Class of 2025 main commencement ceremony to be held in the Coliseum

USC’s main stage commencement ceremony for the Class of 2025 will take place in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the university announced last week. The ceremony will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 15.

In an email sent Thursday to the Trojan community, the university noted that commencement has consistently attracted more than 60,000 guests and has outgrown all on-campus venues.

“By hosting commencement at the Coliseum, soon to be the home of three Olympic games, we will offer a truly unique graduation experience and free up space on campus for other treasured traditions including pictures in front of Tommy Trojan, Traveler and other USC icons,” the email said.

The statement noted the university’s experience holding major student-focused events in the Coliseum — including fall new student convocation, three individual school commencements ceremonies and the Trojan Family Graduate Celebration — during the past year.

USC 2025 commencement: Returning to the Coliseum

USC’s main commencement ceremony was traditionally held in the Coliseum until the 1950s, when the event moved to the University Park Campus. The ceremony was also held in the Coliseum in 2021 to accommodate COVID restrictions.

In addition to the main ceremony announcement, the university also announced:

• The baccalaureate ceremony will be held Wednesday, May 14, in Bovard Auditorium.
• Individual school PhD ceremonies and the university’s special cultural and recognition celebrations will take place Wednesday, May 14, and Thursday, May 15.
• Individual school ceremonies will take place across the University Park Campus and at the Shrine Auditorium, Galen Center and the Coliseum on Friday, May 16; ceremonies for USC Marshall School of Business and the Keck School of Medicine of USC will take place Saturday, May 17.

The university’s commencement website will be regularly updated with the latest information.