Tickets required for the 2026 Commencement Ceremony!

Hagerstown Community College’s Annual Commencement Ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 9:30 am in the Athletic, Recreation, & Community Center (ARCC). Only students who have applied for graduation, have met all requirements, and have the approved HCC Graduation Regalia which includes the designated Cap with Tassel, Gown, and Stole, will be permitted to participate in the Commencement Ceremony.

Due to the anticipated number of graduates and guests attending the Commencement Ceremony, each graduate will receive 7 guest tickets, once inside the venue seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, unless otherwise stated (Graduates will receive their tickets when they pick up their Regalia, an email will go out notifying graduates when Regalia orders are ready to be picked up).

Graduation Requirements

Information about graduation requirements and the application process for students earning an associate degree, a certificate, or a letter of recognition can be found on the Graduation Requirements page. This page also includes information for students graduating with honors, those earning multiple HCC credentials, information for reverse transfer students, and instructions on how to complete a program evaluation/degree audit in Self-Service.

Applying for Graduation

All students are expected to complete the online Application for Graduation through Self-Service to receive a degree, certificate, or letter of recognition regardless of their participation in the graduation ceremony. There is no fee to apply. Before filling out the online "Application for Graduation," students should review their program evaluation through Self-Service and/or meet with an academic advisor to determine if all program requirements have been met.

Graduation Application Deadlines

• Fall 2025 – October 1, 2025
• Spring 2026 – March 1, 2026
• Summer 2026 – July 1, 2026
   

Note: All graduation correspondence will be sent to your student email account.

Annual Commencement Ceremony

The Annual commencement ceremony will be held each May and is presided over by HCC’s President. The commencement ceremony is a traditional academic service and signifies the completion of the degree or certificate being awarded. Students completing a degree or certificate program with 30 or more credits are eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony. Only students who have filed an application for graduation and have met all requirements will be permitted to participate in the ceremony. Students have to complete the Graduation for Application by the deadlines listed below to receive detailed email communication about participation in the May ceremony; graduates who indicate on their graduation application that they plan to walk at the May ceremony will begin receiving emails in early March.

Graduation Regalia Information

Eligible graduates who are participating in the May 16, 2026, Commencement Ceremony are required to wear Graduation Regalia which includes the designated Cap with Tassel, Gown, and Stole. Graduates are responsible for ordering and paying for their regalia directly through the vendor selected. 

• Graduation Regalia ordering has now closed.
• Graduation Regalia will be shipped to the HCC Campus Store. You will receive an email when items are ready for pick-up and you must show a photo ID. Regalia usually arrives 1-2 weeks before the ceremony.