Overview

Tuesday, December 9, 2025
December Commencement Ceremony
10 a.m. CT
Tudor Fieldhouse

While Rice University’s main commencement ceremonies take place in May, at the conclusion of the Spring semester, the university does have a smaller commencement ceremony in December, at the end of the Fall semester. For students who complete their degree in the Summer (August) or expect to complete their degree in the Fall (December), and are unable or do not wish to return for the end-of-year May Commencement Ceremony, Rice has a combined December Commencement Ceremony available to them. Every Rice degree recipient is given the opportunity to “walk” across the stage and to participate in one commencement ceremony.

PLEASE NOTE: Students are eligible to cross the stage only once: either in December or in May. Students that participate in the December Commencement Ceremony are not eligible to participate in the following May Commencement Ceremonies.

Note:
i. As noted in the Fall 2025 Academic Calendar, the Registrar’s deadline to apply for December degree conferral is Friday, September 26, 2025.

ii. Since the ceremony will take place before Fall 2025 final grades have been submitted, students should understand that participation in the ceremony is not a confirmation of a student’s degree conferral.

Ticketing
Tickets will NOT be issued for the December Commencement Ceremony. There are no seating capacity limitations and all seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Web Broadcasting
Commencement will be broadcast over the internet for family members and friends who are not able to attend the ceremony. The links will go live 20 minutes before the scheduled start times. They also appear on the Commencement website the day of the event.

Additional information will be posted as it becomes available. General questions can also be directed to commencement@rice.edu.