Skip to Main Content Skip to Footer Toggle Navigation Menu

Information for Families and Visitors
A group of family and friends stand and cheer for their graduate.
Commencement 2025

A Celebration for All

Our Macalester community is excited for this opportunity to celebrate and honor the achievements of our graduates, and to thank you—parents, family members, caregivers, and friends—for your support throughout their journey.

Commencement Program

Commencement Weekend Travel to Campus

Road Construction Construction along Snelling Avenue/Hwy 51 may impact Commencement traffic. The temporary installation of four way stops instead of traffic lights at the intersection of Snelling Avenue and St. Clair Avenue may lead to a backup of traffic.
More information from the MN Department of Transportation
Road and Bridge Closures on Saturday Morning Women Run the Cities is holding several races along the Mississippi River on Saturday morning. This will affect traffic coming to St. Paul from Minneapolis, particularly across the Ford Parkway bridge and the Lake Street/Marshall Avenue bridge. We recommend coming to campus via Interstate 94 from the north, and Hwy 62 and Hwy 5 from the south.
Women in the Cities Course Map
Macalester Parking We encourage you to make use of parking in the West or East lots. The South lot by the Leonard Center contains ADA accessible parking and drop-off.
Construction updates from the City of St. Paul

Resources for Families and Visitors

  • Tickets

    Commencement is a ticketed event, and the Class of 2025 has received information about how to claim tickets for guests. All ticketing is handled directly with students. Family and friends may not request tickets independently.

    Children under two (2) years of age, and not occupying their own seat, may attend without a ticket and therefore will not count towards a graduate’s guest ticket limit.

    The registration and ticket request form for the 2025 ceremony has closed.

    Graduates will receive their guest tickets via email a few days prior to the event, and are responsible for forwarding the ticket information to their guests.

    • For family, friends, and community members who do not have Fieldhouse tickets, additional on-campus simulcast viewing locations are in the Alexander Hill Ballroom, Kagin Commons; and JBD Lecture Hall in the lower level of the Campus Center. Tickets are not required in these locations. 
  • Live Stream

    A link for the live stream of the May ceremony will be posted on our main Commencement webpage prior to the event. We will also post a link to the recording shortly after the ceremony.
  • Directions and Parking

    Macalester College is located at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Snelling Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota. Please see the notices above regarding specific traffic conditions for Commencement.

    Use 130 Macalester Street, St. Paul, Minnesota for GPS directions to available parking.

    There is no charge to park in Macalester’s lots or on the streets close to campus. Please be respectful of the residential nature of our neighborhood and obey all signs regarding parking limitations.

    View our Interactive Campus Map for details.
  • Schedule of Events / Meal Registration

    Our Schedule of Events can be found here and will be updated regularly in the weeks leading up to commencement. Please note that some events are for graduates only, and some are by invitation only.

    Family and friends of our graduates are especially welcome at the Zero Waste All Campus Picnic and the Academic Department Receptions on Friday, as well as the Continental Breakfast on Saturday morning.

    Your registration for the meals will help us prepare an appropriate amount of food and beverages. There is no cost to attend the lunch, receptions or breakfast.

    Commencement Meals Registration Link 
  • Accessibility / Accommodations

    Macalester College strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully.

    We will provide accessible seating for access for individuals with disabilities with specific accommodation needs. To prioritize this seating, there is a limit of two (2) tickets for this area: one for the individual requesting seating and one for a companion to accompany that individual. These two (2) tickets/seats do count toward the graduating senior’s ticket limit.

    Sign language interpreters and Captioning will be provided during the Commencement Ceremony.

    To request a disability related accommodation or inquire about accessibility please complete this form. Once we receive your completed form, you will receive additional information about parking, your assigned seating area and other event information.

    Please submit your request by end of the day April 24, 2025.

    Macalester does not have wheelchairs available, but can recommend these local vendors:

    1. St.Paul Corner Drug (Pick up only)
      • 240 Snelling Avenue South, St. Paul, MN 55105
      • Phone: 651-698-8859
    2. Jackson Medical Equipment (Offers delivery service)
      • 982 Thomas Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104.
      • Phone: 651-645-6221
    3.  Dahl Medical Equipment (Offers delivery service)
      • 154 Cobblestone Lane, Burnsville, MN 55337
      • Phone: 612-334-3159

    Accessibility questions? Email [email protected].
  • Seating Chart

    Candidates for degree do not cross the stage in alphabetical order. View the seating chart.