Harford's Sixty-Eighth Annual Commencement Ceremonies
Thursday, May 21, 2026
The ceremony will recognize all August 2025 and December 2025 graduates and May 2026 and August 2026 candidates for graduation in the College’s associate degree and certificate programs.
The stage is set, and we are ready to honor Harford's Class of 2026. We are excited to share this celebration with all of you. Congratulate our graduates and celebrate with us—they have accomplished so much.
Overview
On May 21, 2026, ceremonies will be held at 10 AM and 2 PM in the APGFCU Arena at Harford Community College for graduates of the following divisions:
- A 10 AM ceremony for graduates of the Arts and Humanities and the Behavioral and Social Sciences divisions.
- A 2 PM ceremony for graduates of the Business and Applied Technology, Nursing and Allied Health Professions, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math divisions.
Visit the Academic Catalog, Programs of Study if you need assistance determining which division applies to you.
Guests are welcome and encouraged to attend in-person, and no ticket is required. The ceremonies will be live-streamed and recorded. Links to the live stream will be added to this page closer to the event date. A recorded version for each ceremony will be available for viewing on our website at a later date.
Please find Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) below for further Commencement information. Please contact the Commencement Planning Committee tri-chairs at Commencement@harford.edu.
RSVP
Students who have graduated in August 2025 or December 2025 or applied to graduate for May 2026 or August 2026 will be invited to Commencement 2026. Students will be required to RSVP if they plan to attend their Commencement ceremony. To RSVP for Commencement, students must first apply for graduation. Links to RSVP to Commencement will be in the chart below starting in March.
Outstanding Student Leader Award & Student Commencement Speaker
In preparation for Commencement 2026, the Office of Student Life is seeking nominations of students for the HCC Outstanding Student Leadership Award and nominations of students whom you feel would be an inspiring Student Commencement Speaker. These may include students who graduated in August 2025 or December 2025 or are candidates for graduation in May 2026 or August 2026. Students can self-nominate or nominate their peers. Information on the nomination process will be available in January 2026.
Timeline and Important Dates
- Apply for Graduation | Now until MAY 1
Students who miss this deadline will NOT have their name printed in the Commencement program. - Commencement Ceremony Invitations Emailed to Students | First week of MARCH
- Official Invitations for Commencement Mailed | First week of APRIL
Complete the change of address form to update your address. Allow time for delivery. - RSVP to attend Commencement Ceremony | First Week of MARCH—MAY 1
Link will be added starting in April. Your RSVP reserves your complimentary cap and gown.
- 10 AM Ceremony
Arts & Humanities | Behavioral & Social Sciences - 2 PM Ceremony
Business & Applied Technology | Nursing & Applied Health Professions | Science, Technology, Engineering & Math
- 10 AM Ceremony
- Graduation Celebration | MAY 11
Save the date! More information will be available closer to the event.
- Pick up Cap & Gown | MAY 12-19 *Excluding weekends
College Bookstore in the Student Center Hours: MON—THU: 8:30 AM—5 PM | FRI: 8:30 AM—3 PM
- Commencement Ceremony | MAY 21 | APGFCU Arena (Live Stream Link will be added)
- 10 AM Ceremony
Arts & Humanities | Behavioral & Social Sciences - 2 PM Ceremony
Business & Applied Technology | Nursing & Applied Health Professions | Science, Technology, Engineering & Math
- 10 AM Ceremony
Frequently Asked Questions
Graduation refers to the conferring of an academic degree. At Harford Community College, you must meet specific requirements to graduate, and you must apply for graduation. Commencement is an optional College-sponsored ceremony in which graduating students dress in regalia, process, and are formally conferred a degree or certificate. To participate in the Commencement ceremony, you must meet all graduation requirements and reserve a spot in the ceremony. RSVPing for Commencement is a separate form from the graduation application.
Deadline to apply to graduate is MAY 1. To RSVP for commencement, please refer to the links above depending on the division you are receiving a degree/certificate in.
The college provides caps and gowns to all students that RSVP to Commencement. Regalia will be able to be picked up at the bookstore in May, excluding weekends. For hours, please visit the bookstore website.
While it is not the practice of the College to encourage the decoration of regalia at the Commencement ceremony, if it is your intention to do so, please do it tastefully and with respect for the dignity of the occasion. The College holds Commencement to celebrate the academic achievements of all the graduates of the Class of 2026. We ask that you recognize it as a formal and prestigious occasion and to hold the event in proper perspective.
Stoles and/or cords are provided by Honor Societies. If you are part of an Honor Society, you will receive information from your Honor Society advisor. If you believe you should have received an Honor Society stole or cord and have not, please reach out to your advisor or the Office of Student Life at studentlife@harford.edu.
- Students should arrive at the auxiliary gym in the Susquehanna, up to 1 hour before their ceremony start time, but no later than 30 minutes. Bring limited belongings and leave them with guests before heading to the Auxiliary Gym. Belongings may not be stored in the Auxiliary Gym during the ceremony.
- We recommend that graduates dress semi-casual or semi-formal depending on your level of comfort walking across the stage and being recorded/photographed wearing. Gowns are blue.
There are no tickets needed for guests to attend either Commencement Ceremony. Seating is first come, first serve.
- A 10 AM ceremony for graduates of the Arts and Humanities and the Behavioral and Social Sciences divisions. (Future link to 10 AM Live Stream)
- A 2 PM ceremony for graduates of the Business and Applied Technology, Nursing and Allied Health Professions, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math divisions. (Future link to the 2 PM Live Stream)
Visit the Academic Catalog, Programs of Study if you need assistance determining which division applies to you.
Harford Community College is committed to promoting the full participation of all individuals with disabilities in the Commencement Ceremony. For disability-related accommodations, contact 443.412.2402 or accessibility@harford.edu by Friday, May 1, 2026. Please find additional accommodation information below:
- Drop Off/Pick Up: The main entrance of the APGFCU Arena offers a convenient drop off/pick up option for guests.
- ADA Parking: Accessible parking is available in the S Lot closest to the Arena. A disability placard or disability license plate is required to park in these designated spaces.
- Ramp: In addition to the stairs leading from the parking lot to the main entrance of the Arena, there is a ramp to the left-hand side when facing the Arena.
- ADA Seating: Seating for individuals with wheelchairs is in row A on the floor in bleacher sections B, C, L, and M, and on the concourse in row P in bleacher sections F, G, and H (under the flags).
- Elevator: Upon entering the Arena’s main entrance, the elevator is located just beyond the restrooms on the concourse.
- ASL Interpreting Available: Each ceremony will include live ASL interpreting services. Seats in Section B will be reserved for individuals utilizing these services.
- Large Print Programs: Large print programs are available upon request, as supplies last, in the lobby.
We are extremely proud of our newest graduates! We will recognize you with a small gift from us all at Harford. Your formal graduation portrait, taken during the ceremony, will be available to download at no cost after Commencement. Congratulations, Harford Class of 2026!