Graduation means you've officially completed your academic journey and earned your degree or certificate - congratulations! Commencement is the festive ceremony where we come together to celebrate that incredible achievement. It’s a joyful tradition filled with pride, reflection, and excitement for the future. Join the entire Mission College community as we honor our graduates and cheer them on to their next great adventure!
Join us in honoring the incredible achievements of our Mission College graduates!
We invite graduates, families, friends, and the entire Mission community to come together
for a joyful and inspiring ceremony. Let’s make this a celebration to remember!
This year's theme is "Voices of Change, Visions of Hope."
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: San Jose Civic, 135 W. San Carlos St., San Jose, CA 95113
Watch live on YouTube or Facebook.
Complete the RSVP form by Friday, May 8, to confirm your participation in the ceremony.
Take the next step toward earning your degree by submitting your Graduation Application. This is your chance to celebrate your accomplishments and walk across the stage with pride in the spring.
Don’t miss this important opportunity to mark the culmination of your hard work and dedication!
Step 1: Submit Your Application - Log in to the My Mission Portal and complete the “Apply to Graduate” form. Missing documents may delay or deny your graduation.
Step 2: Submit Required Documents - If needed, send official documents to the Admissions & Records Office.
Optional: Meet with a Counselor - Schedule a counseling appointment to confirm all graduation requirements have been met.
If you plan to complete your degree or certificate this spring, be sure to apply on
time to stay on track for graduation. Review the important application dates and deadlines
below to ensure your eligibility and avoid delays.
Degrees will be finalized and diplomas will be mailed out by the last week in July.
All graduates must wear a black cap, gown, and tassel to participate in the Commencement ceremony. Students who need regalia assistance should contact Outreach and Recruitment for support. Caps, gowns, and tassels may be ordered through Herff Jones, with convenient on-campus pickup available prior to the ceremony.
Commencement Rehearsal will be Tuesday, May 19, at 4 p.m. at the San Jose Civic. All graduates who plan to participate in Commencement are strongly encouraged to attend to learn important ceremony procedures and etiquette.
Associate degree recipients may earn academic honors based on their cumulative grade point average (GPA):
Summa Cum Laude: GPA of 3.80 or higher
Magna Cum Laude: GPA of 3.50–3.79
Mission College is excited to announce that Rocky Rivera will be the Commencement Speaker and provide a Musical Performance.
A proud San Francisco native, Rocky Rivera is a dynamic journalist, emcee, author, and activist whose work sits at the intersection of art and social justice. As a Filipino-American artist and member of Beatrock Music, she has released four powerful albums and a ten-volume mixtape series, earning recognition for her socially conscious, militant feminist approach to hip hop.
Rocky’s voice extends beyond music. She gained international acclaim through MTV’s I’m From Rolling Stone and continues to shape culture as a journalist by day and MC by night. In 2021, she added author to her list of accomplishments with the release of Snakeskin: Essays by Rocky Rivera, a deeply personal collection that chronicles her journey as an artist and invites readers into the stories behind her music.
Through every medium, Rocky Rivera’s work is a testament to resistance, identity, and the power of storytelling.
Tickets are not required for graduates as well as their familiy and friends to attend
Commencement.
Free parking will be available for all graduates and guests in designated lots. More
information will be provided soon.
Mission College is committed to ensuring our Commencement ceremony is accessible to everyone. Some of the steps we have taken to achieve this goal include:
Graduates should request accommodations for themselves and/or their guests by contacting [email protected].
We strongly recommend graduates notify us of any requests as early as possible.
ADA drop-off locations at the San Jose Civic
| 129 W. San Carlos St., in front of the Theater | 273 Market closer to the Backstage area. |
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