Last Updated: May 6, 2025
NOTE: All Commencement email communication will be sent to your student BC email. If you need help accessing your BC Student email, please check out the following page.
Review the following checklist carefully and make note of the stated deadlines. Make sure to contact the commencement team if you are not able to complete any of the following steps prior to the deadline. Also, please check our Commencement FAQs.
Important Dates
Request Tickets and Extra Tickets Order a Cap and Gown | ||
with expedited shipping | ||
| May 14 – 16 | Reader Card Pickup | |
| May 23, 9 am (Confirmed) | 2025 Commencement Ceremony |
Step 1: File for Graduation (Required)
To participate in the commencement celebration, you must have filed for graduation by the specified deadlines. Only those students graduating in summer 2024, fall 2024, winter 2025, spring 2025, or summer 2025 may participate in the 2025 Commencement Ceremony. All filing for graduation is done through CUNYfirst.
To file the application for graduation:
1) Login to CUNYfirst
2) Select the Student Center tile
3) Select the Graduation tile
4) Select Apply for Graduation from the sidebar on the left
5) Click on the Apply for Graduation link for the academic program you intend to complete at end of the term
6) From the Expected Graduation Term dropdown menu, select the term you intend to complete for your requirements
7) Select Continue to verify data and then click Submit Application
8) You will receive a message that you have successfully applied for graduation.
Note: undergraduate students must have completed 90 credits in order to file for graduation.
If you want to check your graduation status, please visit the graduation audit page.
Step 2: RSVP for the 2025 Commencement Ceremony
Great news, RSVPs are no longer required, you can skip this step.
Step 3: Overseas Invitation Letter (Optional) | Deadline: April 23, 2025
If you are inviting guests from other countries to the 2025 Commencement Ceremony and need to provide supporting documentation to the embassy, you may submit an Invitation Letter Application for Overseas Guests. Make sure to also provide your overseas guest with a commencement ticket.
Invitation Letter Application for Overseas Guests Form is now closed
Step 4: Order Your Class Ring and Graduation Announcements (Optional)
Commemorate your achievement with your college ring from Balfour. Your Brooklyn College ring will represent your most unforgettable years and the institution where it all happened. You can also share your special moment with friends and family with graduation announcements. To order your class ring and graduation announcements, call 877.225.3687 or visit the Balfour website.
Step 5: Take Senior Photos for the Yearbook (Optional)
Senior photos are a long-held tradition, and we hope you join in on that legacy. Senior photos will appear in the 2025 edition of Broeklundian, the Brooklyn College Yearbook.
The sitting is free & you can view your portrait proofs online. Please dress as you would for a job interview. Cap & gown will be provided by the photographer. Your hands will show in several photos. You will receive about (10) portrait poses.
On campus photo sessions will take place in 152 New Ingersoll Extension by appointment on:
- May 19 – May 22
- May 24 (Last on campus session)
To schedule an appointment:
- Go to www.thorntonstudio.com/
- Select “Schedule Appt” on top
- Enter code: 02687
If you need to change your appointment, select a new date and time, your previous appointment is automatically canceled.
Step 6: Order Your Cap and Gown (Required) | Deadline: April 14, 2025
All students attending the Commencement Ceremony must wear the official Brooklyn College cap and gown. Information on picking up cap and gowns shipped to campus will be provided by email after the deadline.
All Undergraduate Students will select the Bachelor Cap, Gown & Tassel option. The class of 2025 stole is optional.
Bachelor Ordering Instructions (pdf)
All Master’s Students will select their academic school. The class of 2025 stole is optional.
Master’s Ordering Instructions (pdf)
Cap & Gown Order Website
https://www.buildagrad.com/brooklyn
If you missed the deadline, Balfour will offer a final opportunity to buy your cap and gown from April 21 – 23. The cap and gowns sold during this timeframe will have a higher shipping price to ensure a timely arrival to your address.
Step 7: Name Recording (Required) | Deadline: April 14, 2025
You will not be able to complete this step until you filed for graduation (see Step 1). Use the chart below to determine when you will receive an email from Grad Images asking to register for your name recording and ticket requests. This email will be sent to your BC Student email. If you need help accessing your BC Student email, please check out the following page.
| Date you filed for graduation | Date you will have access |
| Anytime before January 27, 2025 | January 30, 2025 |
| Between January 27 and February 15 | February 21, 2025 |
| Between February 15 and March 15 | March 21, 2025 |
| Between March 15 and April 1 | April 4, 2025 |
At the Commencement Ceremony, each attending graduate’s name will be called using their reader card as they walk across the stage. The recording you make will only be used by the name reader to properly pronounce your name. The recording is not played at the Ceremony. The last day to record your name is April 14, 2025. If you do not record your name, your name will not be called.
Step 8: Ticket Request (Required) | Deadline: April 14, 2025
You will not be able to complete this step until you filed for graduation (see Step 1). You will receive an email from Grad Images (see Step 7). This email will be sent to your BC Student email. If you need help accessing your BC Student email, please check out the following page.
All students attending the Commencement Ceremony must request their guest tickets. All graduates can request up to four (4) guest tickets. All graduates will get a ticket for themselves.
Step 9: Extra Ticket Request (Optional) | Deadline: April 14, 2025
You will not be able to complete this step until you filed for graduation (see Step 1). All students attending the Commencement Ceremony can also request extra guest tickets during the ticket request (see Step 7). Extra tickets are not guaranteed and you may not receive the amount requested.
Step 10: Receiving and Transferring Tickets (Required)
Ticket Distribution starts in May. Tickets will be distributed in batches. Please allow 2-3 business days before checking the Barclays App for the tickets.
Commencement tickets will be provided electronically through the Barclays Center App. You must keep one (1) mobile ticket for yourself. It is your responsibility to send the remaining mobile tickets to your guests.
Tickets cannot be printed or screenshotted.
Instructions on Transferring and Accepting Tickets:
Step 11: Reader Card/Cap and Gown Pick Up (Required) | May 14 – 16, 2025
All graduates attending the Commencement Ceremony must have their reader card. The reader card will be used to call out your name as you walk across the stage at the Ceremony. Distribution of reader cards will take place from May 14 – 16 by appointment. Any cap and gown orders that were shipped to campus will be available to pick up during this timeframe. Details on making an appointment has been provided via email to your BC Student E-mail and Preferred Ticket Email.
Step 12: Receiving Extra Tickets (Optional)
Make sure to include your extra ticket request with your ticket request.
Extra tickets are not guaranteed. If available, they will be distributed after initial tickets have been distributed.
Step 13: Purchase Yearbook (Optional)
The Brooklyn College Yearbook is produced by the student members of the Broeklundian club. Pre-order your yearbook today at https://link.entourageyearbooks.com/my/BC2025.
Step 14: Submit Content for the Yearbook (Optional)
The Brooklyn College Yearbook accepts content submissions from current graduating students. To submit content, please fill out the following form: Yearbook Photo Submissions. The final day to submit content is May 14.
You can email bcbroeklundianyearbook@gmail.com with any questions regarding submissions.
Step 15: Suites at Barclays (Optional)
We know that you want to celebrate this joyous occasion with all your biggest supporters, and four tickets may not be enough. Therefore, we have collaborated with the Barclays Center to provide graduates’ families with suite-level access at discounted rates.
The suites provide perfect sightlines of the stage. Guests seated in the suites have guaranteed admission through a separate entrance but cannot sit in the main arena.
Suite options are limited:
– 16 person suites for $1,000
– 24/27 person suites for $1,500
Reach out today if you are interested via email: Premium@bseglobal.net
Step 16: Receiving Your Diploma
Since fall 2019, new Brooklyn College graduates have received their diploma electronically. Once degrees have been processed, students will receive an e-mail notification with instructions on how to claim their digital diploma.
Once you receive your digital diploma, it will always be accessible through your Parchment account. You can log in and download or share it at no cost.
For more information, please visit the DIPLOMA DISTRIBUTION webpage.
Step 17 Join the Alumni Family
The Office of Alumni Engagement at Brooklyn College is excited to welcome you to the alumni community.
All upcoming graduates are invited to share their story—your experiences, your dreams, and what’s next. Select stories will be featured as we honor the Class of 2025 across our alumni platforms. Inspire the next generation of Bulldogs! #BCGrad2025
Share your story below:
https://forms.office.com/r/fgbdMAs0tg?origin=lprLink
There are many ways to stay connected with the college. Get an alumni ID to receive discounts, access the BC library and more. You can also give back to help students in various ways. Find out more on the alumni website brooklyn.edu/alumni