May 5, 2025 - News

CU's graduation week is here: What you need to know

Mitchell Byars

University of Colorado graduates in caps and gowns throw up their arms in celebration during Spring Commencement in Folsom Field. — New University of Colorado graduates respond to a video wrap-up played during the ceremony in 2013. Photo: Cliff Grassmick/Digital First Media/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images

Both the University of Colorado and Naropa University are hosting graduation ceremonies this week, which means the city will be bustling.

State of play: Sure, this event is on the calendar annually, but that doesn't mean we've braced for the impact as friends and family of graduates pour into Boulder all week to celebrate.

Here's what you need to know:

University of Colorado

CU's main spring commencement ceremony takes place at 8:30am Thursday in Folsom Field.

💲 Admission is free.

🚘 All campus parking lots will be open and free on a space-available basis.

🌦️ The main graduation ceremony is outdoors, so keep an eye on the weather.

💻 The main ceremony will be livestreamed.

🏅 The commencement speaker is Olympic medalist and CU grad Emma Coburn. As a world champion in the steeplechase, she can definitely talk about hurdling obstacles both figuratively and literally.

🏫 There will also be department and college ceremonies Thursday through Saturday at various locations around campus.

Naropa University

Naropa will hold its ceremony at CU's Macky Auditorium at 1pm Saturday.

🚙 Attendees must obtain a ticket from a graduate and can park at Naropa's Arapahoe campus for free or pay for parking at the auditorium.

👀 The ceremony will be livestreamed, with the school to provide a link at a later time.

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CU's graduation week is here: What you need to know

University of Colorado

Naropa University

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