Commencement 2026: Wednesday, May 13
Attention 2026 MCC Potential Graduates! Commencement will be here before you know it! Here is what you need to do to prepare:
+Apply to Graduate
Students seeking to complete an academic program at MCC for Winter 2026 and Summer 2026 must apply to graduate online in Self-Service. To apply to graduate, go to MyMCC and click the “Self-Service” tile at the top, and then click “Graduation Overview.”
+Participate in Commencement
The 2026 Commencement will take place on May 13, 2026, starting at 7 pm, at the Trinity Health Arena, 470 W. Western Ave., Muskegon, MI 49440. This Ceremony will be for students who graduate in the Fall 2025, Winter 2026, and Summer 2026 semesters. Students who wish to participate in MCC’s 2026 Commencement Ceremony on May 13, 2026, must complete the Participation Form by April 20, 2026. You must log in to the form using your standard MyMCC username and password.
+Attend 2026 Grad Fest
WHEN: Monday, March 16, 2026, and Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 9am to 6pm.
WHERE: Muskegon Community College Bookstore: 221 S. Quarterline Rd. Muskegon, MI. Bookstore is located in MCC’s Main Building.
Highlights of Grad Fest:
- Cap, Gown and Tassel Purchase: Purchase and pick up your graduation cap, gown, and tassel for $59. Early College Students should contact your Dean or Mentor before purchasing your gown, cap, and tassel.
- Nursing Graduates: For our nursing graduates, we have special nursing pins available for purchase for $48.
- Stoles: This is an optional purchase. Check out the different ones available.
- Prizes and Giveaways: Participate in our Prize Duck Pond and stand a chance to win a prize. There will be a variety of prizes to choose from and you don’t want to miss your chance to win!
- Light Refreshments: Enjoy light refreshments while you participate in Grad Fest.
- Record a Special Message: Record a personal message to friends and family to be played before Commencement.
- Cap Decorating Contest: More details to come.
Interested in Speaking at Graduation?
As the Class of 2026, your journey has been filled with challenges, triumphs, and countless moments of growth. Now, it’s time to share your story and inspire your fellow graduates at the 2026 Commencement Ceremony under the theme, “Community”. Muskegon Community College has been Bringing It Out for 100 years! For nearly a century, we have been preparing students, building communities, and improving lives. Your speech should include how you have taken what you learned at MCC and positively impacted the community around you – whether that is within your classes, on campus, at home, or out in the community. Your unique experiences, resilience, and achievements deserve to be celebrated, and there’s no better way to do it than by stepping into the spotlight as the Commencement Speaker.
The student speaker must have received an associate degree or be on-track to receive an associate degree during the current 2024-2025 academic year.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Graduated the Fall 2025 or plan to graduate in either Winter 2026, or Summer 2026 Semester.
- Must have received an associate degree or be on-track to receive and associate degree during the current 2025-2026 academic year.
- Completed at least 47 credits at Muskegon Community College by the end of the Fall 2025 semester.
- A cumulative grade point average at MCC of 3.00 or above. (Office of the Registrar will confirm.)
- Be in good disciplinary standing.
- Have a compelling story or experience as as an MCC student.
- Have good public speaking abilities.
- Submit the Commencement Ceremony Student Speaker Application.
- Have a letter of recommendation from two (2) MCC faculty or staff members.
To apply, submit the Student Speaker Application and have a letter of recommendation from two (2) MCC faculty or staff members. The deadline for candidates to submit their applications and recommendation(s) is Friday, February 27, 2026.
The Commencement Committee will meet to review all submissions. If chosen to be this year’s student speaker, you will be notified by March 17 and will have to submit a final draft of your speech by April 13. The maximum length of speech is five minutes. Each student speaker must meet with the Dean of Instruction and Assessment, Dr. Ed Breitenbach, to review the speech.
Please mark your calendars! Muskegon Community College’s 2026 Commencement Ceremony will take place on:
Wednesday, May 13*, 2026, 7:00 p.m., at the Trinity Health Arena.
*Please note: This year’s ceremony is scheduled one week later than our traditional date. Due to the arena’s schedule and playoff commitments, we needed to adjust to May 13. We look forward to celebrating the achievements of our graduates with you on this special evening. More details to come!
CHECK OUT LAST YEAR’S CEREMONY!
