Commencement FAQ

Nassau Community College’s 2026 Commencement Ceremony will be held at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum at 1255 Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale, NY, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 7 p.m. Graduates should arrive by 5:30 p.m. Please refer to the Coliseum’s website regarding re-entry and prohibited items. Graduates must bring their NCC ID with them to the Commencement Ceremony.

Yes, graduates must bring their NCC ID with them to the Commencement Ceremony. IDs will be checked before graduates may enter the Coliseum.

You may obtain an NCC photo ID card by coming into the Student Services Center (SSC) on campus to take a photo or you can follow the directions on the NCC website for the modified online process. Detailed instructions are listed on the website at: ncc.edu/campusservices/nccidcard.shtml

The Student Services Center is open Monday–Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please bring a valid New York State-issued ID or a passport in order to obtain your ID. If you have any questions about this process, please call 516-572-7501 or contact StudentID@ncc.edu.

• Graduates should arrive by 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.
• Graduates in regalia do not need a ticket for entry but must bring their NCC ID for verification.
• Enter the Coliseum through the main entrance off Hempstead Turnpike.
• Park in the main parking lot, there is no parking fee.
• Graduates enter through the Grant Thornton VIP entrance and go immediately to the Exhibition Hall on the lower level.
• Ticketed guests park in the main parking lot and enter through the Geico Main Entrance.

Each graduate will have six (6) tickets available for guests to attend the ceremony. Tickets are issued through Ticketmaster and will be available in mid-April. Please note that tickets are required for all guests over the age of 24 months to access the Coliseum. All guest seating is General Admission and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Graduates participating in the ceremony with regalia do not need a ticket to attend but must present their NCC ID for entry into the Coliseum.

There is no charge to park at the Coliseum on the day of Commencement.

The N70 bus stops directly across the street from the Coliseum and also makes a stop at the Hempstead Train Station on the Long Island Rail Road.

The ceremony runs approximately two hours total.

Yes, graduates are free to line up with and sit with their friends at Commencement, there is no requirement to stay with your program of study during the ceremony.

Graduates from August and December of 2025, and any graduate candidate for May 2026 who applied for graduation before the March 4, 2026, deadline, will have their name included in this year’s Commencement Program.

Yes, a highlight of graduation is the introduction of each candidate during the Line of March.  Graduates will be given a name card when they arrive, this card permits a phonetic spelling of their name. It is suggested that students use phonetics to simplify and ensure the accuracy of the pronunciation of their name. A televised image will be projected on the four-sided Jumbotron above the arena floor.

To order your cap and gown, please follow these instructions:

• Go to herff.ly/nassau
• Click on the “Order Now” button under “Cap & Gown”
• Enter your Nassau ID # (N00------) in the search field and click “Search”
• When your name appears, click on “Congratulations! Order your graduation products here!” (If your name does not appear please follow up with Registrar to confirm that you applied for graduation. Please note that there may be a delay from the time you apply for graduation to when you may order your Commencement regalia.)
• From the “Select an option” drop down menu choose 1 of 2 options:
• Option 1: Pick up Cap and Gown at Campus Store (free of charge)
• Once selected, the Ceremony Date and Degree Type will be shown. Click on “SHOP”
• Choose the “Cap & Gown” tab 
• The first choice “Graduation Regalia” includes a Cap, Gown, Tassel, and Hood. There is no charge for these items. (Please note that other options/packages selected may incur an additional charge.)
• Click “Click to Show Contents” 
• Click “View Full Details”
• Fill out your information and click “Add to Cart” when you are finished
• Complete your order

Note: The last day to order your Cap and Gown online to be picked up at the NCC Campus Store is Thursday, April 2, 2026. 

• Option 2: Ship Cap and Gown Home (out of pocket shipping charges will be applied)
• Once selected, the Ceremony Date and Degree Type will be shown. Click on “SHOP”
• Choose the “Cap & Gown” tab 
• The first choice “Graduation Regalia” includes a Cap, Gown, Tassel, and Hood. There is no charge for these items. (Please note that other options/packages selected may incur an additional charge.)
• Click “Click to Show Contents” 
• Click “View Full Details”
• Fill out your information and click “Add to Cart” when you are finished
• Complete your order

Note: The last day to order your Cap and Gown online to be shipped to your home is Friday, April 24, 2026. Orders placed after this date may incur additional fees.

If you have not placed your regalia order by the online deadline of Friday, April 24, 2026, late orders will still be accepted on the website until Wednesday, May 6, 2026. These orders will have expedited shipping fees added to the order.

After the online order deadline, you may also obtain a cap and gown package at the NCC Campus Store starting Monday, May 4, 2026, with a photo ID. Available sizes and options will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

The cap, gown, hood and tassel are included in the all-purpose fee. There is no additional charge for these items, and they are yours to keep.

Graduates are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing, especially comfortable footwear to the ceremony. There will be a lot of standing and walking during the 2-hour ceremony.

Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum provides easy access for guests with disabilities. These areas include accessible entry doors, restrooms, drinking fountains, and seating areas. If you or a loved one needs assistance, please see a Coliseum staff member at the ceremony.

Yes, there will be two ASL interpreters on the left side of the stage. If you need assistance, please see a staff member at the ceremony.

Diplomas will be mailed after degree certification. Check your NCC e-mail address for updates.

Graduates from August 2025, December 2025, and graduate candidates from May 2026 are all eligible to walk during the ceremony.  August 2026 graduate candidates may also walk during the ceremony as long as they have applied for graduation.

August 2026 graduate candidates may walk in the May ceremony as long as they have applied for graduation. August 2026 candidate names will not appear in this year’s Commencement program, they will appear in the Commencement program for 2027.

If you have any questions regarding your degree eligibility, please reach out to an advisor from your academic department. Academic department advisor contact information can be found here.

Congratulations on joining a network of successful individuals who are proud to call themselves NCC graduates! Applications are available to join NCC’s Alumni Association online at NCC Alumni.