Commencement

Get ready to celebrate your achievements! Explore Commencement details, learn more about traditions and find out what to expect during Commencement ceremonies.

Campuswide Commencement Ceremonies

Our campuswide Commencement ceremonies take place on Saturday, May 17, at the T-Mobile Center located in the Power and Light District in downtown Kansas City. School ceremonies are staggered throughout the day. Doors open one hour before the ceremony starts. No tickets are required for the ceremonies at T-Mobile Center.

Graduates listen to Commencement speeches intently during the Commencement ceremony.

Ceremony one

T-Mobile Center — 10 a.m.

School of Dentistry

School of Medicine

School of Nursing and Health Studies

School of Pharmacy

Graduate celebrating during Commencement as confetti rains down.

Ceremony two

T-Mobile Center — 2 p.m.

Henry W. Bloch School of Management

School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

A graduate does the Roo up symbol while cheering during the commencement ceremony.

Ceremony three

T-Mobile Center — 6 p.m.

Conservatory

School of Law

School of Science and Engineering

Hooding Recognition Events

UMKC's hooding ceremonies recognize master's and doctoral candidates for their academic achievements. They happen over three consecutive days in May at Swinney Recreation Center and White Recital Hall (Conservatory). Review the dates and times for your school.

School of Dentistry graduates celebrate during commencement.

Thursday, May 15

Swinney Recreation Center
School of Medicine — 4 p.m.
School of Dentistry — 7 p.m.

A graduate student receiving her hood during one of UMKC's hooding ceremony.

Friday, May 16

Swinney Recreation Center
School of Graduate Studies — 10 a.m.
School of Nursing and Health Studies — 1 p.m.
School of Pharmacy — 5 p.m.

A graduate smiling and laughing while receiving his hood during the hooding ceremony.

Saturday, May 17

Swinney Recreation Center
School of Law — 10 a.m.

White Recital Hall
Conservatory — 11 a.m.

Make Sure You're Ready for the Big Day

Apply to graduate

Review the step-by-step process.

RSVP for Commencement

Let us know you're coming so we can plan accordingly.

Order regalia

Visit the UMKC Bookstore to order your graduation gear.

Order photos

Use GradImages to document your achievements and capture the Commencement experience.

Explore the Commencement Experience

Graduates smiling as they walk towards the Commencement stage at T-Mobile arena.

Commencement traditions

What's all the fuss about hoods, robes and regalia? And what should you expect during the Commencement procession, anyway? Unlock answers to these common questions and more by visiting our Commencement traditions page.

Commencement traditions

Three recent UMKC graduates taking a selfie.

Share your story

Each year we ask grads to submit photos for us to use on university and academic unit social media channels. We'll also share them at T-Mobile Center before the ceremony. The deadline to submit photos is April 30. We'd love to see them!

Submit photos link opens in a new tab

Questions about Commencement?

Reach out to your school's commencement coordinator.