Clarkson's next ceremony is the December Recognition Ceremony on SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2026 at 11:00 a.m. in the Andrew M. Schuler Indoor Recreation Center, and it was missing from this site until this audit. It is open to bachelor's, master's and PhD candidates and allows EIGHT guest tickets each. The May round that follows is two separate ceremonies, not one: the Master's and Doctoral ceremony on Thursday 6 May 2027 at 6 p.m. in Cheel Arena, with no ticket requirement; and the Bachelor's ceremony in Cheel Arena on Saturday 8 May 2027 with a SIX ticket limit, seats assigned at random and the arena at maximum capacity. Two rules apply throughout: a graduate may participate in ONE ceremony only, and NOBODY receives a diploma at any ceremony, because Clarkson mails them afterwards.
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The next ceremony is in December
Clarkson’s December Recognition Ceremony is Saturday 12 December 2026, at 11:00 a.m., in the Andrew M. Schuler Indoor Recreation Center on the Potsdam campus. The weekday checks out.
That round was missing from this site entirely until this audit, which matters because it is the nearest ceremony, five months before the May one. It is open to bachelor’s, master’s and PhD candidates, allows eight guest tickets per graduate, runs about an hour, and has a reception in the same building beforehand.
May is two ceremonies, not one
| When | Ceremony | Where | Guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 12 Dec 2026, 11 a.m. | December Recognition | Schuler Indoor Rec Center | 8 tickets |
| Thu 6 May 2027, 6 p.m. | Master’s and Doctoral | Cheel Arena | No tickets needed |
| Sat 8 May 2027 | Bachelor’s Degrees | Cheel Arena | 6 tickets |
The bachelor’s ceremony is the constrained one. Six tickets per graduate, requested through myCU, and Clarkson states plainly that Cheel Arena is at maximum capacity for this event with ticket locations assigned at random. It runs about two and a half hours.
The master’s and doctoral ceremony is the opposite: same building, Thursday 6 May 2027 at 6 p.m., doors open to all guests at 5:15 p.m., and no ticket requirement at all. Seating is first come, first served. It is two days before the bachelor’s ceremony, so a family with graduates at both levels is booking a longer stay.
One ceremony each, and no diploma on the day
Two rules that change what families expect.
A graduate participates in ONE ceremony. Clarkson states it directly. A December graduate does not also walk in May, so the ceremony you travel for is the only one there will be.
Nobody receives a diploma at any ceremony. Clarkson mails diplomas after the ceremony and after degree requirements are confirmed complete. The moment on stage is real; the document arrives by post.
St. Lawrence is ten miles away and graduates later
St. Lawrence’s ceremony is Sunday 23 May 2027, in Canton, two weeks after Clarkson’s bachelor’s round.
The two share one very thin North Country lodging market but not a weekend. St. Lawrence’s detail, including its on-campus room and RV rentals, is on its own page.
What we checked
Clarkson’s commencement ceremonies page, its December Recognition Ceremony page and its master’s and doctoral ceremony page were read on 17 October 2026. The December date, time and venue, the three ticket positions, the one-ceremony rule and the mailed-diploma statement all come from those pages directly.
Not published, and each a real absence: the 2027 bachelor’s start time, and whether the December ticket allocation changes year to year.
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Frequently asked questions
When is Clarkson's next ceremony?
Saturday 12 December 2026 at 11:00 a.m., the December Recognition Ceremony, in the Andrew M. Schuler Indoor Recreation Center on the Potsdam campus. It is open to bachelor's, master's and PhD candidates.
How many guests can each graduate bring?
It depends on the ceremony. December allows EIGHT tickets per graduate. The May bachelor's ceremony allows SIX, requested through myCU, with seat locations assigned at random because Cheel Arena is at maximum capacity for that event. The May master's and doctoral ceremony has no ticket requirement at all.
When is the May round?
The master's and doctoral ceremony is Thursday 6 May 2027 at 6 p.m. in Cheel Arena, with doors at 5:15 p.m. and no tickets required. The bachelor's ceremony is Saturday 8 May 2027, also in Cheel Arena, and runs about two and a half hours.
Will my graduate receive their diploma?
No, and this surprises families. Clarkson states that at all ceremonies graduates do NOT receive their diploma; diplomas are mailed after the ceremony and after degree requirements are confirmed complete.
Can a graduate walk twice?
No. Clarkson states eligible students may participate in ONE ceremony. A December graduate does not also walk in May, so the ceremony you travel for is the only one.
How we verified this
Last verified:
- Clarkson University Commencement Ceremonies (three ceremonies; ticket limits; one ceremony per graduate; diplomas mailed rather than presented)
- Clarkson University December Recognition Ceremony (Saturday, December 12, 2026, 11 a.m., Andrew M. Schuler Indoor Recreation Center)
- Clarkson University May Commencement for Master's and Doctoral Degrees (Thursday, May 6, 2027, 6 p.m., Cheel Arena; no tickets required)
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