City Colleges of Chicago’s 2025 Commencement Ceremonies for Associate Degree Earners
Saturday, May 3, 2025
Wintrust Arena
City Colleges of Chicago’s 2025 Commencement Ceremonies for Associate Degree Earners
Tickets required; Doors will open one (1) hour before the start of each ceremony.
Both ceremonies will be livestreamed on this website (www.ccc.edu/graduation) on Saturday, May 3.
Meet Our Top Students
City Colleges of Chicago congratulates all of our Class of 2025 associate degree earners, including our seven valedictorians and seven salutatorians.
Click here to read more about the students and their journeys.
Frequently Asked Questions
- City Colleges’ 2025 Commencement Ceremonies for Associate Degree Earners will take place on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Wintrust Arena.
- Graduates will be celebrated during two ceremonies:
- The morning ceremony, which will begin at 10:00 a.m., will recognize graduates from Harold Washington College, Kennedy-King College, and Malcolm X College.
- The afternoon ceremony, which will begin at 3:30 p.m., will recognize graduates from Harry S Truman College, Olive-Harvey College, Richard J. Daley College, and Wilbur Wright College.
- City Colleges students who have earned an associate degree during the Summer 2024 or Fall 2024 semesters or who are expected to complete their associate degree during the Spring 2025 term will be recognized at the 2025 commencement ceremonies.
- To participate in the in-person ceremony, graduates must have ordered a cap and gown from Jostens and must have registered for the ceremony in MarchingOrder.
- Yes. Guests are required to show a ticket to enter Wintrust Arena. Graduates will pick up seven (7) tickets for their guests during GradFest (week of April 28). They should distribute tickets to guests prior to graduation.
- No. Guest seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you would like to sit near the accessibility seating, please arrive early.
- For graduates: Graduates must arrive at Wintrust Arena no later than 30 minutes before the start of their ceremony and must be seated in their designated seating 15 minutes before the start of their ceremony.
- For guests: Doors will open one (1) hour before the start of the ceremony for general seating—9:00 a.m. for the morning ceremony and 2:30 p.m. for the afternoon ceremony.
- Each ceremony is expected to last approximately two to 2.5 hours.
- Yes. The ceremony will be livestreamed at www.ccc.edu/graduation.
- Yes. Available services include:
- Accessible seating area for mobility impairment/wheelchairs (Wintrust Arena does not have wheelchairs available)
- Sign language interpreters and a reserved seating section for Deaf or hard of hearing guests
- Large-print or braille commencement programs
- Please note that accessible seating is first come, first served, and arriving early is the best way to ensure that seating is available. One additional person is able to sit with the person utilizing accessible seating. The rest of the party will need to sit in the general seating area.
- Graduates and guests with disabilities can request accommodations by filling out this form: https://forms.office.com/r/FxC5Jv1d52
- Someone from City Colleges will be in touch with you after the request is received. If you made a request and did not receive a response, email commencement@ccc.edu and accessservices@ccc.edu.
- Wintrust Arena is located at the corner of East Cermak Road and Indiana Avenue. The address is 200 E. Cermak Road, Chicago, IL 60616.
- Please visit https://www.wintrustarena.com/plan-your-visit/directions-parking to learn more about directions to the arena, public transportation options, parking, and more.
- Wintrust Arena uses metal detectors and follows a policy limiting the size and style of bags allowed in the building. Guests may bring the following bags:
- Clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags that do not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″.
- Non-clear plastic bags that do not exceed than 10″ x 6″ x 2″.
- One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag.
- Please visit https://wintrustarena.com/plan-your-visit/purse-bag-policy/ to learn more.
- Luggage, backpacks, purses, or bags larger than a clutch (4.5″ x 6.5″ or 6.5″ x 4.5″)
- Large umbrellas (small, hand-size umbrellas are allowed in severe weather)
- Animals (with the exception of Certified Service Animals)
- Outside food or beverage
- Cans, bottles, coolers, or other similar containers
- iPads, tablets, or laptops
- Laser pens, laser products, or glow sticks
- Balloons
- Projectiles (including frisbees and beach balls)
- Stickers of any kind
- Skateboards, skates (roller or in-line), scooters, or hover boards
- Sticks, poles, selfie sticks, or Go Pro sticks
- Weapons (knives, guns, chains, or any item that can be construed as a weapon)
- Illegal substances/drugs of any kind (an exception will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection at the entrance)
- Fireworks or any other incendiary device
- Any other item deemed unacceptable by City Colleges and/or Wintrust Arena
- No. Graduates and guests will be required to bring any coats or jackets to their seats.
- Wintrust Arena does not allow large umbrellas. Small, hand-size umbrellas will be allowed in severe weather.
- Yes. Limited food and beverage items will be available for purchase. For health code and safety reasons, the arena does not allow outside food and beverages, including water.
- Yes. Flowers will be available for purchase at Wintrust Arena on graduation day.
- Only diploma covers will be issued during the ceremony on May 3. For this reason, the conferring of degrees at the ceremony is provisional, pending verification that degree requirements have all been met. Students who graduated in the Summer or Fall semester should have received their diploma by mail. Log into www.parchment.com to claim your digital diploma if you have not already done so.
- Students who will graduate at the end of the Spring semester will receive information regarding their final graduation audit and possible degree conferral via their student email. Students can expect to receive additional messaging in late June notifying you to log into www.parchment.com to verify your mailing address and claim your digital diploma. You will have 72 hours from the time you receive the email to confirm your address, or it will be mailed to the address we have on file.
