BGSU to hold spring 2026 Commencement exercises May 1-2

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Celebrating the academic accomplishments of the class of 2026, Bowling Green State University will hold its Spring Commencement exercises on Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 2, at the Stroh Center.

The 315th Commencement celebration at BGSU will begin at 7 p.m. on May 1 with the Doctoral Hooding and Graduate College Ceremony for doctoral and master's degree candidates. As part of the ceremony, doctoral degree candidates will be hooded as they cross the stage.

The first Undergraduate Ceremony on May 2 will start at 9 a.m. for bachelor's degree candidates from the College of Arts and Sciences and College of Engineering and Innovation. Additionally, during the ceremony, Rick Valicenti '73 will be presented with an honorary degree for his internationally recognized and groundbreaking work in graphic design.

A second ceremony for associate and bachelor's degree candidates from the College of Education and Human Development and BGSU Firelands will take place at 2 p.m. on May 2. The third and final ceremony of the day will begin at 7 p.m. for bachelor's degree candidates from the Allen W. and Carol M. Schmidthorst College of Business, College of Health and Human Services and College of Musical Arts.

In total, the spring 2026 BGSU graduating class consists of 2,511 candidates, of which 120 will be presented an associate degree, 1,880 will be presented bachelor's degrees, 474 with master's degrees and 37 with doctoral degrees.

For graduates or guests unable to attend, ceremonies will be livestreamed on the BGSU YouTube channel and at BGSU.edu/Commencement.

For more information, visit BGSU.edu/Commencement.