Commencement Weekend 2025: Date depends on NBA playoff schedule; events will take place beginning Friday, May 9

Commencement Weekend 2025: Date depends on NBA playoff schedule; events will take place beginning Friday, May 9

Congratulations to our students who will graduate in May 2025! Marquette University looks forward to honoring your many accomplishments.

Marquette's 144th undergraduate and graduate Commencement ceremonies will be held either Saturday, May 10, 2025, or Sunday, May 11, 2025, at Fiserv Forum, located at 1111 Vel R. Phillips Ave., Milwaukee. Like last year, the exact date is not yet known because it is dependent upon the NBA playoffs schedule. So that families can plan, the university is sharing anticipated schedules for Commencement Weekend below.

The university will share the Commencement date - either May 10 or 11 - as soon as possible based on the Milwaukee Bucks' playoff schedule. It is possible the exact date may not be known until early May 2025.

Due to venue capacity limits and the orientation of the stage within the venue, guest tickets will be required for the undergraduate Commencement ceremony. Each student will receive six guest tickets. Further information regarding the RSVP and ticketing processes will be shared in Marquette Today and via email in the coming months.

The School of Dentistry, Law School and some College of Health Sciences' professional programs will hold separate ceremonies and will not be part of the Fiserv Forum festivities; details will be announced later. There are no other college-specific ceremonies.

Importantly, the Commencement ceremony RSVP process is entirely separate from the application for graduation process, which is handled by the Registrar's Office. The application for graduation opens on Monday, October 7. Graduating students, please ensure to include your parents/guardian email addresses on your application for graduation to ensure they receive all pertinent information regarding Commencement details.

Marquette invites families of graduating students to celebrate Commencement Weekend in Milwaukee. Events will begin the evening of Friday, May 9, and continue throughout the weekend, including the president's reception and the Baccalaureate Mass. Below are the anticipated schedules for each date scenario. Times will be announced later:

IF COMMENCEMENT IS ON SATURDAY, MAY 10

Evening of Friday, May 9

President's Reception 

Saturday, May 10

Baccalaureate Mass at the Al McGuire Center 

1 p.m. - Undergraduate Commencement ceremony at Fiserv Forum 

5 p.m. - Graduate Commencement ceremony at Fiserv Forum 

IF COMMENCEMENT IS ON SUNDAY, MAY 11

Evening of Friday, May 9 

President's Reception 

Saturday, May 10 

Baccalaureate Mass at the Al McGuire Center 

Sunday, May 11

11 a.m. - Undergraduate Commencement ceremony at Fiserv Forum 

3 p.m. - Graduate Commencement ceremony at Fiserv Forum 

The university understands that uncertainty with timing may create scheduling challenges for some families and is working on a potential solution to alleviate the scheduling conflict with the NBA for 2026 and beyond. Fiserv Forum is the best venue in Milwaukee for an event of this size with all the pomp and circumstance our graduates deserve.

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