Speakers announced for Marquette's 2025 Commencement

Diane Foley, president of the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, will serve as Marquette’s 2025 undergraduate Commencement speaker, and Dr. Anne Basting, emerita professor of English at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and founder of the award-winning nonprofit TimeSlips.org, will speak at the Graduate School and Graduate School of Management ceremony. As part of the university’s Commencement ceremonies, Foley will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree and Basting will receive an honorary doctor of fine arts degree. Read more at Marquette Today.

Undergraduate, Graduate School, Graduate School of Management and Health Sciences professional Commencement 2025 will be held at Fiserv Forum 

Marquette’s 144th Commencement ceremony will be held Saturday, May 10, or Sunday, May 11, at Fiserv Forum, located at 1111 Vel R. Phillips Ave., Milwaukee. 

Like last year, the exact date is not yet known because it is dependent upon the NBA playoffs schedule. So that families can plan, the university is sharing anticipated schedules for Commencement Weekend below.

The university will share the Commencement date – either May 10 or 11 – as soon as possible based on the Milwaukee Bucks’ playoff schedule. It is possible the exact date may not be known until early May 2025.

As previously announced, due to the size of this year’s graduating class, venue capacity limits and the orientation of the stage within the venue, guest tickets will be required for the undergraduate Commencement ceremony on either Saturday, May 10, or Sunday, May 11, at Fiserv Forum; the exact date and time will be announced later this semester. 

To ensure a fair and equitable process, each undergraduate student who will be attending the ceremony will receive up to six guest tickets via their Marquette Gameday App account, per the process below. Graduating students do not need a ticket. 

Starting in early February, undergraduate seniors who are graduating must RSVP for Commencement by Friday, April 25. Students must RSVP via the link provided to them in the email they will receive in their Marquette email account from University Special Events. For detailed information visit the Undergraduate Ticketing Process page.

The School of Dentistry, Law School and some College of Health Sciences’ professional programs will hold separate ceremonies and will not be part of the Fiserv Forum festivities; details will be announced later. There are no other college-specific ceremonies. 
Importantly, the Commencement ceremony RSVP process is entirely separate from the application for graduation process, which is handled by the Registrar’s Office. The application for graduation opens on Monday, October 7. Graduating students, please ensure to include your parents/guardian email addresses on your application for graduation to ensure they receive all pertinent information regarding Commencement details.

Marquette invites families of graduating students to celebrate Commencement Weekend in Milwaukee. Events will begin the evening of Friday, May 9, and continue throughout the weekend, including the president’s reception and the Baccalaureate Mass. Below are the anticipated schedules for each date scenario. Times will be announced later:

If commencement is on Saturday, May 10

Evening of Friday, May 9 
President’s Reception  
Saturday, May 10 
Baccalaureate Mass at the Al McGuire Center  
1 p.m. — Undergraduate Commencement ceremony at Fiserv Forum  
5 p.m. — Graduate Commencement ceremony at Fiserv Forum 

If commencement is on Sunday, May 11

Evening of Friday, May 9  
President’s Reception  
Saturday, May 10  
Baccalaureate Mass at the Al McGuire Center  
Sunday, May 11 
11 a.m. — Undergraduate Commencement ceremony at Fiserv Forum  
3 p.m. — Graduate Commencement ceremony at Fiserv Forum 

The university understands that uncertainty with timing may create scheduling challenges for some families and is working on a potential solution to alleviate the scheduling conflict with the NBA for 2026 and beyond. Fiserv Forum is the best venue in Milwaukee for an event of this size with all the pomp and circumstance our graduates deserve. 

Travel

Graduating students and their families are asked to consider travel accommodations as soon as possible. Please watch your email, Marquette Today and check the Commencement website for updates on the Fiserv Forum ceremonies as Commencement approaches. 

Volunteering

Faculty and staff interested in volunteering for Commencement should contact University Special Events.