Commencement Ceremony

Congratulations, Graduates!

The Bellevue College commencement ceremony brings our community together to honor and celebrate your success. More information will be added here as we get closer to June 20. Please check back for updates!

When and Where

The 2025 commencement ceremony will be held on Friday, June 20th.

• Date: 6/20/2025
• Time: 3 p.m.
  • Graduates must arrive at 1:30 p.m. and check in
  • Graduate check in ends at 2:30 p.m.
• Place: T-Mobile Park
• Online: Guests can attend in person, or watch the ceremony live online.

Who can attend?

Students can attend the ceremony if:

• You graduated in Fall 2024 or Winter 2025, or
• You applied to graduate in Spring 2025 or Summer 2025

Students who want to attend must submit both the graduation application and Commencement Sign-Up forms.

Guests do not need tickets. There is no limit on guests. Bring the whole family!

How to Sign Up

1. Submit your Graduation Application form
   • Deadline is May 23 if you want your name printed in the Commencement Program booklet
   • Final deadline is June 11
2. Submit the Commencement Sign Up form by June 11

You must submit both forms to participate in Commencement.

Cap & Gown

Students must wear a cap and gown to participate in the ceremony.

Buy your cap, gown, and tassel online or in-person at the BC Bookstore.

Associated Student Government (ASG) will also host a cap and gown borrowing program where students may request to borrow a cap and gown for Commencement. Information about the cap and gown borrowing program will be sent out to Commencement participants as soon as we have the information from ASG.

Honors Cords and Other Regalia

All students wear a cap and gown. Bachelor students wear a blue stole. Students with a high GPA also get honors cords to wear around the neck. There are other optional cords and stoles for student affinity groups and clubs. Caps, gowns, honors cords, and bachelor stoles are the only standard items. Any other items to wear are given out directly by the student group or club.

Honors cords are given when you check in at T-Mobile Park. You do not order them online.

What is the GPA for Honors Cords?

The GPA for honors cords is your Cumulative GPA. This includes every class you took at Bellevue College. It does not include transfer classes.

If you graduated in Fall 2024 or Winter 2025, we look at your GPA when you graduated. If you will graduate in Spring 2025 or Summer 2025, we look at your current GPA. This includes your Winter 2024 grades, but does not include your Spring 2024 grades because they are not final yet.

Your degree must be 45 credits or more to get honors cords.

GPA for Honors Cords:

• Associate and Certificates over 45 credits: 3.5 or higher
• Bachelor: 3.6 or higher

Additional Information

• Place: T-Mobile Park is a baseball stadium in Seattle and is home to the Mariners baseball team.
  • You can park your car at the stadium. The cost is $20 per car. You can also take a bus or train.
  • The stadium is outside with good ventilation. There is a roof in case of bad weather.
• Tickets: Tickets are not required for guests. There is unlimited seating. Bring as many guests as you like!
• Purses and Bags: Regular purses and bags are not allowed in the stadium. Instead, you can bring:
  • Clear plastic bags 12″ x 6″ x 12″ or smaller.
  • A one-gallon zip-top bag.
  • A diaper bag with one compartment if you bring a child.
• Security: All graduates and guests go through T-Mobile Park’s security screening.
  • Review T-Mobile Park’s full security information here to learn more about what you can and cannot bring.
  • Balloons are not allowed in the stadium.
• Photos: A professional photo is taken of each graduate on the stage.
  • Find your photos online. You can usually purchase your photos up to two years after the ceremony.
• Diplomas: We do not give diplomas to the graduates at the ceremony.
  • We mail diplomas to graduates after we verify your final grades.
  • It can take up to 12 weeks to get your diploma in the mail. Digital diplomas may take up to four weeks.
• General Questions: If you have general questions about Commencement, you can visit our Frequently Asked Questions page, or contact Alicia Keating Polson:
  • presidentoffice@bellevuecollege.edu

Accommodations

If you are a student or guest with a disability and need an accommodation to attend the ceremony, please complete the Commencement Accessibility/Accommodation Form.

Need help or have a question?

You can submit a ticket online, or take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Past Ceremonies