ATTENTION: Graduation Application Due: April 1!

May 14, 2026: Important Information Regarding the Ramapo College Commencement Ceremony

Commencement will take place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Thursday, May 14, 2026. Doors will open 7:30 a.m. and the processional will begin at 8:40 a.m.

The ceremony is expected to last 2.5 hours and will be live streamed on ramapo.edu/commencement.

More Information on Celebrating Together

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ANNOUNCEMENTS: CLASS OF 2026

 

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Prudential Center: Entry Information & Policies

• TICKETS: Tickets are NOT required for entry. Graduates may bring an unlimited number of guests, and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
• ENTRANCES: Arrive early! All graduates must use the M&M Tower entrance, but guests may use the M&M Tower, Citizens Tower, or Lafayette Street entrance. (See Graduate and Guest specific information below)
• SCREENING: All graduates and guests will be subject to a screening upon entry into the building.
• BAG POLICY: Bags up to 12″x14″ are permitted inside Prudential Center. Anything larger, including backpacks, are not permitted, with the exception of childcare or medical bags. Permissible larger bags will be X-rayed. All bags are subject to search by Prudential Center security team members at each point of entry. Bags that do not meet these expectations must be returned to the guest’s vehicle or stored in a Prudential Center supplied locker at the guest’s expense. Lockers are located outside the M&M Tower and Lafayette Street entrances.
• PROHIBITED ITEMS: Banners/flags, signs, balloons, beach balls and noisemakers are prohibited and will be confiscated. A full list of prohibited items is available on the Prudential Center website.
• A-Z GUIDE: A full FAQ page for the venue is available on the Prudential Center website.

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Prudential Center: Directions & Parking

• Directions: Information on driving directions to Prudential Center, public transportation, Uber pick-up and drop off can be found on the Prudential Center’s website.
• Reserved Parking Options (this is just a few of the many options):
  • To reserve your parking spot for the Ramapo College Commencement using ParkMobile, visit Park Mobile’s Prudential Center Parking Page.
  • To reserve your parking spot for the Ramapo College Commencement using Spot Hero, visit Spot Hero’s Prudential Center Theatre Parking Page or click below:

• • To reserve your parking spot for the Ramapo College Commencement using LAZGo, visit LAZ Parking’s ‘Find Parking’ and enter The Prudential Center.

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Prudential Center: Graduate Information

• ARRIVAL TIME: Graduates must report to Prudential Center at 7:30 a.m. and proceed to the M&M Tower entrance to the building. The M&M Tower is located at southeast corner of the building at Mulberry Street and Lafayette Street.
• REGALIA & READER CARDS: Undergraduates should put their cap with tassel (on the right) and gown with stole on before leaving their car and bring their reader cards with them.
• SEATING: Seating for graduates is by school (ASB, CA, HGS, SSHS, TAS). Graduates may sit with their friends and classmates within these schools. Friends should stand behind or in front of each other when lining up.
• COURTESY & SAFETY: All participants and attendees are to remain seated until the conclusion of the ceremony. Banners/flags, signs, balloons, beach balls and noisemakers are prohibited and will be confiscated. A full list of prohibited items is available on the Pru Center website.
• DURATION & EXIT: The ceremony is expected to last 2.5 hours. After the ceremony, graduates will be directed to exit Prudential Center via the M&M Tower. Please plan to meet your families outside of the arena on Mulberry Street.

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Prudential Center: Guest Information

Doors to Prudential Center will open at 7:30 a.m. Guests may enter the building through any of the following 3 entrances:

• Citizens Tower entrance– northeast corner of the building at Mulberry Street and Edison Place
• M&M Tower entrance*– southeast corner of the building at Mulberry and Lafayette Streets
• Lafayette Street entrance*– located on Lafayette Street

*Guests should refer to the Bag Policy above when selecting their building entrance

Prudential Center is ADA compliant. Both the Citizens and M&M Towers have elevators. If you need to drop off a guest, we recommend you do so outside the Citizens Tower. Handicap accessible seating is available in sections 3, 8, 19 and 22 and is on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here for more information on ADA services.

Concession stands will have food and beverages available for purchase. Cash will NOT be accepted at concession stands or retail locations. Pay with a debit or credit card using tap to pay, chip or swipe, or mobile payment, including Apple Pay and Google Pay.

The ceremony is expected to last 2.5 hours. All participants and attendees are to remain seated until the conclusion of the ceremony. After the ceremony, guests will be directed to exit Prudential Center via the Citizens Tower or Lafayette Street entrance. Please plan to meet your graduates outside of the arena on Mulberry Street.

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Live Stream

Can’t attend the Ceremony but want to cheer on your graduate?  The entire ceremony will be streamed live. On the morning of commencement, there will be a link for viewing on the Ramapo College Commencement webpage: www.ramapo.edu/commencement

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Graduation vs. Commencement

Graduation and Commencement are often confused for one another.

Graduation is the completion of all degree requirements as certified and recorded on a student’s official transcript.  To graduate from Ramapo College, you must submit an online graduation application by the required deadline.  Click here for more information on the graduation requirement, the online graduation application and deadline dates.

Commencement is the ceremony that celebrates the completion (or anticipated completion) of your degree. All January graduates and June & August graduation candidates are invited to participate. Commencement marks the conclusion of your academic career; a time for the Ramapo College community, along with your family and friends, to celebrate you. Participation in this ceremony does not guarantee graduation.