Commencement FAQs

• When is Commencement 2026 taking place? Is there a roadmap?

  Ceremonies for Master's and Bachelor's degree candidates in the School of Business are scheduled for Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 6 p.m. at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, CA.

  Please see the complete Schedule of UC Riverside 2026 Ceremonies here.

  
• Do I need to apply for graduation to participate in the Commencement ceremony?

  Yes.

  If you are a UC Riverside student who graduated Fall 2025 or Winter 2026 or are expected to graduate in Spring 2026, you are eligible to participate in the Class of 2026 Commencement. If you expect to graduate Summer 2026, you may be approved to participate if you submit your Summer graduation application by May 2026 (Toyota Arena location).

  You must submit your graduation application via R’Web. In addition to this, bachelor's degree students of the School of Business must also complete their college graduation application.

  Master's degree students must also complete the Advance to Candidacy application under R’Grad.

  For instructions on how to file your graduation application, please visit the Registrar's Guide to Graduation Website.

• How should I dress for Commencement?

  Graduating students are required to wear graduation regalia which has switched from black to blue caps and gowns. Master’s students must also wear their master level hood.

  Business casual clothing is recommended for attendees/guests and under graduation regalia.

  
• Where do I order my cap and gown?

  You can purchase your cap and gown at the 2026 Grad Fair at the UCR Campus Bookstore.

  Grad Fair is your one-stop Commencement shop for everything Commencement. Grad Fair will be held in-person from Tuesday, April 14 through Thursday, April 16 at the UCR Campus Bookstore. 

  Grad Fair Hours 2026: 

  • Tuesday, April 14, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday, April 15, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, April 16, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

  

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  Regalia packages are available for purchase at the UCR Campus Bookstore through Commencement weekend at full price.

• Where can I sign the Class of 2026 Yearbook?

  Sign the Class of 2026 Yearbook online!

  

  It’s time to say congrats and farewell to the UCR students who have completed their Highlander journey. Leave as many messages as you'd like.

  • Graduates: Messages can be about your educational journey, congrats to graduating friends, appreciation for your support systems, etc.
  • Friends, family & fans: Address your message to an individual graduate, group, class, school/college — or to the entire graduating class.

  Get featured at Commencement:

  • Select messages will be featured on the jumbotron at the Toyota Arena Commencement ceremonies.
  • The digital yearbook will be open indefinitely but only messages posted by mid-May, will be considered for the jumbotron.

  Sign the 2026 Yearbook

• How can folks watch the live stream online?

  All commencement livestreams can be found on the UCR School of Business commencements playlist.

• Where is the Toyota Arena in Ontario?

  Toyota Arena, Ontario

  PARKING GUIDE

  
  

  
  Parking map:

  

   

  Venue Guidelines can be found at the Toyota Arena website.

• How many tickets will each graduate receive for their ceremony?

  Maximum guest ticket counts for each ceremony are calculated based on the estimated number of participating graduates and the maximum capacity of Toyota Arena. Students who submit their Intent to Participate form by the May 12th deadline can receive the maximum number of tickets. Ticket quantity will be selected via your Intent to Participate form, available April 14 - May 12.

• Will Toyota Arena parking be complimentary for graduating students?

  Yes, registered graduates will receive one complimentary Graduate Parking Pass for the designated graduate parking lot at Toyota Arena. This parking pass is valid for GRADUATES ONLY and will be verified by a parking attendant at Toyota Arena. Parking passes will be picked up in person with Guest Tickets.

  NOTE: The Complimentary parking pass is only valid for the ceremony you will be participating in and will not be accepted by Toyota Arena if you are attending a different ceremony as a guest.

• How much is parking for guests attending Commencement at Toyota Arena?

  The parking fee for guests is $15 per vehicle so please consider carpooling. Please note, Toyota Arena parking attendants accept major credit cards; MasterCard, VISA, American Express and Discover. Cash will not be accepted.

  Disabled parking spaces are available in each parking lot. For more information on parking, please visit the Toyota Arena parking guide.

• Will guests be assigned a seat on their Toyota Arena ticket?

  No, guests will not be assigned a specific seat on their Toyota Arena ticket. Toyota Arena tickets guarantee entry and seating for one guest per ticket. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

  Tickets are required for entrance to all UCR Commencement ceremonies and may only be scanned once for admittance. Children under 2 do not need a ticket but will need to remain on a parent's lap for the duration of the ceremony.

• What items are prohibited at Toyota Arena?

  To ensure efficient entrance to the venue, visit the Toyota Arena website for venue policies and prohibited items. Additional guidelines can be found at the UCR Commencement website.

• How can I request accessibility accommodations at Toyota Arena?

  Find accessibility details on the Toyota Arena website. For ADA requests and inquires please reach out to the Toyota Arena Guest Services Manager, Josh Salcedo: JSalcedo@toyota-arena.com

• Can I have my preferred/lived name read during graduation? How will my name appear on the Commencement program?

  If you would like to update your preferred/lived first name and middle name for Commencement purposes, you are required to update your information in R'Web.

  Graduates names will NOT be printed in an official program. Graduates must check the correct spelling of their names on the Intent to Graduate application.

  For more information on how to update your preferred/lived names, please visit the Registrar's website here.

• Does UC Riverside provide invitation letters for visas?

  UC Riverside does not provide invitation letters for visas. Students who are graduating from UC Riverside and need a Commencement invitation letter for visiting family members from overseas should follow the instructions here.

• Will AAPI, University Honors, ASP, and CSP Celebrations still be held on campus?

  Yes, these celebrations will continue to be held on campus at the Student Recreation Center the same weekend as the School of Medicine and Graduate Division Hooding ceremonies.

• How can I stay connected after I graduate?

  Please stay in touch! We take great pride in our graduates and want to ensure your further success. Join the UCR Alumni Association to stay connected, meet fellow alumni and build a beneficial network.

• Congratulations on graduating! We want to hear what’s next!

  Undergraduate Students: If you are a business undergraduate, please update us here.

  Graduate Students: If you are an AGSM graduate (MBA, PMBA, MPAc, MFin, or MSBA) please update us on your current employment status (details with the form to fill out will be emailed to you). Please know that this information will remain confidential.
   

  

  
  Please note, the link will only be live to graduating students within their final quarter before graduation and 6 months after graduation.

  Your story matters! Each year, the UCR Career Center hosts the First-Destination Survey to capture information regarding the first career steps of UCR graduates within six months of graduation. They proudly track and highlight these outcomes that constitute the UCR success story. We believe every story matters, and this survey is about each student's unique journey and their first destination. 

  Share your first career story to inspire current and future UCR students.