Commencement Next Steps

All graduating students must complete an Application for Graduation Audit by March 13, 2026. 

DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP! COMPLETING THE GRADUATION AUDIT APPLICATION IS THE FIRST THING YOU MUST DO TO PREPARE FOR COMMENCEMENT.

• Graduation Audit applications are sent to the LIM College email account of eligible* students by the Office of the Registrar. January 2026 graduates should have received their Graduation Audit applications in Fall 2025. May 2026 grads received their Graduation Audit applications on Feb. 12, 2026.
   
• Please check your LIM College email account for updates and details to complete the audit as this information is sent via LIM College email only.
   
• Once your Graduation Audit application is submitted and reviewed, you will be added to the Class of 2026 group in myLIM, which will inform you about next steps and provide information on tickets, cap & gown, and preparation for the ceremony.

*Graduation eligibility

• Undergraduate students: Schedule an appointment with your Academic Advisor to determine your eligibility to graduate.
• Graduate students: Contact the Graduate Studies Department to determine your eligibility to graduate.
• Online students: Contact your Online Advisor to determine your eligibility to graduate.

We will hold information sessions on Zoom virtually for students and families to learn more about Commencement and have their questions answered.

• Wed. February 26 at 1:00 p.m. ET
• Tues. March 25 at 7:00 p.m. ET

Commencement will begin promptly at 1:00pm ET on Sunday, May 17, 2026, and conclude at 3:00pm. The ceremony is held at David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center.

There is no rehearsal or practice. Many staff will be present and will direct you where to go.

The ticket will-call table will open at 11am in the lobby. The line for the will-call table will be very long, and students in the New York City area are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to pick up their guest tickets from the Office of Student Life in Maxwell Hall, where tickets are now available through May 14, on weekdays from 11am-5pm.

Check-in opens for undergraduate students at 11am and for graduate students at 11:30am. Check-in closes at 12:30 pm. All students participating in the Commencement ceremony need to be checked in by then. Check-in is a lengthy, multi-step process, and students should plan to check-in early.

Immediately after checking in, students will then be directed to line-up. Students will NOT see their guests or families after checking in. Students should leave belongings, including guest tickets, with their guests prior to check-in.

Students are responsible for their own belongings and should not bring any large belongings or bags with them. Small bags or purses that can be worn under your gown and placed under your seat in the auditorium are permitted.

A review of the timeline:

• 11:00 am: Will-call table opens; Undergraduate student check-in begins
• 11:30 am: Graduate student check-in begins
• 12:30 pm: All student check-in closes; Theatre doors open and guests seated
• 1:00 pm: Ceremony begins. Graduates, faculty, and staff process into auditorium
• 3:00 pm: Ceremony concludes

Accessibility needs: Any student who has accessibility needs for themself or one of their guests must email commencement@limcollege.edu. Include your name, the name of the person with the accessibility need (either yourself or the name of your guest), the nature of the accessibility need, the total number in the party not including the student, and the phone number of the person with the accessibility need. 

All students participating in Commencement can request 2 complimentary (free) tickets for their guests.

• The window to reserve your 2 free tickets (and request to purchase additional tickets) opens March 5 and closes on April 9.
• The process to request and reserve tickets will be shared with graduates via the myLIM Class of 2026 group.
• Additional tickets beyond your 2 complimentary tickets will be available for purchase pending availability.

Indicate in your request form if you want to purchase extra tickets. After the April 9 deadline, we'll contact you with availability and purchase instructions.

The ticket will-call table at David Geffen Hall will open at 11am in the lobby. The line for the will-call table will be very long, so students in the New York City area are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to pick up their guest tickets from the Office of Student Life in Maxwell Hall, where tickets are now available through May 14, on weekdays from 11am-5pm.

Once you have completed the Application for Graduation Audit and have been added to the myLIM Class of 2026 group, you will see a link to an online portal to purchase your items and have them mailed directly to your home.

All items must be ordered by April 9, 2026.

LIM College works with Thornton Studios to provide opportunities to have your graduation portrait taken.

You can visit Thornton in their studio (details below) OR we will have photographers on campus in Maxwell Hall on Wed. April 1 and Thurs. April 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please monitor your LIM College email and myLIM for more information about these on-campus photo days.

To schedule an appointment at Thornton Studios: Visit https://www.thorntonstudio.com/, select “Schedule Appointment" and enter code "studio"

The sitting fee is $15.00 and you will be able to view your proofs online. We encourage you to dress in standard professional attire. An LIM College cap and gown will be available at the studio for use in your photos.

Thornton Studio Photographers 
210 West 29th St, 3rd Floor 
New York, NY

If you have questions about the in-studio photo session, please email info@ThorntonStudio.com or call 212-647-1758.

The ceremony will be livestreamed on LIM College's Commencement web page on May 17, 2026 for those unable to attend in person.