Commencement and Graduation Information

Each student will be allotted a certain amount of tickets.  Tickets may be picked up during the Grad Fest on Thursday, April 30, 2026 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Graduates may also pick up their tickets from the Office of Academic Records (Brown Administrative Complex room 154). during regular business hours (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) from Friday, May 1, 2026 to Thursday, May 7, 2026.

Children under the age 2-years old will now require a ticket based on capacity regulation of the theater in accordance to fire code.

If there are extra tickets, students may request up to two tickets on a first come first serve basis on Friday, May 8, 2026 in the Office of Academic Records starting at 8 a.m.

Graduates can designate a proxy to pick-up tickets on their behalf by e-mailing grad@hc.edu and providing the proxy’s first and last name.

Identification is required for any individual picking up tickets.

If you do not have the ability to pick-up your tickets at any time prior to Commencement, your tickets will be provided to you in the same manner that you will receive your regalia. Please email hcubookstore@hc.edu to coordinate regalia pick-up.

Each graduate will walk to the podium for their name to be called. After receiving a commemorative diploma tube, graduates will then proceed to the designated spot on stage for their professional photo opportunity.

Each doctoral graduate will be hooded and photographed in the same designated spot with the dissertation chairs and then their individual photo will be taken.

Undergraduate students who have completed a minimum of 60 semester alpha-grade hours in residence at HCU and have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher may claim the honor cord at HCU’s University Store the week of commencement. The University Store will also have honor cords available on the day of graduation.

This is an important day and each graduate’s attire should reflect the occasion. Dresses, white or light-color shirts or blouses and dark slacks and shoes are appropriate; jeans are not appropriate. Purses, suit coats, or other valuables must remain with a graduate’s guests as these will not be allowed in the Dunham Theater.

Graduates receiving a bachelor’s or master’s degree must arrive wearing their gown (ironed and zipped up), hood, cap on their head, and tassel on the right front side of the cap. Bobby pins may be used to secure the cap. Doctoral graduates should dress as outlined above except for the hood, which should be carried separately.  

Caps must not be decorated, and the elastic is worn at the back of the head. Graduates who received honor cords may wear them during the ceremony with the middle knot of the honor cord behind the neck and the honor cords on top of the gown. The University Store (281-649-3258) may be contacted should any graduate lack a cap and gown.

Please contact the University Store for detailed information.

Guests who need ADA accessible parking, with a disability parking placard, may park in Lot 5 (Campus map). This is also available to drop-off graduates and guests. Vehicles will then be directed to park in adjacent parking lots. All other parking lots will be open for graduates and guests on a first-come, first-served basis.

Limited special accommodation seating for guests will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests in need of these seats must arrive at the door 30 minutes prior to doors opening.

All degrees will be conferred and noted officially on the transcript on May 15, 2026 at 4 p.m. Should you need to request an official transcript, please click the button below:

Official Transcript Request

As a May 2025 graduate, the diploma that will be awarded to you will reflect Houston Christian University as the conferring institution. Diplomas will be available for pickup or mailing on a date to be determined. More information will be sent to your HCU email address.

Approved honor cords from the following National Academic Honor Societies may also be worn during commencement:

• Sigma Theta Tau (Nursing)
• Alpha Kappa Delta (Sociology)
• Psi Chi (Education)
• Kappa Delta Pi (Education)
• Phi Alpha Theta (History)
• Delta Mu Delta (Business)
• Beta Beta Beta (Science/Math)
• Omicron Delta Kappa (Science/Math)
• Iota Sigma Pi (Science/Math)
• Alpha Epsilon Delta (Science/Math)
• Pi Sigma (Political Science)
• Theta Alpha Kappa (Christianity)
• Chi Alpha Sigma (Athlete)
• Alpha Mu Gamma (Spanish)
• Alpha Chi (National Honor Society)
• Honors College students may wear their Honors College medallions

Sorority or fraternity sashes, stoles, and medallions are not allowed for the commencement ceremony.

Honors at graduation are awarded to undergraduate baccalaureate students who have completed a minimum of 60 semester alpha-grade hours in residence at HCU and have earned an appropriate number of grade points to be eligible for the honors indicated. An average standing of 3.50 or higher entitles the student to graduate cum laude; 3.70 or higher magna cum laude; 3.90 or higher summa cum laude.

While many view commencement and graduation as synonymous, there are important distinctions to make between these two. All HCU students apply for graduation in the final semester of their degree program. Commencement, however, is the formal ceremony in which HCU celebrates the accomplishments of Huskies who have completed their degree.

To view graduation requirements, click the button below:

HCU Graduation Requirements

To apply for graduation, click the button below:

Apply For Graduation