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Community College of Denver
2026 Commencement
Commencement Celebration Details for Thursday, May 14, 2026
The Community College of Denver 2026 Commencement Celebration will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. Graduates will walk with their Academic Pathway. To identify which Pathway your program belongs to, view CCD's Academic Pathways
Morning Ceremony @ 9:00 AM
- Arts, Communication & Design
- Business
- Education
- Social & Behavioral Sciences
Afternoon Ceremony @ 1:00 PM
- Health Sciences
- Manufacturing
- Public Safety & Legal Services
- Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics (STEM)
* High School Diploma Program and Current Enrollment students can attend either ceremony.
Steps to Commencement
Apply for Graduation
You are joining thousands of other CCD graduates, moving from students to alumni. Before you take this final step, you must apply to graduate. It is necessary to apply for graduation so that your diploma can be awarded, and your transcript will show your degree and/or certificate.
Note: This is not the same as signing up to walk in the ceremony.
For questions about this step, please contact the Office of Registration & Records:
303.556.2420 | CCD.ORR@ccd.edu
RSVP for Commencement
We ask all graduates to RSVP for the Commencement Celebration by April 30th. Confirm your intention to walk across the stage and indicate the number of guests you will be bringing. If you or your guests have any accessibility needs, please include this information when you RSVP.
A confirmation email will be sent with further details. We look forward to celebrating with you and your loved ones!
For questions about this step, please contact the Student Programming, Activities, & Resource Center:
303.556.2597 | SPARC@ccd.edu
Order Your Cap & Gown
Community College of Denver is proud to continue offering caps, gowns, and tassels at no cost to our graduating City Hawks. Students do not need to purchase a Grad Pack or any additional merchandise in order to participate in Commencement.
To receive your free cap and gown, visit the Herff Jones website using the link below and select the CCD Cap & Gown unit (priced at $0.00). You may choose to have your cap and gown shipped for free to the Auraria campus for pickup at the Tivoli Station Bookstore, or you may ship it to your home for an additional shipping fee. Orders are due by March 20th.
If you select to have your cap and gown shipped to campus, your order will be available for pick up beginning April 20th, during normal business hours at the Tivoli Station Bookstore (900 Auraria Pkwy. Suite 205 Denver, CO 80204)
All graduates participating in Commencement are required to wear the official cap and gown.
For questions about this step, please contact the Student Programming, Activities, & Resource Center:
303.556.2597 | SPARC@ccd.edu
Attend Grad Fair
Join the CCD Alumni Association and Student Programming, Activities, and Resource Center on Thursday, May 7th 12-5pm at the Clear Creek Atrium and South Lawn for a special fair for our graduating students.
We will be celebrating your success, resilience in overcoming barriers, and the bright future that lies ahead! Enjoy a delicious lunch, decorate your cap, and explore campus and community resources designed to help you thrive as an alum.
For questions about this step, please contact the Student Programming, Activities, & Resource Center:
303.556.2597 | SPARC@ccd.edu
Attend Commencement Orientation
To help you feel confident and prepared for Commencement, all participating graduates are encouraged to attend a Commencement Orientation. These sessions will walk you through the flow of the event, what to expect on Commencement Day, and important expectations for graduates and guests. Our goal is to ensure you know exactly where to be, what to do, and how to fully enjoy this milestone moment.
We will be hosting an in-person session on May 12th from 1-2pm in the Confluence Assembly Rooms and a virtual session on May 12th from 4-5pm. To RSVP to the virtual session, please click below:
Unable to make it? No worries, we will send out a recording of the virtual session recording.
For questions about this step, please contact the Student Programming, Activities, & Resource Center:
303.556.2597 | SPARC@ccd.edu.
Attend Commencement
Join us on Thursday, May 14th at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado for an unforgettable Commencement Ceremony as you walk across the stage and celebrate the culmination of your hard work and dedication.
Family and friends are invited to join you for this milestone celebration. Following the ceremony, enjoy refreshments, connect with alumni resources, and capture memories with professional photography.
For questions about Commencement Day, please contact SPARC:
303.556.2597 | SPARC@ccd.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
Please check back for additional information and further details as we approach the big day! Congratulations to all our graduates! Questions? Contact CCD's Student Programming, Activities & Resource Center (SPARC): 303.556.2597 | SPARC@ccd.edu
The Community College of Denver 2026 Commencement Celebration will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. Graduates will walk with their Academic Pathway.
Please see your assigned ceremony below. To identify which Pathway your program belongs to, please click here.
Morning Ceremony @ 9:00 AM
- Arts, Communication & Design
- Business
- Education
- Social & Behavioral Sciences
Afternoon Ceremony @ 1:00 PM
- Health Sciences
- Manufacturing
- Public Safety & Legal Services
- Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics (STEM).
* High School Diploma Program and Current Enrollment students can attend either ceremony.
RSVP by clicking here by April 20th. You do not need to call or email to confirm your submission.
Graduates will only be checked-in once their entire party has arrived. For the morning ceremony, check-in will start at 7:30am and it will go until 8:45am. For the afternoon ceremony, we will begin check-in at 11:30am and it will go until 12:45pm. All graduates will receive additional communication regarding check-in as we get closer to the date.
There is no guest limit for graduates. Please identify your anticipated guest count when you RSVP to assist us in our planning. Family and friends will stay with their graduate throughout the entirety of the program.
No, it’s even better! At CCD we provide a fun and engaging nontraditional graduation ceremony! Your support network will have the opportunity to join you near the stage for a group photo or cheer you on from the front row. No formal speeches, no nosebleed seating, just the opportunity to celebrate your accomplishments with family, friends, and your fellow City Hawks!
Expect less formality and more excitement, from music and entertainment to creative photo ops and opportunities to connect with fellow graduates. This is your moment to shine and celebrate with a ceremony that is as distinctive as you are. Get ready for an unforgettable experience that will mark the next chapter in style!
Graduates are required to wear the official cap and gown. Comfortable shoes are recommended, as you will be walking across the stage. The stage will be outside on the field, so please dress accordingly.
You are responsible for ordering and picking up your graduation regalia. Orders are due by March 20th. If you selected to have your cap and gown shipped to campus, your order will be available for pick up beginning April 20th, during normal business hours at the Tivoli Station Bookstore (900 Auraria Pkwy. Suite 205 Denver, CO 80204).
For questions on your order or additional assistance, please email Alex Frieler at: ajfrieler@herffjones.com. If you cannot make it to the bookstore, caps & gowns will also be available for pick up at the Grad Fair on Thursday, May 7th.
Yes! You are welcome to decorate your mortarboard to celebrate your big day! There will be an opportunity to decorate your cap at the Grad Fair on Tuesday, May 7th. If you choose to decorate, please ensure it is appropriate with no offensive language or images. CCD staff reserve the right to ask any graduate to remove their cap if it is deemed inappropriate.
If you are anticipating cords, stoles, or pins, please contact your student organization/honor society advisor or academic program faculty for more information. All additional regalia must be approved by the Student Programming, Activities, and Resource Center. Current registered clubs and honor societies will be invited to hand out regalia at the Grad Fair on May 7th.
Yes, a professional photographer will be capturing moments during the ceremony. You will receive information on how to purchase photos during and after the event.
Please indicate any accessibility needs when you RSVP. For additional assistance, contact the CCD Accessibility Center: 303.556.3300 | CCD.Access@ccd.edu
Yes, there will be a celebration with refreshments following the ceremony for graduates and their guests.
Yes, complimentary parking will be available in Parking Lot A at Coors Field. Lot A can be accessed from 22nd/Park Ave. at Wazee or at 27th and Blake Streets. We highly encourage carpooling or utilizing public transit to assist with traffic flow.
No, please leave any pets at home. Only service animals are allowed at the event.
If you cannot attend, please note this in your RSVP. Students are not required to participate in the Commencement Celebration, but you will be missed!
Diplomas will be mailed to the address you have on file with the College. Please ensure your address is up to date in your student portal. For questions or assistance with this, please contact the Office of Registration & Records: 303.556.2420 | CCD.ORR@ccd.edu.
Important Dates