August 2025 Graduation

• Graduation Applications Open: September 1, 2024
• Deadline to submit graduation application: November 1, 2024
• Scholarly Documents and Comprehensive Assessments due: July 16, 2025
• Coursework must be completed by: August 16, 2025
• August graduates may participate in May 2025 or December 2025 Commencement. Check with your graduate program to see if there is a preference in which ceremony you participate.

December 2025 Graduation

• Graduation Applications Open: April 1, 2025 
• Deadline to submit graduation application for December: May 31, 2025
• Scholarly Documents and Comprehensive Assessments due: November 14, 2025
• Coursework must be completed by: December 12, 2025
• The December 2025 University Commencement Ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, December 13, 2025, 10:00am, in the Atlantic Union Bank Center. For more details, visit www.jmu.edu/commencement.

May 2026 Graduation

• Graduation Applications Open: September 1, 2025
• Deadline to submit graduation application: November 1, 2025
• Scholarly Documents and Comprehensive Assessments due: April 15, 2026
• Coursework must be completed by: May 13, 2026
• The May 2026 Graduate School Commencement Ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, May 14, 2026, 1:00pm, in the Atlantic Union Bank Center. For more details, visit www.jmu.edu/commencement. 
• A mandatory hooding rehearsal for terminal degree candidates (doctoral and MFA) will be held on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 3:30pm, in the Atlantic Union Bank Center. There is no rehearsal for master’s and educational specialist graduation candidates.

 Academic Calendar