Registration and Tickets
To participate in Commencement, graduating students will first complete their Application to Graduate. This document is processed by graduation evaluators in the Office of the Registrar for undergraduate students and the Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluations (GAPE) office for graduate students. Once that document is approved, eligible students will receive an email invitation to register for Commencement.
As part of the registration process, graduating students will secure tickets for their guests and families. Four complimentary tickets are allotted to each graduating student. With additional tickets offered at a cost of $20 each.
Parents/families/guests do not have the ability to purchase tickets online. Your graduates will claim your tickets for you - or purchase additional tickets - then transfer tickets to you, via email as part of their registration for Commencement. Students have the sole responsibility to secure their guests' tickets through the online ticket portal.
- Understand "graduation" versus "Commencement"
- For undergraduates: review deadlines and apply to graduate
- For graduate students: review deadlines and apply to graduate
- For all graduating students: how to register for Commencement
- Information about tickets
On the days of the ceremonies, if capacity in the Provident Credit Union Event Center permits, additional tickets may be available for purchase, by guests, outside the Event Center, at the box office, one (1) hour before each ceremony. Availability is not guaranteed and guests should not rely on in-person, day-of ticket purchasing.
Step 1: Registration
- September 28, 2026: registration period opens
- November 20: registration period closes. This is the last day to sign up to attend your college's Commencement ceremony.
Eligible fall 2026 graduates will receive a Commencement RSVP to their “Preferred Email" by September 28, 2026. Complete this process only if you desire to attend your college's Commencement ceremony.
Don't know your student ID number? Use the SJSU ID Lookup tool.
Step 2: Guest Tickets
Key Dates
- September 28, 2026: as part of the Commencement registration process, which only graduating students may complete, four (4) complimentary tickets may be secured for families and guests.
- October 23: last day to secure four (4) complimentary guest tickets.
- October 26: ticket sales begin. Graduating students may secure additional tickets for $20 each.
- December 11: last day for additional guest tickets sales - purchased by graduating students on behalf of their guests - in advance of Commencement.
- December 16-17: in-person ticket sales at the Provident Credit Union Event Center box office, open to all guests, if and only if there is available space in an upcoming ceremony. Day-of ticket sales are not guaranteed and guests should not depend on box office ticket sales. Graduating students shall be proactive in claiming their tickets during the advanced ticket sales time period.
Step 3: Ticket Transfers
Once graduating students secure their four (4) complimentary tickets and/or purchase additional tickets, students will transfer tickets through the ticketing portal to their guests via email.
Information About Tickets
Who Needs a Ticket
A guest ticket is required for all guests age three (3) and older.
Who Can Purchase Tickets
Eligible graduating students may secure four (4) complimentary tickets as part of the registration process for their college's Commencement ceremony. Graduating students will claim their tickets on their guests' behalf, then transfer, via the ticketing portal, tickets to their guests.
When the advanced ticket sales period opens, only graduating students will be eligible to purchase additional guest tickets online for $20 each, then will be responsible for transferring tickets.
A Note on Guest Ticket Purchasing
Parents, families and additional guests are not able to purchase tickets either on their graduate's behalf or for additional guests. Guests shall coordinate with their graduating student to secure tickets. Guests may provide payment details to their graduates for tickets, but students must be the ones to access the tickets portal and process payment.
A limited number of day-of tickets may be available for sale at the Provident Credit Union Event Center if and only if there is seating capacity available for the following ceremony. Any attendee without a ticket may inquire about available tickets, but no guest should rely on the availability of tickets for purchase after the advanced registration deadline.
Ticket Reselling
The resale of commencement tickets is strictly prohibited. Any violations may be referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development. Any sale of tickets on university platforms (email, Sammy app, etc.) or third-party platforms (email, social media, etc.) is both prohibited and at students' and guests' own risks. Be aware of the potential for scams and outreach from unofficial parties claiming to have tickets available for purchase.
