Central Washington's commencement page already carries the whole 2027 round: "CWU-Ellensburg Campus, Tomlinson Stadium", "Date: June 12, 2027, at 9:00 a.m." and "Date: June 12, 2027, at 2:00 p.m.", with the colleges listed under each sitting. The registrar's 2026-27 calendar has the same day: "June 12 | COMMENCEMENT | Commencement Ceremonies - Ellensburg". 12 June 2027 is a Saturday. CWU is on the quarter system, which is why commencement is in June and why there is no December round. The 2026 round was the same shape, Saturday 13 June, 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Tomlinson Stadium. Guest rules are stated on the standing pages: metal detection for all guests, small purses permitted, the nearest lot limited and first come. It is an open stadium in June. Ellensburg has about 200 hotel rooms and Yakima, 49 minutes, is the only city within an hour.
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The rare case: everything is already published
Nine months before the ceremony, Central Washington’s commencement page states the venue, the date, both sittings and the colleges in each.
“CWU-Ellensburg Campus, Tomlinson Stadium.” “Date: June 12, 2027, at 9:00 a.m.” “Date: June 12, 2027, at 2:00 p.m.”
The registrar’s 2026-27 academic calendar carries the same day on page 3: “June 12 | COMMENCEMENT | Commencement Ceremonies - Ellensburg”. 12 June 2027 is a Saturday. Two university sources, one date, and the 2026 round, Saturday 13 June with the same two sittings in the same stadium, as the pattern behind it.
Most clusters on this site carry a date and a list of things the university has not yet said. This one carries the things.
June, because of the quarter
CWU runs on quarters, not semesters. Spring quarter ends in June, so commencement lands a month after most of the campuses on this site have finished. It also means there is no December round: the registrar’s Fall 2026 calendar closes the quarter without a ceremony, and the commencement page lists only June. That is recorded here as an absence, checked rather than assumed.
Which sitting, and what it does to the night
The commencement page lists the colleges under each sitting, so a family can settle its morning now. A 9 a.m. sitting means the Friday night in Ellensburg or Yakima and an early start. A 2 p.m. sitting means the Friday too, and for most families the Saturday, because an afternoon in an open stadium followed by photographs and dinner is not the prelude to a mountain drive.
The rules, from the standing pages
CWU’s commencement page: all guests will go through metal detection, and small purses are permitted. Its visitor information page: the nearest lot has limited spaces, filled on a first-come, first-served basis. A livestream link is posted on the day of the ceremony.
Those are the pages as read on 13 September 2026, quoted rather than promised for 2027. Tomlinson Stadium is open to the sky; the same page is where a weather plan would appear.
The town is the constraint
Ellensburg has three named hotels and about 200 rooms, and Yakima, 49 minutes south, is the only city within an hour. That arithmetic, and the ring beyond it, is on the where to stay page. The short version: with the sitting already known, book the exact night now.
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Frequently asked questions
When is Central Washington's 2027 commencement?
Saturday 12 June 2027 at Tomlinson Stadium on the Ellensburg campus, per CWU's commencement page read on 13 September 2026, with the registrar's 2026-27 calendar carrying the same day. 12 June 2027 is a Saturday.
What are the sittings?
9 a.m. and 2 p.m., both at Tomlinson Stadium, with colleges assigned to each on the commencement page. Check your graduate's college against that list; it decides your morning.
Why June?
CWU runs on the quarter system. Spring quarter ends in June, so commencement is later than at semester universities. Same shape in 2026: Saturday 13 June, 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Is there a December round?
No. The registrar's Fall 2026 calendar ends the quarter without a ceremony, and the commencement page lists only the June round. This page records that as an absence rather than an oversight.
What are the guest rules?
Per CWU's commencement page, all guests go through metal detection and small purses are permitted. Per the visitor information page, the nearest parking lot is limited and filled first come, first served. A livestream link is posted on the day. Standing statements, quoted as read.
Is it outdoors?
Yes, Tomlinson Stadium is an open stadium. Plan for sun in June; CWU's commencement page is the place to check for any weather plan.
How many nights?
Friday for the 9 a.m. sitting. Friday for the 2 p.m. sitting too, with the Saturday added if you would rather not drive after an afternoon in the stadium. Ellensburg has about 200 rooms; book early.
How we verified this
Last verified:
- Central Washington University, Commencement ("CWU-Ellensburg Campus, Tomlinson Stadium"; "Date: June 12, 2027, at 9:00 a.m."; "Date: June 12, 2027, at 2:00 p.m."; metal detection and small-purse rule; livestream)
- CWU Registrar, 2026-2027 university academic calendar PDF, page 3 ("June 12 | COMMENCEMENT | Commencement Ceremonies - Ellensburg")
- CWU Commencement, visitor information (parking "limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis")
- CWU Commencement, student and faculty information (Spring 2026: Saturday 13 June, 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Tomlinson Stadium)
This page is verified in two stages. Every fact is checked against the primary sources listed above, then the page is reviewed and signed off by our editor, A. Hassan. Corrections and enquiries: hello@graduationstay.com