Purdue Global is set to host largest commencement ceremony to date in May
Over 3,700 graduates will be honored in both in-person and virtual ceremonies
Purdue Global graduates walked toward their commencement ceremony in October 2025. (Purdue Global photo/Kelsey Lefever)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue Global will host its largest commencement weekend to date at Purdue University’s West Lafayette location May 2-3, celebrating the achievements of more than 3,700 graduates.
An estimated 12,000 family, friends, faculty and staff are expected to attend the weekend ceremonies, recognizing the 1,602 bachelor’s, 1,324 graduate, 342 associate and 229 doctoral degrees, along with the 256 certificates earned by the graduates.
The graduates represent 49 states and 17 countries and include 590 Indiana residents. There are 572 graduates affiliated with the military, and 60 systemwide Purdue University employees are earning a Purdue Global degree or certificate via the Purdue Global education benefit.
Of the 3,753 eligible graduates, 2,203 will be attending in-person ceremonies at Purdue’s Elliott Hall of Music on May 2, while 1,550 will participate in virtual ceremonies May 3.
The commencement ceremony schedule is as follows:
Saturday, May 2 at Elliott Hall of Music
9 a.m. ET: Livestream
- School of Health Sciences
- School of Nursing
- Purdue Global Law School
1 p.m. ET: Livestream
- College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
- School of Aviation
- School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies
5 p.m. ET: Livestream
- School of Business and Information Technology
Sunday, May 3 — virtual
Noon ET: Livestream
- Purdue Global Law School
- College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
- School of Aviation
- School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies
- School of Nursing
2 p.m. ET: Livestream
- School of Business and Information Technology
- School of Health Sciences
Eva Nodine, Purdue Global’s chief executive officer, and Jon Harbor, interim chancellor, will address graduates during the ceremonies. Kwame Hylton, who earned both his Master of Business Administration in 2015 and a doctoral degree in education in 2025 from Purdue Global, will give the keynote address. Hylton serves as the associate director of admissions in the Office of Returning Students, which supports current and prospective Purdue Global students.
Commencement will feature three graduates who will sing the national anthem — one for each ceremony. Jordan Bennett, a U.S. Navy veteran from Austin, Texas, will sing in the first ceremony. Bennett earned her Master of Science in Nursing. The second ceremony will feature Kaylen Wheeler-Gooden of Norton Shores, Michigan, who will be receiving her Master of Professional Studies. Laura Gonzalez, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, who is receiving her Master of Business Administration, will sing in the third ceremony.
For more information, please visit the Commencement Showroom.
About Purdue Global
Purdue Global is Purdue’s online university for working adults who have life experience and often some college credits. It offers flexible paths for students to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, based on their work experience, military service and previous college credits, no matter where they are in their life journey. Purdue Global is a nonprofit, public university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and backed by Purdue University. For more information, visit https://www.purdueglobal.edu.