Penn's 269th Commencement Ceremony Information

graduates watching ceremony on Franklin Field

Monday, May 19, 2025

Franklin Field 

Penn's 269th Commencement ceremony for the Class of 2025 will take place on Monday, May 19, 2025 in Franklin Field at 10:15 a.m., and is preceded by student and academic processions to the stadium. The gates to Franklin Field will open at 8:00 a.m. for guest entry.  The ceremony will feature the conferral of degrees, the awarding of honorary degrees, greetings by University officials, and remarks by the Commencement speaker, who will be announced in the spring. 

Before entering Franklin Field, graduating students will assemble for a procession to the stadium. The ceremony will begin at 10:15 a.m. upon the entrance of the academic procession (the president's party and the faculty) and will conclude at approximately noon. 

Please visit Franklin Field Policies for a list of prohibited items for the ceremony in Franklin Field.  Guests and graduates will not be permitted inside Franklin Field if they have any of these prohibited items.

Candidates for degrees in May, as well as graduates who completed degree requirements in August or December 2024, are invited to march in the procession and attend the Commencement ceremony.

Families and Guests

For information about planning your visit and for frequently asked questions, please visit the families and guests pages.

Ceremony Overview for Families and Guests
families and guests watching the ceremony at Franklin Field

PHILADELPHIA WEATHER

Disability Seating at Commencement

If you require special seating due to a wheelchair, limited physical mobility or other medical conditions, you may make arrangements for seating on the field or in the lower stands. Please be aware that the stadium is bench seating. Due to space constraints, guests with disabilities who are seated on the field may be accompanied by only one escort.

Accessible seating for School ceremonies is coordinated separately, by each School. Please see the School ceremonies page for contact information.

Please visit the Accessible Seating page for more information on accessible seating for the main University Commencement on Franklin Field.

If you require Commencement information materials in alternate formats, advance notice is required.

Address & Phone

1 College Hall, Room 211
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 898-7006