Commencement

Winter 2025 Commencement

Doctoral, Law, Medical Professional, Master’s, and Bachelor’s Degree Candidate Ceremony
Sunday, December 14, 2025 at 10 a.m.
The Kohl Center, 601 W. Dayton Street

Get ceremony details View the program

Top 3 things to know

Doors open at 8 a.m., and graduates should be seated by 9:40 a.m. Prior to accessing the candidate seating area, all graduates need to go through a mandatory screening process. Degree candidate seating is not pre-assigned by graduate name and is first-come, first-served.
Review the carry-in policy. No food or beverages of any kind are permitted. Flowers are allowed inside the Kohl Center, however glass containers, balloons, backpacks, and wrapped gifts are not.
Graduates will have their name read and receive a diploma folder as they cross the stage. Graduates will receive their name card upon arrival at the Kohl Center. There is no master list that graduates’ names are read from.

View ceremony planning guide Create a parking plan

A flag bearer carries a red UW crest banner while graduate candidates stand along both sides with guests in the background.

Final Preparations

Provide your name pronunciation

Provide your name pronunciation by Tuesday, December 9.

Rent your cap and gown

For attire orders and pick up, review the University Bookstore's timeline. Orders can still be placed for an additional late fee up until the day of commencement.

Schedule a photo session

Graduates can now schedule a portrait session.

News and stories

Photos of five students featured in the winter 2025 notable graduates story.

Meet a few of UW–Madison’s notable grads of winter 2025

Every one of the anticipated 2,151 University of Wisconsin–Madison graduates earning their degrees this winter has a unique — and remarkable — story of motivation and achievement. We spoke with five of these extraordinary Badgers who have taken advantage of what the university has to offer in singular and memorable ways.