Today is your day
University of Phoenix Commencement
Phoenix, AZ | Spring 2025
Congrats! It’s time to celebrate your achievement surrounded by people who are so proud of everything you’ve accomplished. Welcome to a community of over 1 million alumni.
Have guests who can't make it? Stream it live.
Choose the ceremony based on your registration time:
- Morning ceremony – 10:30 am AZ Time
- Afternoon ceremony – 3:30 pm AZ Time
Ceremonly links for each ceremony coming soon. Live streams will be available for viewing up to 30 days after ceremony.
Before commencement
Commencement checklist
Make travel plans as needed
When available, reserve graduate and guest tickets (Look for an email with instructions in February).
Bring Graduate Name Card (used to announce and display your name when cross the stage). You'll receive your name card by mail a few weeks prior to the ceremony.
Get ready to celebrate
Day of commencement
Getting to the ceremony
Transportation
Check with Arizona Department of Transportation for any road closures the weekend of commencement.
Get directions to the venue and transportation information.
The Metro light rail is available. Visit Valley Metro for detailed information on how to ride or call 602-253-5000.
Airports
The closest airport is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Parking
Parking fees will be required ($10–$20). The closest garages are Chase Field Garage (401 S. 4th St., Phoenix, AZ 84004) and Jefferson St. Garage (333 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ 85004). There are accessible parking spaces in all garages. There will also be a designated drop off point on the West side of the venue. Be on the lookout for signs.
Prohibited items
For safety and enjoyment, the following items are prohibited at Chase Field:
Animals (except for service animals)
Alcohol
Aerosol cans
Drones and other remote controlled vehicles
Drugs or other illegal substances (including medical marijuana)
Firearms, knives or weapons of any kind
Fireworks or other incendiary devices
Camera Tri, Dual or Single Leg Pods by Non-Media Personnel
Skateboards, rollerblades, scooters, razors or shoes with wheels
Obscene, offensive, indecent or inappropriate clothing/attire
Blow horns or Noisemakers
Umbrellas
Fishing Nets
Beach Balls, balloons or other inflatables (without prior approval)
Laser Pens
Flags with poles not sold in the Team Shop or of a non-baseball nature.
Banners containing commercial, political or obscene material or that block guest views
Frisbees
Bicycles (may be parked at approved bike parking racks)
"Bubble-making" liquids, machines, etc. for blowing bubbles
Backpacks
Bags and wallets exceeding the size of a small clutch bag (6.5" W x 4.5" H)
Luggage of any kind, computer bags, camera bags, briefcases, fanny packs, cinch bags or any bag larger than the permissible size (6.5" W x 4.5" H)
Additional items at the discretion of Chase Field management.
Clear bag policy
Safety at the ceremony is our top priority. There is a clear bag policy at this venue. All bags are subject to search. There will be a limited amount of lockers available for a fee on the day of the ceremony.
Entrance
Graduates and guests will enter through the West side of the ballpark and use Gates B–E.
Doctoral graduates should use the escalators outside the gates to get to the Suite Level, 3rd Base Lounge. There are elevators available inside the entrance doors to access the Suite Level also.
This is a CLEAR BAG venue. Everyone will go through metal detectors before entering the buildings.
Some concessions will be open.
Important note: Guests including minors are not allowed into the pre-ceremony graduate area or in the graduate seating and stage areas. Minors must be accompanied by an adult and this cannot be a graduate.
Ticket information
Currently, we're able to provide up to 15 guest tickets and 1 for the graduate (16 total).
Watch for a separate email from AZ Diamondbacks (events@dbacks.com) approximately three weeks prior to the ceremony, with instructions on how to reserve your tickets through the Fevo ticket website. After reserving your tickets, they’ll be issued by Ticketmaster (on the backend) and available in the MLB Ballpark app.
In preparation for your event, please download the MLB Ballpark app and create an account if you do not have one. Please use the same email you used during registration for the MLB Ballpark app account. Check all mail folders as it may go to "spam" or "junk" folders.
Be prepared to show your digital tickets at the entrance. The tickets will be digital, and you will show them through the MLB Ballpark app after completing the required steps. Graduates can send ticket(s) to their guests as needed. They will also need an MLB Ballpark app account and have the app downloaded to their phones to show tickets.
Note: The official number of tickets you will receive is based on what is requested through the Fevo ticket website (not what is requested when registering).
ADA accommodations
If any of your guests will require ADA accommodations at the commencement ceremony, there will be staff at the venue who can assist with seating accommodations. Wheelchairs will not be available for use during the ceremony. Please be sure to provide your own wheelchair, whether it is for a guest or graduate.
There is accessible seating at the top of each section for wheelchairs and a companion. There will be a designated drop off point near the venue.
The ceremony will use close caption for any of the speaking pieces.
Strollers
Due to Fire Marshal regulations, strollers are not permitted in the seating area. Please be advised that University of Phoenix is not responsible for any damage or loss to personal property. There will be space available at the top of the seating sections to store strollers.
Exiting procedure
We ask all graduates to stay until the end of the ceremony out of respect to the remaining graduates. You’re officially done at the conclusion of the ceremony and can celebrate by moving your tassel over as recognition of being a graduate. Guests will be released in an orderly fashion to ensure a safe exit for everyone.
Afterward, you'll exit the ceremony and can meet your friends and family at the Celebration Runway. Celebrate your accomplishment with a runway of fun photo backdrops.
Graduate information
Preparing for the ceremony
There is no storage at the commencement venue for personal belongings. Please make arrangements for a guest to hold any personal items or carry them with you at all times. Please be advised that University of Phoenix is not responsible for any damage or loss to personal property.
Bring your cap and gown. Additionally, bachelor’s degree students must bring their stoles and master’s degree and doctoral students must bring their hoods. Use a cool iron, if necessary, to ensure a wrinkle-free appearance.
The deadline to order standard regalia is February 16, 2025 (by midnight) without additional shipping charges. The final deadline will be February 21, 2025, with expedited shipping charges. The deadline for doctoral graduates to order Academic Apparel level regalia is January 10, 2025.
You can order regalia through the Herff Jones website.
Please contact Herff Jones, Stan Howard for any regalia needs or questions at stan.howard@comcast.net or 480-219-3247. Limited amount of regalia will be available on the day of the ceremony for purchase (cash or credit).
Military graduates: Remember to bring your cord to the ceremony. The military cord is available to order at no charge on the regalia web site. If this was not ordered, they will be available on the day of the ceremony.
Regalia protocols and attire:
Pro tip: Steam your gown, stole, hood and hang it up prior to commencement to avoid wrinkles
Out of respect and courtesy to the University and graduates, we ask that candidates and faculty do not alter their caps and gowns; however, if graduates do alter their caps, we ask that they respect their fellow graduates by wearing their regalia (cap/gown) in a manner that prohibits the use of any offensive or obscene pictures, words, or reference. If students violate any of these prohibited items, they may be asked to remove or alter these items.
- Business casual attire should be worn under the gown.
- Military Dress Uniforms may be worn in place of regalia. Uniforms and regalia should not be worn together.
- Cultural robes, beauty pageant stoles, etc. are inappropriate for commencement ceremonies and should not be worn, unless they are worn completely underneath the official regalia robes.
- Cultural and tribal stoles are approved to be worn on the top of the approved official UOPX regalia at commencement ceremonies. Cultural robes, if worn, must be worn underneath the official regalia robe.
- You are allowed to wear honors regalia awarded by an approved Honor Society with your standard regalia attire. UOPX honor cords can be worn with your external honor society cord/stole (layered on top of each other, preference is UOPX honor cord on top).
- We ask that if you decorate your caps to do so tastefully. Stoles, hoods and gowns should not be altered or decorated.
Upon arrival, graduates will be directed to a “grad central” area on the concourse. University staff will be available to assist with any questions regarding ceremony logistics.
We will have the following tables available:
- Herff Jones to purchase regalia. Credit card accepted, no cash.
- Grad Supplies with bobby pins and safety pins
- Military and Honors Cords available for eligible graduates
- Graduate Card Assistance - Name cards will be mailed to each graduate a few weeks before the ceremony. Be sure to bring it to the ceremony. This name card is what is used to announce and display your name as you cross the stage. If your name card does not arrive by the ceremony date, we will have back up name cards available on the day of the ceremony.
Sample graduate card
- First, ensure you have your name card
- Verify you have all your regalia (cap, gown, etc.)
- No rehearsal, staff will be available to guide the graduates.
- Graduates will be lined up by degree level, not alphabetically (associates, bachelor's, master's, doctoral)
- Processional - Graduates will walk down stairs in the guest seating sections to the field for seating. Recommend comfortable and stable shoes.
- Seating will be by degree level in two sections on the field.
- You will be called to the stage by degree level, not alphabetical, with dual lines as you go across the stage. Your name and degree will be displayed and your name announced as you cross the stage. Photos will be taken as you go to the stage as well as when you cross the stage and are handed a UOPX branded congrats envelope.
- Doctoral graduates will be hooded on stage.
- We ask that everyone to remain until the end of the ceremony for the celebratory tassel change and acknowledgment of being graduated. For recessional, you will exit up seating to the concourse level and out to the post-ceremony alumni celebration on the outside plaza. Your guests can join you at this location to celebrate.
- We expect that the ceremony will last approximately two hours.
The University identifies graduates registered for the commencement who are eligible for the honor cord. If you are eligible to receive an honor cord, one will be provided to you at no cost on the day of commencement. This cord is not part of the President or Dean lists.
Current University of Phoenix Honors Policy:
Graduates eligible to participate in a ceremony and meet the honors criteria can receive a cord. The cord provided will be based on the current GPA.
- Associate and bachelor's degree students with a program completion date of 01/01/2022 or later:
- "Cum Laude" - Bronze Cord
Program GPA of 3.70-3.84 - "Magna Cum Laude" - Silver Cord
Program GPA of 3.85-3.94 - "Summa Cum Laude" - Gold Cord
Program GPA of 3.95-4.0
- "Cum Laude" - Bronze Cord
- Master's degree students with program completion date of 01/01/2022 or later:
- "With Distinction" - Red & Platinum Cord
Program GPA of 3.90 or higher
- "With Distinction" - Red & Platinum Cord
Prior University of Phoenix Honors Policy:
Bachelor's degree students with program completion date of 12/31/2021 or before:
- "With Honors" - Platinum Cord
Program GPA of 3.85 or higher
The University has coordinated with GradImages Photography to photograph graduates at the ceremony. There will be two photo opportunities during the ceremony: one when going up to the stage and another when crossing the stage.
GradImages Photography
service@gradimages.com
800-261-2576
The digital program version will be viewable 3 days prior to the ceremony date and up to 30 days following the conclusion of the ceremony.
Visit the official University of Phoenix Commencement Program site. Select “Phoenix” from the “What is your Ceremony Location?” drop-down menu.
While you're in Phoenix
Hotels with discounted rates
These are available on a first come, first serve basis with a limited amount of rooms available with each block. The rate does not include tax or any other fees.
3333 E. University Drive, Phoenix, AZ. 85034
Rate: starts at $159/night
Deadline: No Deadline for reservations: Open until block is filled.
7333 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Rate: starts at $209/night
Deadline: January 29, 2024 (or sooner if room block is filled)
333 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004-2121
Rate: starts at $239/night
Deadline: February 8, 2024 (or sooner if room block is filled)
10 E Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ 85012
Rate: starts at $279
Deadline: January 30, 2024 (or sooner if room block is filled)
100 N. 1st Street, Phoenix, AZ. 85004
Rate: starts at $279/night
Deadline: February 8, 2024 (or sooner if room block is filled)
802 East Van Buren St., Phoenix, AZ 85006
Rate: starts at $249/night
Deadline: February 7, 2024 (or sooner if room block is filled)
427 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85008
Rate: starts at $199/night
Deadline: February 14, 2024 (or sooner if room block is filled)
340 N. 3rd Street, Phoenix, AZ. 85004
Rate: starts at $279 (special rate only available for night of Friday, March 1, 2024 – no other nights available at this rate)
Deadline for Reservations: February 29, 2024 (or sooner if room block is filled)
340 N. 3rd Street, Phoenix, AZ. 85004
Rate: starts at $279 (special rate only available for night of Friday, March 1, 2024 – no other nights available at this rate)
Deadline: February 9, 2024 (or sooner if room block is filled)
Share your journey!
We would love for you to share any ceremony photos and stories about your educational journey on Facebook.