May 2026 Commencement

Regalia

• Approved regalia is required. Graduates must wear approved academic regalia (cap, gown, hood, and tassel)
• Order regalia when you register for Commencement.
• Deadlines cannot be extended. Please register before the deadline.
• Some academic ceremonies may also require regalia. Candidates can inquire about this requirement with their academic dean or director.

Regalia Pickup

• Pickup dates depend on your selected campus. See the table below for times and dates.
• Alternate dates are not available.
• A classmate or family member may pick up regalia for you.
• The proxy must show an email from your MCPHS account. Please do not copy commencement@mcphs.edu on the email.

Shipping Regalia

• Candidates not attending in person must still register.
• Shipping is coordinated by email after April 15, 2026.
• Regalia ships after May 7, 2026.

Tickets

• Candidates attending in person receive five guest tickets.
• Graduates do not need a ticket.
• Children under age three do not need a ticket.
• Guests must have a ticket to enter.
• A ticket lottery may be offered if space allows. Updates will be emailed by April 6, 2026.

The Student Commencement Speaker is an honor given to a graduating MCPHS student. This student will deliver a 3–5-minute speech to all attendees at the Commencement ceremony.

• Applicants must have a minimum GPA: 3.0
• Applicants must be in good academic and disciplinary standing.
• Applicants must have excellent written and oral communication skills.

To submit a Commencement speaker application, please complete the form linked below. You will need to submit a copy of your Commencement Address and a resume/CV with your application. Applications are due by 4:30 p.m. on February 28.

Apply to be the Student Commencement Speaker.

Candidates can request visitation letters for international guests.

• Requests must be submitted before April 1, 2026.
• Visitation letters are emailed within five business days.
• Visitation letters do not guarantee entry into the United States.

Request a visitation letter

Commencement vs. Graduation

• Graduation confirms your degree.
• Commencement is the ceremony.
• Confirmation of degree completion will take place once all official grades are posted by the conferral/graduation date outlined in the Academic Calendar.

Eligibility

• December 2025, May 2026, and September 2026 graduates may participate.
• There is no September 2026 ceremony.
• Requests to walk early or late require dean approval by March 1.

Communication

• Check your MCPHS email daily.
• Updates are emailed and posted to this site.

Commencement Fee

• This is a one-time fee required for all candidates, whether they attend Commencement in person or not.
• The fee is non-refundable.
• The fee supports degree conferral, diploma processing, and regalia.

• Academic ceremonies take place before Commencement Day.
• Schools plan these events separately.
• Contact your academic dean or program director with questions.

• Summa cum laude: 3.86–4.00
• Magna cum laude: 3.70–3.85
• Cum laude: 3.50–3.69

The determination of honors is based on the graduate’s final cumulative grade point average. Only students seeking a bachelor’s degree or Doctor of Pharmacy who have completed at least 60 credits at MCPHS, or such a number of credits as is applicable for completion of a given degree program, are eligible for honors.

Honors designations appear on the student’s final grade transcript but not on the diploma. First honor candidates are recognized during the Commencement ceremony. To be considered a first-honor graduate, you must be a student in a full-time undergraduate or entry-level program with at least three years of residency (except accelerated and/or fast-track degree programs) and must not have earned any graduate or other advanced degree. Please review the Student Handbook or contact the Registrar.

• Candidates with academic honors will be given their honor cord at graduate check-in on Commencement Day.
• Candidates are welcome to purchase cords and stoles and decorate their regalia cap.  
• Jostens offers various commencement accessories that candidates can purchase by visiting the Jostens website.

• Candidates are expected to receive their diplomas at the end of the Commencement ceremony, pending degree conferral and financial clearance.
• Candidates must display a valid ID at diploma pick-up.
• Diplomas will be picked up in alphabetical order.
• Candidates with a “hold” either with Student Financial Services or the Registrar will be unable to pick up their diplomas until their hold is resolved.
• Diplomas will not be given out until Commencement concludes.

December 2025 graduates

• Diplomas were mailed previously. Please email the Commencement Team with any questions regarding December 2025 diplomas.

May 2026 graduates

• Non-attendees receive diplomas by mail. Address updates in Self-Service received after April 1, 2026 will result in diplomas being returned.

September 2026 graduates

• Diplomas are mailed after conferral. Delivery takes approximately 6-8 weeks for domestic addresses and 8-10 weeks for international addresses.

Commencement will be held at the Leader Bank Pavilion, 290 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210. For directions, accessibility, and venue policies, visit the Leader Bank Pavilion website.

Parking and Public Transportation

• Parking: There are parking garages and lots in the Seaport area surrounding the Leader Bank Pavilion. Some parking options in the area: EDIC Garage at 373 Northern Avenue, Seaport Boston Parking at 1 Seaport Lane, South Boston Waterfront Transportation Center at 503 Congress Street

• Public Transportation: Take the MBTA subway, commuter rail, or bus to South Station and connect with the MBTA Silver Line Waterfront (one level above the red line, one level below the food court) to Silver Line Way. Leader Bank Pavilion is a short walk from this stop.

Venue Policies

• On the Leader Bank Pavilion FAQ page, you will find guidance on what to bring and what not to bring, as well as bag and security policies.

Concessions and MCPHS Merchandise

• Leader Bank Pavilion offers a variety of concession options throughout the concourse area.
• Leader Bank Pavilion is mostly cashlese. AAll points of sale for food, beverage, and merchandise will accept Visa/MasterCard/ DDiscover/American Expres, or mobile paments (such as Apple Pay or Google Pay).
• Our MCPHS Campus Store will be at the ceremonies with MCPHS merchandise for sale..

• There is no rehearsal for Commencement. Candidates are welcome to visit our YouTube Channel and view our previous ceremonies to have a general idea of what to expect.
• Please remember to review the Leader Bank bag policy before coming to Commencement.
• Candidates are asked to report to the graduate check-in area at the venue starting at 9:15 a.m. for the morning ceremony and 1:15 p.m. for the afternoon ceremony.
• Regalia (cap and gown) is required, and tassels should hang on the right side of the cap.
• Guests are not permitted in the graduate area.
• Staff will guide graduates to their designated seats and procession order.
• Candidates will be seated in the front rows of the venue, in alphabetical order by Academic School and Academic Program.
• Carry minimal personal items; there is no secure place to store belongings during the ceremony. 

Where to Enter

• Candidates enter through the Harbor Walk
• Guests enter through the Main Entrance
• Faculty, staff, dignitaries, and volunteers enter through the Yankee Lobster Patio.

View map of the venue. 

Morning Commencement Ceremony Information

The Morning Ceremony will include candidates from the following Academic Schools: School of Professional Studies, School of Pharmacy – Boston, School of Arts & Sciences, School of Medical Imaging and Therapeutics, and the Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene.

• 9:15 a.m. Gates open for all participants and ticketed guests.
• 10:30 a.m. Morning ceremony begins.

Afternoon Commencement Ceremony Information

The Afternoon Ceremony will include candidates from the following Academic Schools: School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy – W/M, School of Occupational Therapy, School of Physical Therapy, School of Optometry, School of Physician Assistant Studies – Boston, School of Healthcare Business and Technology, and New England School of Acupuncture.

• 1:15 p.m. Gates open for all participants and ticketed guests.
• 2:30 p.m. Afternoon ceremony begins.

If you are unsure of which academic school your academic program is affiliated with, please view the following link: Academic Programs by School.

• The ceremony will be livestreamed. A link to the livestream will be posted on the main commencement page by May 6, 2026.
• A recording will be shared after the event on the MCPHS YouTube Channel
• Photos and videos are permitted. Guests are not allowed on the main floor or on the staircases leading down to it.

Professional Photography

• Professional photographers will capture a complimentary digital photo of each candidate that physically processes across the commencement stage.
• Please allow 7-10 business days for photo processing. Information will be sent to your email account from the vendor. Questions regarding photos, digital photo delivery, etc. Can be directed to our vendor, Geskus.
• MCPHS photographers will also capture candid photos throughout the ceremony. These candid photos will be available on the MCPHS Alumni website after commencement. 

• Silence mobile devices.
• The ceremony lasts about two hours.
• The event proceeds rain or shine. In the event of severe weather, we will keep our candidates notified via our RAVE Alert system and the MCPHS website.
• Diploma covers are handed to candidates on stage; official diplomas are issued after the ceremony concludes based on degree verification.

• Graduates (only) may request accommodations through OSAA@mcphs.ed.
• Guests with disabilities who may need disability-related accommodations can check in with guest relations upon arrival.
• Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis with a designated seating area for guests with ADA and/or mobility impairments.
• Wheelchairs are allowed in the venue; however, they are not provided.
• A drop-off lane is provided along Northern Avenue at the front entrance.
• Strollers are permitted outside the tented area. Venue staff will direct guests to parking areas on the main concourse.