The traditional academic procession will form 45 minutes before the ceremony is scheduled to begin.
Undergraduate candidates should report to the west entrance (Penfield Library side) of the Marano Campus Center and line up behind the appropriate sign for their school or college. Master’s candidates will assemble in the Marano Campus Center Auditorium.
Below is important information each graduate should take note of.
To graduate, a student must have applied online. Students who are eligible to graduate and have not yet filed online should contact the Registrar’s graduation area, 301 Culkin Hall. Detailed information regarding this process with all pertinent deadline dates is also available at Applying to Graduate.
Deadlines for the submission of the online degree application and for your name to be printed in the commencement program are or were as follows:
Senior Check forms are generated when the student applies to graduate. The forms are then available online via each students’ Degree Works audit, and are required for all major(s) and minor(s). It is the student’s responsibility to make an appointment to review academic records with their advisor(s) to be sure graduation requirements have been met. Completed forms are required and must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office before seniors will be eligible to graduate. The deadlines for the return of the Senior Check forms are or were as follows:
It is the final responsibility of the graduate student to file an application for the advanced degree and/or certificate. Master's graduates must be sure they have applied for candidacy if your program requires it — you can check your Degree Works to see if it is required. To graduate, a student must have applied online. Students who are eligible to graduate and missed the online application should contact the Registrar’s Office in 301 Culkin Hall, or call 315-312-2235. Deadlines for your name to be printed in the commencement program are or were as follows:
Final confirmation is initiated by the filing of the degree and/or certificate application.
The 2025 Graduation Fair will be Tuesday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Marano Campus Center/Deborah F. Stanley Arena and Convocation Hall concourse. The College Store sponsors the Graduation Fair for all bachelor and master degree candidates to attend this one-stop graduation event to purchase or pick up preordered regalia, order announcements and class rings, meet representatives from Alumni FANs, Career Services, and the Registrar's Office, sign the Class of 2025 banner, purchase diploma frames (the only time all year a discount is offered), and win prizes. Preordering for pick up at the Graduation Fair begins March 17 through April 4, 2025. Orders placed after April 4 will be available for pickup at the College Store beginning April 21, 2025.
Academic regalia, including caps and gowns will be available for all students who have applied to and been confirmed by the Registrar's Office as eligible for graduation in May and August 2025. Six tickets for family and friends are included with the purchase of a cap and gown. Pick up and walk in purchases will be at the College Store in the Marano Campus Center from April 21 through Commencement.
Academic regalia is an integral part of the graduation ceremony. The different colors and styles denote the achievements of the wearers. Since graduation is the most important of SUNY Oswego's academic ceremonies, it is vital that all candidates for graduation are appropriately attired. Bachelor units are $95.99 for students in Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Business and School of Education. Bachelor units are $110.00 for students in School of Communication, Media and the Arts. Master units are $116.99. Please call 315-312-5900 for additional prices. Post-Baccalaureate (graduate) certificate candidates should purchase a Bachelor's gown (only exceptions are if you are also receiving a Master's Degree) at the price listed, and will not wear a hood.
The College Store offers custom graduation announcements that can be ordered online here. Generic announcements are available at the Camps Center College Store with a full line of diploma frames.
On Commencement day, fresh flowers will be available before and after the ceremony in the Marano Campus Center. The Marano Campus Center College Store will be open on Commencement Day, offering a full line of clothing and emblematic items.
In accordance with established maximum occupancy regulations, there will be a limit of six guest tickets for graduating candidates. Tickets are included with the purchase of your cap and gown at The College Store.
Name cards for having your name read at commencement and detailed procedures for commencement day must be picked up at The College Store with your cap and gown.
Signs, other than those used by the event organizer, that are larger than 8.5"x11" or signs that are made of anything other than cloth, paper, foam core or cardboard are prohibited at all events.
SUNY Oswego requests that guests remain seated during the ceremony. Professional photographers will be taking pictures of the graduates as they cross the stage. Click here to preorder Graduation pictures online at geneseephoto.com. Graduates will be emailed a link from Genesee Photo Systems to view their photos.
All graduating students, as well as parents, guests, faculty and staff are invited to attend a reception following the ceremony, to be held in the Food and Activity Court of Marano Campus Center.
The cost of the diploma is paid by SUNY Oswego. Diplomas will be mailed to the address on the degree application. Any change of address should be reported to the Registrar’s Office. All obligations need to be cleared. Mailings take place following the final confirmation of candidates’ records:
If you or a member of your family attending commencement require special seating an area is reserved on both the concourse and upper levels. To reserve this seating please contact Accessibility Resources at 315-312-3358 prior to Friday, May 9, 2025. Modified restrooms are located on both levels. A sign language interpreter and reserved seating for individuals with hearing disabilities are also available. There is an accessible drop-off on the west side of Marano Campus Center and handicapped parking is located at lot 31 (west side of Penfield Library) as well as the lower level of lot 17 and lot 10. Once you have entered the building please contact an usher about accessible seating. Anyone requesting accessible seating or parking should arrive at least 45 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.
Undergraduate and graduate candidates completing requirements for degrees in May 2024, August 2024 and December 2024 are eligible to participate in the May 2025 commencement ceremony.
Wearing of the traditional academic gown and mortar board is part of participation in commencement. Suitable attire to wear with a cap and gown are dark shoes and clothing. Pocketbooks are not to be carried. Corsages and jewelry are not to be worn with academic gowns; other attachments deemed not appropriate may be removed by the staff before the processional if necessary.
Reminder: There will be no alcoholic beverages or air horns permitted at the ceremony. Violators may be asked to leave. To provide a safer environment for the public and to expedite entry into the Marano Campus Center, University Police reserves the right to inspect bags and purses as necessary.
All graduating students who are eligible for teacher certification should visit our Certification page for information on how to apply for New York State teacher certification. The application can be completed before graduation. All eligible education candidates will receive an authorization form after degree verification. This form must be returned in order to be recommended by the university for teacher certification.
Honors listed in the commencement program are determined by grades earned at Oswego prior to the semester preceding graduation. An undergraduate student qualifies to be listed for honors in the commencement program if they have already earned at least 45 semester hours at Oswego prior to the spring semester and has a cumulative index of at least 3.30 based upon hours earned at Oswego. Honors designations are as follows:
Honors indicated on diplomas and final transcripts include grades earned during the student’s final semester. Graduate students are not eligible to graduate with honors.
Upon graduation, the main connection with SUNY Oswego will be through the Oswego Alumni Association. The Alumni Association offers a wide variety of programs and services for recent graduates, including:
The Alumni Association also offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for recent graduates to remain connected to SUNY Oswego. Join our online community to tap into a powerful network of more than 95,000 alumni to build your professional contacts, to find classmates, register for events, promote your business and more.
Graduates have the option to keep oswego.edu email addresses forever, so as not to miss the latest SUNY Oswego news, invitations to events, OSWEGO Alumni Magazine and monthly Lake E-ffect alumni e-newsletter. Keep an eye out for a subscription email near the end of each year to let us know that you are still utilizing your email account.
Visit our Alumni site for more information on all alumni programs and links to Oswego’s social media channels. Activities for Commencement Eve will be announced separately. Contact the Office of Development and Alumni Engagement at 315-312-3003 or [email protected] for more information.
Discovering the life you are meant to live and implementing strategies to successfully compete for that life — that is what Career Services is all about. A comprehensive resource portfolio and a team of professionals with a caring heart, unbeatable skills, and an “always aim higher” attitude work together to maximize student and alumni success.
Our cutting edge career community model is one of the first in the SUNY system. They have categorized the world of work into several areas that include:
Within each of these areas, they have a highly capable staff member creating a sphere of support for our students that spans the entire career development cycle and brings together faculty, alumni, employers, graduate school representatives, and much more. This results in more meaningful assistance and expertise for our students, better employer and graduate school connections, and tailored on and offline resources.
Every resource we have, on and offline, is available to alumni for free, for life. The office offers the best career exploration and job search resources available on the market today, a robust and engaged network of alumni and employer connections, a LinkedIn photo studio to enable your professionalism to shine, and so much more.
Before leaving the campus, graduates should make certain of the following: