A student in commencement regalia clasps her hands together and looks toward the stage with joy.

Commencement FAQs for Guests

SDA celebrated the Class of 2025 at a commencement ceremony full of hope and joy on May 16. Photo by Loreen Sarkis/Capture Imaging.

Baccalaureate

What is Baccalaureate? When and where do the ceremony and dinner take place?

Baccalaureate is a non-denominational, inter-faith celebration open to all students and their guests, taking place on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 5 p.m. in Bovard Auditorium. No tickets are required; seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. No regalia is required for students. Learn more about Baccalaureate.

Commencement

When and where does the main USC commencement ceremony take place?

The Main Stage Commencement Ceremony will be held in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2026. This landmark celebration will include the official conferral of degrees for the Class of 2026, along with the presentation of honorary degrees, a keynote address, and more!

When and where does the USC School of Dramatic Arts commencement ceremony take place?

The USC School of Dramatic Arts school ceremony for all degree programs will take place on Friday, May 15, 2026, at 1:00 pm in Epstein Family Plaza (E-Quad). The ceremony will last for approximately 2 hours.

There will be a live webcast of the ceremony.

Following the ceremony, the Bing Theatre will be open for a commencement send-off experience and special photo opportunities to commemorate this milestone. No refreshments will be served, so families are encouraged to plan their own celebrations.

How many tickets will my student receive for their school ceremony?

There will be no ticketing for the USC School of Dramatic Arts school ceremony.

Are there accommodations for guests with disabilities?

For guests with disabilities or accessibility needs, please visit the USC Commencement website for information regarding parking and seating for both the university-wide commencement ceremony and the USC School of Dramatic Arts ceremony. When completing the USC School of Dramatic Arts student registration form, please indicate any accessibility needs for your guests attending the School of Dramatic Arts ceremony. Students will be contacted in April to confirm and coordinate special arrangements for the School of Dramatic Arts ceremony. Please note that accessibility accommodations for the university-wide ceremony must be arranged separately through the USC Commencement Website.

If you would like to drop off guests with wheelchairs on campus, please enter campus at the Royal Street Entrance (located on Jefferson Blvd. at the Royal Street Intersection. If guests require the usage of a wheelchair, the University has a limited number of wheelchairs for checkout, free of charge, behind Leavey Library on West 34th Street. Check-in begins at 6:00 a.m. and all wheelchairs must be returned by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 15th.

Is there free parking on Commencement Day?

Parking on campus is FREE on this day, but spaces fill up quickly. Additional parking is available at the University Parking Center, located on the corner of Jefferson Boulevard and Grand Avenue. Trams will be available to take guests from the Parking Center to campus.

Where can I go to get more information?

Additional information about the USC Commencement ceremony may be found on the USC Commencement website.

For inquiries about the School of Dramatic Arts satellite ceremony, please call 213-740-3149 or email sdaevent@usc.edu.