More than 12,000 San Diego State University students will transition from graduates to proud alumni as part of the Class of 2025.

This year’s graduates will be celebrated during four days of ceremonies, beginning May 15 at SDSU Imperial Valley and concluding Sunday night, May 18, at Viejas Arena.

The Class of 2025 includes more than 2,390 graduates from the Fowler College of Business — the largest group this year — as well as 219 doctoral students.

“You are now part of a vibrant network of well over four million CSU alumni who are powering California, the nation and the world,” said Mildred García, chancellor of the California State University system. “Together, you will solve our greatest challenges, educate the next generation, fight for democracy and a more just society, and enrich our workforce and communities with your talents.”

Here’s everything you need to know about attending the 2025 Commencement ceremonies — including a day-by-day guide, ticket information, and where to buy commencement apparel. For complete details, visit: commencement.sdsu.edu/.

Ceremonies by college

SDSU
Location: Viejas Arena

Friday, May 16
8 a.m. College of Sciences
1 p.m. College of Arts and Letters
5 p.m. College of Education/Interdisciplinary Studies in Three Departments

Saturday, May 17
8 a.m. Fowler College of Business
1 p.m. College of Health and Human Services
5 p.m. College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts

Sunday, May 18
8 a.m. College of Graduate Studies 1
1 p.m. College of Graduate Studies 2
5 p.m. College of Engineering

SDSU Imperial Valley
Thursday, May 15
7 p.m. Imperial Valley
Location: Rollie Carillo Quad

View ceremony broadcast / online

All ceremonies will be broadcast online on the SDSU and commencement sites. All ceremonies will also stream on Facebook live through the San Diego State University Facebook page.

Valid ID Required

Due to stringent security measures, all students participating in commencement are required to present their SDSU RedID card (preferred) or a valid, government-issued picture ID in order to be admitted to Viejas Arena.

Students who do not bring a valid ID to Viejas Arena will not be allowed to participate in commencement.

Viejas Arena Assembly

Please check the schedule of commencement ceremonies for the appropriate date and time.

Assemble in Lot 13, across from Parking Structure 12, north of the arena.

Arrive at least 45 minutes before the processional start time, unless otherwise noted for your college. See: commencement.sdsu.edu/.

College representatives will help to organize you in the correct processional line according to your major.

Commencement Tradition

By tradition, the commencement ceremony may include a processional, introductions, awards, a speaker and a recessional. Music for the processional and recessional will signal the beginning and end of the ceremony.

The processional, led by the grand marshal carrying the college banner, and directed by faculty marshals, will enter the commencement site from one or two directions, providing a colorful view of candidates and faculty in their full academic regalia. After arriving at your seat, please remain standing until the grand marshal signals you to sit.

The ceremony typically will continue with a welcome and instructions from the dean of the college, followed by the recognition of outstanding candidates. SDSU President Adela de la Torre will confer the degrees. Following closing remarks by the dean, the grand marshal will lead the recessional of graduates and dignitaries from the commencement site back to the assembly area. The commencement ceremony will last about two hours.

Family and Guests

Viejas Arena doors open one hour prior to the ceremony start time.

Guests should allow plenty of time to park and find their seats. You may want to arrive on campus early and walk the campus grounds and take photos of their graduates at their favorite campus landmarks.

Ceremony

Audience members should remain seated until the recessional ends and then meet their graduates at a pre-arranged site. Students and guests are encouraged not to exit the arena until the entire ceremony has concluded. Please avoid congregating in the immediate area of Viejas Arena to eliminate congestion as guests arrive and depart from other commencement ceremonies.

Bag Policy & Prohibited Items

To expedite your entry into Viejas Arena, it is recommended that you do not bring a bag. If you must bring a bag, we highly suggest a clear plastic, vinyl or PVC tote bag. This is to reduce staff contact with guests’ belongings. Bags can be no larger than 12″x 5″ x 12″. No backpacks are allowed.

Please arrive early and be patient as we work to ensure a safe environment. All bags are subject to search prior to entrance and inside the facility.

Prohibited items include, but are not limited to large bags/backpacks, strollers, umbrellas, banners and signs larger than 20”x20”, balloons, weapons, alcoholic beverages, glass containers, noisemakers of any kind, non-service animals, skateboards and roller shoes. Visit the Viejas Arena A-Z Guide for more information.

Parking and Transportation

Parking fees
$5 for guests who prepay.
$10 starting May 15.

To prepay, use the SDSU Commencement 2025 Parking Pre-Payment Portal and enter your license plate number and payment information. Vehicles with an active student or employee parking permit are exempt from the fee, however, two vehicles on the same permit cannot be parked at SDSU at the same time and are subject to citation.

Directions

To Viejas Arena: Because some ceremonies may fill the arena to its capacity of 12,000 people, we suggest several alternate approaches and make use of a range of parking locations.

Please allow at least 20 minutes to reach the arena from any parking area east of College Avenue.

From east of College Avenue: Take I-8 west to College Avenue, then proceed south on College Avenue. At the first intersection of College/Alvarado Road, turn right onto Canyon Crest Drive, then west to Parking Structure 12. 

From south of Montezuma Road: Take Route 94 or another east/west route to College Avenue north, then left on Montezuma Road, then right on 55th Street to Parking Structure 7.

From west of College Avenue: Take I-8 to College Avenue south, then right on Canyon Crest Drive to Parking Structure 12.

Alternate Route: Take I-8 to Fairmount Avenue, east on Montezuma Road to 55th Street, then left on 55th Street to Parking Structure 7.

Accessibility

Graduates or guests with a DMV-issued disabled parking permit may park in any ADA, Student, Faculty/Staff, or Service/Vendor parking stall on campus. Parking fees apply to ADA parking areas and placard/plate holders are expected to pre-pay or pay upon arrival during the ceremony.

There will also be a limited number of wheelchairs available for guests to use at no charge at the beginning of each commencement ceremony. Visit the commencement Disability Access page or more information on disabled parking/shuttles, wheelchairs and other accommodations.

Accessing Guest tickets

Beginning Monday, May 5 at 11 a.m., graduates are able to transfer their guest tickets via email or text from their GoAztecs account. Tickets can be transferred to individual guests or collectively to one guest. Once guests have received their tickets, those tickets should be uploaded and saved onto the guest’s smartphone wallet for ease and to avoid access issues upon arriving at Viejas Arena.

Please review these step-by-step instructions on transferring and accepting guest tickets:

• Transferring Mobile Tickets (commencement.sdsu.edu/_resources/files/transferring-mobile-tickets.pdf)
• Accepting Transferred Tickets (commencement.sdsu.edu/_resources/files/accepting-tickets.pdf)

Graduates and guests can contact the Viejas Arena Ticket Office at [email protected] with questions regarding guest tickets.

On the day of commencement, guests are welcome to visit the Viejas Arena Box Office to see if any additional tickets are available. There is no guarantee that additional tickets will be available, however.

Photography

GradImages Photography will take photographs of each graduate on stage during the commencement ceremonies. Each graduate will be sent no-obligation proofs of the commencement photographs via email and text after the event. Proofs will also be sent via postal mail. You will have the opportunity to purchase prints after you have seen your proofs.

Prior to the ceremony, graduates can also pre-register by visiting GradImages and using the “Pre-Event Email Registration” link. There, you will enter your email address and up to six (6) email addresses for others to view and order your photos.

If you have any questions about your commencement ceremony photographs, please visit GradImages or call toll-free 1-800-261-2576.

For more information on SDSU graduation, visit: sdsu.edu/news/2025/05/everything-you-need-to-know-about-sdsu-commencement-2025.

Photo credit: Natali Gonzalez