BSN Online, Post-Licensure & Graduate Commencement

The 2026 Chamberlain University commencement speaker will be announced in Fall 2026.

Event Location
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
5555 N. River Road
Rosemont, IL 60018

Nearest Airports

• Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD): Approximately 3 miles from the venue; 10-15 minutes by car or rideshare.
• Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW): Approximately 30 miles from the venue; 30-45 minutes by car or rideshare.

A limited number of hotel room blocks will be available to graduates and their guests when registration opens. Please do not book airfare or hotel accommodation until you have completed your event registration and received a confirmation email. 
Guest ticket information will be available in mid-May.

Students who graduate between the July 2025 and July 2026 sessions and receive confirmation of degree conferral will receive an email invitation to register for the 2026 Commencement Ceremony. All communications will be sent to the preferred email address on file with the Registrar’s Office.

• Commencement Invitations will be distributed in two (2) rounds:
  • Round One: Invitations will be sent when registration opens in mid-May to students who graduated between July 25, 2025, and April 26, 2026.
  • Round Two: Invitations will be sent during the week of August 13, 2026, to students graduating between April 27, 2026, and July 2026. Students who are expected to graduate in the July 2026 session and are currently enrolled in their final course will still receive a commencement invitation as part of Round Two, even if their degree has not yet been officially conferred.

Students who believe they are eligible but do not receive an invitation are encouraged to contact the Academic Advising team at onlineacademicadvising@chamberlain.edu.

The $175 commencement fee is non-transferable. Graduates must submit payment and complete the commencement registration process, confirmed by receipt of a confirmation email, to be eligible for participation in the ceremony.

Cancellations due to COVID-19, illness, or other emergencies will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Graduates who cancel their registration are responsible for cancelling any personal arrangements, including airfare, hotel accommodations, regalia purchases, and other related expenses.

The commencement registration fee supports a comprehensive, high-quality, and safe commencement experience for all participants, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Commemorative Chamberlain diploma cover
• Commemorative commencement program
• Guest tickets for seating within the ceremony hall
• Access to professional photographers and videographers throughout the event
• Designated photo areas to capture milestone moments
• Access to Chamberlain Gear and approved commencement vendors for regalia and graduate gifts
• Option to reserve discounted accommodation within the Chamberlain commencement hotel room block, including complimentary high-speed internet and convenient venue access.  More details available in late Spring 2026.
• Event safety measures, including security screening, onsite security personnel, law enforcement, and EMT support

2026 Chamberlain University Commencement

Ceremony Dates & Times

• October 2, 2026 at 3:00 PM CST
• October 3, 2026 at 9:00 AM CST

The 2026 commencement ceremonies will celebrate graduates from all programs and all degree levels. When registering, graduates will select their preferred ceremony date based on seat availability.

At each ceremony, graduates will be seated according to their college and degree level to ensure an organized and meaningful celebration for all participants.

 

Graduates who are unable to attend their assigned ceremony may opt to participate in the 2027 Commencement; registration details for that event will be available in late Spring 2027.

Please refer to the registration form for your specific guest ticket allocation.

Additional details regarding ticketing include:

• Tickets are included in the Commencement fee and have no cash value.
• Tickets are non-transferable and Chamberlain does not endorse or permit the sale or exchange of tickets.
• Each ticket grants one seat in the Commencement Hall.
• Children age 3 and under do not require a ticket if seated on a parent or guardian’s lap.
• Requests for additional guest tickets cannot be accommodated.
• We thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to create a memorable and respectful experience for all graduates and their loved ones.

Commencement is a special and memorable experience for graduates to celebrate their achievements with their families. To facilitate an enjoyable ceremony, we ask that all attendees participate in a positive and respectful manner. To that end, please:

• Remain in your designated seat for the duration of the ceremony.
• Silence cellphones and other devices.
• Avoid extended cheering so all graduates’ names can be heard as they cross the stage.
• Request that guests remain seated during the recessional until all graduates and faculty members have exited.
• Respect commencement speakers, event staff, faculty, fellow graduates, and their guests.

Graduates are asked to cross the stage in a respectful and professional manner, refraining from large outbursts, taking selfies, dancing, or other actions that may disrupt the ceremony. Registered graduates are the only people permitted to cross the commencement stage. If you need accommodation, please  onlineacademicadvising@chamberlain.edu.

Additional health and safety protocols, which will be communicated to registered graduates, may be instituted on- site to ensure a safe and successful ceremony.

To facilitate an enjoyable ceremony, noisemakers, balloons, confetti, oversized signs or banners, alcohol, and weapons are not permitted in the exhibit hall where the ceremonies will be held.

For the safety of all attendees and in the spirit of celebration, masks that cover the face or around the eyes are not permitted.

Inclusion in the Book

Inclusion in the commencement program book is determined by academic completion date and is independent of commencement attendance–this is because commencement attendance is optional, and degree conferral is the official and final mark of the completion of a student’s academic requirements. Everyone must receive confirmation of their degree conferral to complete their program, but graduates are not required to attend commencement.

To be excluded from the commencement book, please send an email to onlineacademicadvising@chamberlain.edu. 

The commencement program booklet that will be distributed on-site contains information about Chamberlain’s history, university leadership, the academic ceremony, and additional information about the university organizations and initiatives. It does not include the names of graduates first eligible to participate in this commencement.

After the ceremonies, a final, electronic version of the commencement program book will be published with the names of graduates from July 2025 – July 2026 sessions. This class comprises all graduates, regardless of their commencement attendance, Students who graduated during the July 2025 - July 2026 sessions are invited to register for commencement.

All registered graduates will have their names called as they cross the stage during their ceremony. Registered graduates will receive instructions on how to access Tassel to confirm name spelling/accuracy and phonetic pronunciation in Fall 2026.

During the ceremony the students' names will be read aloud with honor status if applicable.

Graduates are required to wear regalia (cap and gown) in order to participate in the commencement ceremony.

Chamberlain does not provide rental gowns or regalia. Graduates may purchase their regalia through Jostens, with items shipped directly to their home prior to the ceremony.

Ordering instructions will be included in your registration confirmation email, which you will receive after completing your commencement registration.

Note: Most graduates purchase keepsake regalia. Doctoral graduates have the opportunity to purchase fine-quality regalia depending upon their future needs.

Chamberlain recognizes academic excellence through both Latin honors and institutional honors for Academic Achievement.

• Latin honors (such as cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude) may be awarded based on academic performance.
• Academic Achievement honors are granted at three levels: with Distinction, with High Distinction, and Presidential President’s Honors.
   

Graduates who receive honors are eligible to wear designated honor regalia. Please contact your respective honor society for details regarding eligibility, regalia requirements, and purchase options.

In order to be considered for honors at graduation, a graduate of the BSN program must have completed a minimum of 60 credit hours in residence with a CGPA of 3.3. Summa Cum Laude, the highest honor, requires a CGPA of 3.8 or above. Students with a CGPA between 3.5 and 3.79 will graduate Magna Cum Laude, and those with a CGPA between 3.3 and 3.49 will graduate Cum Laude. President’s Honors will be awarded to BSN students who graduate with a CGPA of 3.5 or above and have fewer than 60 credit hours in residence. A student who has graduated from a doctorate or graduate degree program must have completed a minimum of 30 credit hours in residence. Doctorate or graduate degree students with a CGPA of 4.0 will graduate with the designation “With High Distinction” and those with a CGPA from 3.85 to 3.99 will graduate with the designation “With Distinction.”

All coursework completed (including the last semester of study) will be included in the calculation of graduation honors. The official graduation honors will be notated on the student’s transcript.
 

Chamberlain allows honors society graduates to wear all honors regalia (such as cords, sashes, and stoles) during the ceremony. Each honor society is responsible for the sale and distribution of these items, so we suggest that you contact the honors society or student organization for more details.

Graduates are responsible for identifying and contacting their respective honor societies for any event information, honor cords/commencement attire, or membership status.

GradImages will be on site to capture your big day! Photographers will be stationed to capture images of you before, during, and after crossing the stage. Stations will also be available to take additional photos or headshots. 

Chamberlain University may film or photograph commencement and its associated activities for marketing and publicity purposes. By participating in these events, graduates and their guests may be photographed or filmed. These images belong to Chamberlain University, and graduates are not entitled to compensation or fees for use of their image or likeness. If you have questions or concerns about this, please email onlineacademicadvising@chamberlain.edu.

Chamberlain has taken measures to ensure that our commencement venues are accessible and ADA compliant. All commencement ceremonies will be captioned live and held on a wheelchair accessible stage.

To help us better plan and accommodate, the commencement registration form provides graduates the option to let us know if they will be using the assistance of a mobility device (walker, wheelchair, scooter, etc.) when crossing the stage.

Should you have additional questions, please contact onlineacademicadvising@chamberlain.edu.