For more than 200 years the Mount has been graduating ethical leaders, making the commencement ceremony one of the most notable moments of your student career. We hope your big day runs smoothly and allows you to reflect on everything you have accomplished. Learn more about the ceremony below and read about our featured graduates.
If you have any questions please contact the Commencement Office at 301-447-5621 or commencement@msmary.edu.
Knott ARCC Arena
Friday, May 15 at 5 p.m. All are welcome - tickets are NOT needed for this mass.
Family members and friends who are priests and deacons who would like to concelebrate/assist are asked to contact Fr. Justin Gough, University Chaplain, at j.a.gough@msmary.edu by April 15, 2026. Clergy without resident faculties to minister within the Archdiocese of Baltimore must request a letter of suitability from their ordinary or superior to be sent to the Archdiocese of Baltimore Office of Clergy Personnel (clergy@archbalt.org; fax: 410-547-3152).
Knott ARCC Arena
16251 Jim Phelan Way
Emmitsburg, MD 21727
Graduates and their families are invited to attend. The Graduate Hooding Ceremony will be held at Baccalaureate Mass on Friday, May 15, 2026 after communion. This is a long-standing tradition you will not want to miss. Graduates are offered open seating on the arena floor; families are invited to sit in family units in the marked seating in the bleacher sections. Graduates should wear their cap with tassel and gown and bring your hood. When you arrive at the arena, please enter, and take a seat.
Knott ARCC Arena
Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 11 AM
Doors open at 10 AM
Commencement will be held in the Knott Arena at the PNC Sports Complex. Tickets are required for all guests to enter the ceremony. Each graduate will receive five (5) five tickets based on venue capacity. Guests must present a valid ticket at the entrance for admission. No additional guests can be accommodated without a ticket.
Knott ARCC Arena
16251 Jim Phelan Way
Emmitsburg, MD 21727
Knott Auditorium - Main Campus
Doors open at 10 am
Knott Auditorium (Simulcast) - This auxiliary venue features a real-time web cast and will be available on the Main Campus in the Marion Burk Knott Auditorium located on the west side of campus for guests beyond the five (5) ticket limit. Doors open one hour before the ceremony. This venue offers a less formal setting, with air conditioning and easy access to restrooms. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, no tickets are required for this venue.
The livestream will also be available to off-campus viewers.
Knott Auditorium - Main Campus
16302 University Way
Emmitsburg, MD 21727
There are a limited number of Cap & Gown sets available for Undergraduate and Graduate students available for sale in the Bookstore.
Any questions concerning cap and gown orders should be directed to the Bookstore at (301) 447-5271 or mountbookstore@msmary.edu.
Make sure your names are pronounced correctly as you walk across the stage in May by taking the following steps:
Graduation ceremonies are, by their very nature, festive occasions. The festivity manifests itself in many ways, including students and faculty adorned in academic regalia, and the warmth, joy and satisfaction of accomplishment.
Dress code for graduates is cap, gown, hood, black tassel and summer Sunday best; this academic regalia is required to walk in Commencement. Other requirements and considerations include:
Dress code for guests is summer Sunday best. Please be mindful of the weather forecast. Dress accordingly.
Commencement is a festive occasion, but also a formal academic event. It is a liturgical event similar to a religious liturgy. While a spirit of joy and enthusiasm is encouraged, the dignity of this important occasion should not be devalued. As a consequence of the serious nature of the ceremony, students are expected to maintain a measure of decorum consonant with the occasion. Students are expected to return to their seats after receiving their diploma and to remain seated for the rest of the ceremony. Please be courteous to all speakers.
Graduates and guests may not bring balloons, horns, sparklers, firecrackers, or any object that will disrupt the Commencement ceremony or present a potential hazard. Also prohibited are bottled drinks. Smoking is not permitted. We ask you to help make Commencement at Mount St. Mary’s University a proud moment for all attendees.
Guests will not be permitted close to the stage for pictures and photography is allowed from the seat only. A professional photographer will take a picture of each senior receiving a diploma. Proofs of these pictures will be available after the ceremony.
Candidates should not have personal belongings in their possession during the commencement ceremony. Please leave valuables with family or friends. Candidates should not chew gum.
Bags that exceed the size of a standard piece of letter paper (8 ½ “ X 11”) are prohibited, including backpacks, large purses, camera bags, messenger bags, and coolers. Medically necessary bags/equipment are permissible. Guests may bring in small clutch purses. All items are subject to security screening. Guests are encouraged to leave large items, such as strollers, in their vehicles or be prohibited from entry.
Accommodations for persons who are unable to climb steps, sit in bleachers or with disabilities are available upon request. The reserved special seating section is located directly on the Knott Arena floor behind the graduates. Special Accommodation seats are included in the 5 tickets distributed to each graduate.
English to Spanish translation will be provided during commencement. If a family member would benefit from this service to further enjoy the ceremony, please complete the request form found at this link.
Visitor parking is available in all lots on campus. Public Safety will direct traffic at the PNC Sports Complex. Note that if you are traveling southbound on Route 15 the main entrance to the PNC Sports Complex will be blocked to move traffic more efficiently; all traffic will be directed to the next turn-around.
Handicapped parking is available. Public Safety will direct cars with handicapped parking signs as space allows. Please note that all guests attending the Commencement Ceremony will be directed to enter the building from the main, west entrance to the Knott ARCC. The back, east entrance is for handicapped drop-off only. Public Safety will direct cars to the back entrance to allow guests with mobility issues to be dropped-off. Cars will then be directed to park in one of the lots. For any persons entering the back, east entrance, a ticket is required for entry.
Overflow parking and easy access parking will be available on the main, west-end of campus, across Route 15 in parking lots 8 and 10. Visitors using these lots may access the athletic, east-end of campus via the pedestrian underpass.
The Commencement Group will be at the graduation ceremony offering congratulatory flowers for your graduate. An online pre-order service is available; by ordering online, you can take advantage of a contact-free experience by simply picking up your reserved product at graduation.
During the Commencement ceremony, Classic Photography & Imaging will photograph graduates as they cross the stage with President Joyce and also once they exit the stage. Each graduate will receive an email (directed to their MSMU email account) with a link to order photos soon after graduation.
Visit Classic Photography & Imaging and enter your email address to be notified when your photos are ready!
A class ring representative will be on campus the first week of May or rings can be ordered from the link below. Several weeks lead time is required to a class ring so if you would like it before graduation, please order early.
The Mount’s bachelor diploma measures 8.5 in. (21.5 cm) high by 11 in. (27.9 cm) wide; masters diplomas measure 11 in. (27.9 cm) high by 14 in. (35.5 cm) wide.
Diploma frames are available at the Mount Bookstore or you can order from www.framingsuccess.com – then search for Mount St. Mary’s University.
The Residence Halls will close on Saturday, May 16 at 6 p.m. All graduating seniors are expected to move out of their residence hall room by 6pm. Please contact reslife@msmary.edu if there are any specific questions. The Office of Residence Life will be sending more information regarding the hall closing and move-out in the coming weeks.
Undergraduates and master candidates who have completed the Intent to Graduate form and indicated that they will attend the in-person ceremony are invited to commencement. Contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@msmary.edu with any questions.
We understand that sometimes plans change. Please help us maintain an accurate count of how many graduates will attend the 2025 Commencement Ceremony by filling out the Graduation Attendance form. Each graduate who fills out the form will be entered into a raffle for a beautiful Mount St. Mary's University Diploma Frame. Enter to win today!
If you have any questions, please contact the Commencement Office at 301-447-5330 or commencement@msmary.edu.
Last updated Tuesday, May 12, 2026.