Graduation


Hudson County Community College's
48th Commencement Ceremony

Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 10:00 A.M.
Sports Illustrated Stadium
600 Cape May Street, Harrison, NJ 07029

HCCC Graduates at Red Bull Arena

HCCC’s 2025 Commencement Ceremony Frequently Asked Questions

Hudson County Community College's 48th Commencement Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Sports Illustrated Stadium located at 600 Cape May St., Harrison, NJ 07029. The ceremony will also be live-streamed on the college's YouTube channel and website.

It is anticipated that this ceremony will run about three hours. The length of time depends on the number of graduates that will recognizing crossing the stage.

The ceremony will recognize graduates that completed or will complete their degree requirements during the following semesters: Summer II 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Summer I 2025, and Summer II 2025.

Consistent email communication will begin in March, where graduating students will receive more information to their HCCC email address about the ceremony including how to RSVP.

Graduates are allowed to invite an unlimited number of guests! We want this special day to be celebrated by all who love and support our graduates. Additionally, the ceremony will be live streamed on the college's YouTube channel to share with your loved ones who are unable to attend the ceremony in person.

We will be distributing your FREE cap and gown set through various events and pick-up opportunities starting mid-April. There is no need to pre-order your cap and gown set, as we have ordered many sets for our graduates. Sizing is based on the graduate's height, and we have plenty of options. There will be the opportunity to order special sizing, if needed.

Accommodations and support will be available for our graduates and guests with disabilities. Accessible seating will be available for both graduates and guests, as well as wheelchairs or assistance getting to their seats. Additionally, we will have sign language interpreters, closed captions, and guides if needed.

When graduates RSVP to the ceremony, they will be able to identify any accommodations needed. A member of our Commencement Committee and Office of Accessibility Services will be assigned to assist those who make any requests.

Yes. There will be portrait dates in April and May. Appointment links will be emailed to you in the coming weeks. There will be a $10 sitting fee to take your pictures, followed by optional picture packages for purchase.

Graduates are not required to participate in any of these ceremonies and events in order to complete their degree requirements and receive their diploma. Similarly, students must complete their degree requirements in order to receive their diploma.

Fall 2024 Graduate Information

Look out for an email from Registrar when your diploma is ready. The Registrar’s Office manually reviews each graduate's degree requirements as final grades are being entered. Once this semester’s students are reviewed and approved, graduates will receive an email from Registrar to let you know that your diploma is ready to be picked up from the Journal Square Campus. If you like, you can choose to have your diploma mailed to you.

For any other questions or concerns about your diploma, email registrarFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE.

HCCC hosted two December Graduate Receptions for our Fall 2024 graduates. Click below to see photos from the two events.

December 12, 2024
December 13, 2024

Loved your time at HCCC and want to stay involved or receive Alumni perks? Visit https://www.hccc.edu/community/alumni-services/index.html to sign up for the Alumni Association and find out your Alumni benefits!

All Fall 2024 graduates are highly encouraged and invited to participate in HCCC’s 2025 Commencement Ceremony, which will take place at the Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, NJ. At this official ceremony, all graduates will cross the stage in their cap and gown in front of their loved ones and fellow graduates. Graduates will have an unlimited number of tickets for guests for the 2025 Commencement Ceremony.

The date for the May 2025 Commencement Ceremony has been announced and will take place on Wednesday, May 21 at 10:00 a.m. Communication to all graduates with details will be emailed to their HCCC email address from graduationeventsFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE.

Our Fall 2024 graduates are allowed and invited to take part in any and all May ceremony and related celebratory events, such as Graduate Portrait opportunities, cap and gown pick-up, Formal dinner and dance, and more.

Important Note: Graduates are not required to participate in any of these ceremonies and events in order to complete their degree requirements and receive their diploma.

If you have any questions, please email graduationeventsFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE.

Information for Graduates

IMPORTANT!!!
Please note you must DOWNLOAD the Graduation Application and use Adobe Acrobat Reader to fill out the form. Please save the graduation application to your computer and email it to registrarFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE as an attachment. 

This document collects the name that you wish to be displayed on your diploma and confirms your degree program. Please indicate in the box of the graduation application how you would like your name to appear on the diploma. This is the same way it will appear in the Commencement program.

If you are unsure if you have submitted your Graduation Application, or for any questions related to this Graduation Application, please email Assistant Registrar Upasana Sethi-Pagan at usethi-paganFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE.

Click here for the Fall 2024 Graduate Applicant List. Please note that this list is only accessible to individuals with HCCC login credentials. For any questions regarding the list, please email registrarFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE.

Please note, in order to complete your degree and graduate from HCCC, you must pass all degree course requirements. Being a Graduate Applicant and participating in a graduation ceremony DOES NOT automatically mean that you have completed your degree and graduated from the college.

Click here for the Summer 2 2024 Graduate Candidate List. This list of students have completed their degree requirements as per the Registrar's Office. Please note that this list is only accessible to individuals with HCCC login credentials. For any questions regarding the list, please email registrarFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE.

For information on graduation deadlines and requirements, as well as information on receiving Diploma Replacements, visit https://www.hccc.edu/administration/registrar/graduation-requirements.html.

Graduates of Summer I 2023 and prior year degrees:

Your diplomas are available for pick up at the Journal Square Campus A Building, 70 Sip Avenue, Jersey City. Please bring your State ID. Note that you must return any borrowed technology (such as a Chromebook or Hot Spot) before you can receive your diploma. You can pick it up or request to have it mailed. Diplomas that are mailed may take a minimum of 2-3 weeks to arrive.

For any other questions or concerns about your diploma, email registrarFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE.

Learn about HCCC’s Alumni Services at https://www.hccc.edu/community/alumni-services/index.html

Join the Alumni Association: https://www.hccc.edu/community/alumni-services/alumni-update-form.html

Students are allowed and encouraged to wear as many cords and stoles with their cap and gown as they have earned. Different cords and stoles distributed by the college are:

Academic Schools

  • Yellow Double Cord - School of Business, Culinary Arts, and Hospitality Management
  • Red Double Cord – School of Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Green Double Cord – School of Nursing and Health Professions
  • Double Blue Cord – School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Latin Honors (Graduating with Honors)

  • Double Gold Cord - Summa Cum Laude (cumulative GPA of 3.85 to 4.0)
  • Double Silver Cord - Magna Cum Laude (cumulative GPA of 3.65 to 3.84)
  • Double Bronze Cord - Cum Laude (cumulative GPA of 3.45 to 3.64)

Other cords and stoles distributed include:

  • Alpha Alpha Alpha - Students inducted into HCCC's Chapter of Alpha Alpha Alpha will receive a dark blue and silver cord.
  • Alpha Sigma Lambda - Students inducted into HCCC's Chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda will receive a white stole with the ASL logo embroidered on it.
  • ESL - Students who started at HCCC as English as a Second Language learners and completed the path to graduation receive a dark purple cord.
  • Hudson Scholars – Students who are a Hudson Scholar will receive a teal and purple braided cord.
  • Kente Graduation – Students recognized as part of the Kente Graduation receive a Kente cloth stole handcrafted from Ghana.
  • Lavender Graduation – Students recognized as part of the Lavender Graduation ceremony receive a stole with the Pride Flag.
  • National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) – Inductees of NSLS receive a black and silver cord.
  • Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) – Inductees of PTK receive a gold stole with the PTK logo and a gold tassel.
  • Sigma Kappa Delta (SKD) – Inductees of SKD receive a black and gold cord.

The Office of Student Life and Leadership aims to schedule opportunities for Graduate Portraits during the Fall semester and the Spring semester. Students who take their portraits will receive their proofs with the option to purchase photo packages. Information regarding dates will be sent to you from graduationeventsFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE.

Herff Jones is offering HCCC coupon codes for class rings! To order your college ring please log on to: https://collegerings.herffjones.com/

PROMO CODES:

  • $100 OFF Austria and Extreme Silver: ENTER CODE: HJDD2024$100
  • $125 OFF White Ultrium Ring: ENTER CODE: HJDD2024$125
  • $300 OFF 10K Gold Ring: ENTER CODE: HJDD2024$300
  • $400 OFF 14K Gold Ring: ENTER CODE: HJDD2024$400
  • $500 OFF 18K Gold Ring: ENTER CODE: HJDD2024$500

Hudson County Community College’s Office of Communications needs your help in identifying unique and exceptional graduate student stories to use in publicity for the upcoming Commencement ceremony as well as future marketing materials.

HCCC’s Office of Communications will be pitching these stories to media during the Commencement season and would be pleased to hear from students willing to be interviewed. Some past noteworthy stories covered by media included students who:

  • Were age 50 or older while studying at HCCC
  • Had served in the military
  • Had relatives on HCCC staff or of HCCC alumni
  • Were family members graduating together
  • “Beat the odds” (earned a degree despite an obstacle, disability, etc.)

For more information please contact the Office of Communications at (201) 360-4060 or email at communicationsFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE or visit the Tell Us Your Story page.

Contact Information

Contact Registrar at registrarFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE for questions about your graduation application, course completion towards earning your degree, diplomas, and related topics.

Contact Student Life and Leadership at graduationeventsFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE for questions related to the Commencement ceremony, graduate portraits, graduation celebration events and related topics.

For any questions, please email graduationeventsFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE.