible to everyone. Some of the steps we have taken to achieve this goal include: 

• Reserving ADA drop-off for graduates and guests directly in front of the San Jose Civic.  

• Providing closed captioning on monitors during the ceremony and as part of our livestream. 

• Working individually with graduates to arrange accommodations for themselves and their guests.  

Graduates should request accommodations for themselves and/or their guests by contacting [email protected]. We strongly recommend graduates notify us of any requests as early as possible.   

ADA drop-off locations at the San Jose Civic

129 W. San Carlos St., in front of the Theater	273 Market closer to the Backstage area.

Petition to Graduate & Graduation Requirements

Visit MissionCollege.edu/Graduate for information on the graduation application process.