In order to participate in Commencement, all prospective graduates must submit a Petition to Graduate. The Office of Student Life and Leadership receives an approved list of graduates from the Office of Evaluations and Records.

Any questions regarding your Petition please contact:

San Marcos Campus Location: SSC Building 1140 W. Mission Road,  San Marcos, CA 92069

If you are unsure, we recommend you meet with a counselor first to verify when you will complete all of your academic requirements. Once you enroll in your last course(s) to satisfy your associate degree and/or certificate requirements, you should submit a petition for graduation to the Evaluations and Records office. You can submit a petition for graduation by email, by fax (760) 744-2932, or in-person to the Evaluations and Records office

Deadlines

Petitions must be submitted no later than the dates listed below:

• Spring graduation – February 28th
• Summer graduation – June 30th
• Fall graduation – September 30th

There is no official deadline for students to file a petition for CSU General Education (CSU GE) or IGETC Certification

Notification

You will receive an email once your evaluation has been completed. This email will include notification of approval or denial status, a copy of your degree/certificate evaluation, and further explanation, if necessary. This notification may come any time during the semester or, in some cases, after your final semester has ended. If you are unsure if you qualify to graduate, we recommend you meet with a counselor to verify you have satisfied all of your academic requirements.

If you missed the cut-off date to petition for graduation but have verified with a counselor that you are qualified to graduate, you may still walk in the Commencement Ceremony.

Guest Arrival

Guests can start seating inside the stadium at 2PM. We recommend that all guests are seated by 4:30PM to ensure your presence at the start of the ceremony.

Tickets and Seating

• Tickets will be required for guest entry to the Commencement ceremony.
• Commencement is held at the New Football Stadium with stadium seating.
• Due to stadium capacity, the number of guest tickets per graduate will depend on graduate RSVPs. We anticipate allocating 3–4 tickets per graduate. Graduates will be able to add their name to a guest ticket waitlist upon registration.
• Seating is limited and out of respect for all we ask that guests do not save seats.

Parking is free

• Please park in lots 3, 5, 9 and lot 12.
• Disabled parking is available in Lot 1 & 2 for those who have a DMV approved placard or license plate.

Length of ceremony

• The length of the ceremony is dependent upon several variables however, it is generally under 2 hours.  We ask that out of respect for all graduates that you stay until the ceremony is completed.

Livestream

• The ceremony will be livestreamed and available on the day of the event for family and friends who are unable to attend in person. This provides an opportunity to celebrate with your graduate from anywhere.

Security & Entry Information

To help ensure a safe and enjoyable celebration for everyone, security screening will be in place before entering the commencement venue. We encourage guests to arrive early to allow time for screening. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our campus community safe.

Prohibited Items

1. Bags or backpacks larger than 12" x 6" x 12"
2. Balloons, banners, signs, or large umbrellas that may obstruct the view of others
3. Firearms or weapons (including replicas of weapons), aerosols, mace, pepper spray, or any sharp and/or pointed objects such as scissors or knitting needles
4. Alcohol, drugs, drug paraphernalia, tobacco, vapes, and/or smoke products
5. Noisemakers and voice-enhancement devices, such as bullhorns, air horns, whistles, or drums
6. Automated or remote-controlled aircrafts or drones
7. Balls, frisbees, whole fruit, or any other potential projectiles
8. Laser lights or laser pointers
9. Glitter or confetti
10. Explosives or fireworks
11. Leatherman or similar tools
12. Portable or folding chairs (chairs will be provided)
13. Tripods for cameras

Anyone with these prohibited items will be asked to return them to their vehicle and/or dispose of them before entering the commencement venue.

If you are in need of immediate police or medical assistance, locate the nearest phone or have a nearby person call police dispatch at (760) 891-7273 or extension 2289 from a College phone.

Before Commencement day

Purchasing Regalia:

Graduates may purchase their cap and gown from the Bookstore now in-store at the San Marcos Campus or  online at PalomarStore.com.

How to wear Your Regalia

Regalia should be worn properly at all times during the Ceremony
GOWN: Have your gown pressed (cool iron only). Gowns should be zipped up at all times during the ceremony.
CAP:  The cap should be worn straight and pulled down over the forehead. You may need to use bobby pins to keep your cap on. Caps should also be worn at all times during the ceremony, except during the National Anthem (men). The tassel should be draped over the left front quarter of the cap. 

If you are borrowing regalia from a sibling or friend, please make sure it matches the black cap and gowns that are sold at the bookstore.

Commencement Day Dress Code

Wear Proper Footwear
Seriously, wear the proper footwear! You will be standing for a period of time and you will be walking on potentially uneven ground. For your safety, graduates are strongly urged not to wear high heels. Wedge heels and flats are highly recommended.
Decorating your Cap
Graduates are allowed to decorate their caps for the ceremony.
 

Cords, Medals, and Sashes
If the graduate earned an honors cord, medal, and/or sash during the time they attended Palomar College (for example Puente, Phi Theta Kappa, UMOJA, and Veterans, etc) they are more than welcome to wear those items.

Date:  April 16, 2026

Time:  10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Location:   SU Quad Area and in front of the Bookstore

Your Big Day is Almost Here - Visit the different Campus program tables and Bookstore to ask all graduation-related questions while picking up your grad attire and swag to look your best on your big day.

To help you prepare for the ceremony, we have created a short video with important event details:

Watch the Commencement Information Video

The video includes information about:

• Student check-in
• What to expect during the ceremony
• Regalia guidelines
• Guest seating and parking
• Accessibility and accommodations

Graduate Arrival
Park in the parking structure located in Lot 12

Arrive Early:
Friday, May 22: Check-in at the Dome at 2pm no later than 3:30pm in your Academic Regalia.
When you arrive at the Dome, there will be a QR code to scan for your check-in.  We will have back-up if you don’t have a phone or your phone is not capable of scanning
NOTE: All participants must check-in
Instructions will be explained to all participating graduates in detail while inside the Dome

Dress Code:
Official cap and gown are required for participation
Selected adornments such as honor and program stoles and cords and flower leis, may be worn with cap and gown during ceremony

Personal Belongings
You will be responsible for any personal items you bring. Palomar College will not hold, store or be responsible for any personal items.

Length of Ceremony
The Commencement ceremony is generally under 2 hours.  We ask that out of respect for all graduates that you stay until the ceremony is completed.

Prohibited Items

1. Bags or backpacks larger than 12" x 6" x 12"
2. Balloons, banners, signs, or large umbrellas that may obstruct the view of others
3. Firearms or weapons (including replicas of weapons), aerosols, mace, pepper spray, or any sharp and/or pointed objects such as scissors or knitting needles
4. Alcohol, drugs, drug paraphernalia, tobacco, vapes, and/or smoke products
5. Noisemakers and voice-enhancement devices, such as bullhorns, air horns, whistles, or drums
6. Automated or remote-controlled aircrafts or drones
7. Balls, frisbees, whole fruit, or any other potential projectiles
8. Laser lights or laser pointers
9. Glitter or confetti
10. Explosives or fireworks
11. Leatherman or similar tools
12. Portable or folding chairs (chairs will be provided)
13. Tripods for cameras

Anyone with these prohibited items will be asked to return them to their vehicle and/or dispose of them before entering Dome.

Please park in the Parking Structure located in Lot 12.  Campus Map

Disabled parking is available in Lot 1 & 2 for those who have a DMV approved placard or license plate.

The Commencement Ceremony will be held at the new Football Stadium on the corner of Mission Road and Comet Circle East.  ALL Parking will be directed to the Parking Structure in Lot 12 or Lot 1 and 2 if ADA parking is required.

Graduates Requesting Accommodations

Commencement is held in the new Football Stadium and is wheelchair accessible. ASL interpretation and real-time captioning will be provided for the Commencement ceremony.

If you are a student that is in need of an accommodation for Commencement (e.g., mobility needs, accessibility support), please contact the Disability Resource Center at drc@palomar.edu or call (760) 744-1150, ext. 2375 as soon as possible.

Disabled Parking

Graduates and guests with a DMV-approved placard or license plate may park in parking lot 1 & 2 located in front of the football field.

Guests with Disabilities

There is a designated seating area for Hard-of-Hearing Guests (with interpreters) located on the west side of the Commencement ceremony field. Please check-in with our Accessibility Assistance Booth if assistance is needed.

Live captions will be provided for this event and will be viewable from the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Guest Seating Area.

Please access the following QR Code for access from your personal device DURING the live event on May 23, 2025 (5pm start).

Click this Link for live captions

For any questions regarding your Certificate or Diploma please contact:

San Marcos Campus Location: SSC Building 1140 W. Mission Road,  San Marcos, CA 92069

Diploma Name

Your diploma/certificate will include your official name as it appears in MyPalomar. You may view the name that will be included by logging into your MyPalomar account. If you need to change your official name, please bring legal proof of the correct name to the Palomar College Admissions Office.

Diploma Address

Your diploma/certificate will be sent to your mailing address as listed in Palomar College MyPalomar. If you have an address change, you must update your mailing address in your student MyPalomar account.  We do not assume responsibility for degrees and/or certificates sent to the wrong address. Duplicate diplomas may be purchased through the Evaluations Office. There is a charge of $15.00 each per duplicate diploma or certificate.

When will I get my diploma?

Diplomas and/or Certificates for graduates will be mailed approximately four weeks after your degree has been awarded in MyPalomar. Please note, due to the large size of the graduating class, degree applications can take several months to process and award.  To check if your degree has been awarded, log into MyPalomar and view your Unofficial Transcript. To view your Unofficial Transcript go to your Student Center and on the “Other Academic” dropdown menu towards the bottom of the page select “Transcript: View Unofficial.” Click the arrow button. Select eServices and click “Go.”

Certificates of Proficiency

Certificate of Proficiency requirements are designed to certify basic workplace competencies for students who are entering the workforce. These certificates consist of programs that are less than 18 total units. Certificates of Proficiency are not awarded at the Palomar College Commencement, nor are they posted on official transcripts.

The Commencement Group

Pre-order Bouquet's, Lei's, and more to be available for pickup on-site the day of graduation before the ceremony.  Pre Order Here: https://www.thecommencementgroup.com/palomar/

Jostens

Looking to order Announcements for your big day?
Palomar College Announcements & Rings - https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1412389/Palomar-College/

If you are ordering announcements, rings, or other graduation items from Jostens, please be aware that this is not done through Palomar College or the Palomar College Bookstore.
All purchases through Jostens are independent of the College.