Commencement

Barnard College graduates participate in two commencement ceremonies each year: 

• Barnard College Commencement, a smaller, Barnard-only ceremony during which each graduate is individually recognized.
• Columbia University Commencement, a larger ceremony that includes all eighteen schools, colleges, and affiliated institutions of Columbia University, during which all graduates’ degrees are officially conferred by President Bollinger. 
   

Barnard Commencement

As of April 2020, Barnard Commencement for the Class of 2020 (originally scheduled for May 18) will be postponed after seeking feedback from the senior class. Rather than hold a virtual ceremony, the College remains committed to holding an in-person ceremony to celebrate this year’s graduates when it is safe for us to do so. More details will follow later this year. 

University Commencement

University Commencement will be held virtually for the 2020 graduates of Columbia University’s eighteen schools, colleges, and affiliated institutions, including Barnard College. 

Please tune in to the virtual broadcast on Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at 11 a.m. (EDT) for a special address from University President Lee C. Bollinger and the official conferring of degrees. More information about University Commencement can be found here. 

Baccalaureate Service

The Baccalaureate Service is a multi-faith service celebrating the completion of each undergraduate's academic career. This ceremony celebrates undergraduate degree candidates from Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, the School of General Studies, and Barnard College. Service highlights include hymns, musical selections, readings, reflections, and speeches by students. 

The 2020 Baccalaureate Service will be held virtually on Sunday, May 17 at 10 a.m. (EDT). Please tune in to the virtual broadcast at the time of the event if you would like to attend. 

Celebration of the Barnard Class of 2020

While not a commencement ceremony, we will come together as a community to celebrate the Barnard Class of 2020 on Monday, May 18 at 4 p.m. (EDT). This celebration will include live-streamed messages from Barnard’s President, Provost, Dean of the College, and Board Chair, as well as well-wishes from faculty, classmates, Bacchantae, and more. 

To join the celebration, please tune in via Barnard’s YouTube Channel. 

If you have comments or questions, please contact Events Management at: commencement@barnard.edu or 212-854-8021.

Barnard’s 127th Commencement was held on Monday, May 20, 2019, at 4:00 p.m. at Radio City Music Hall. The full ceremony is above. See more from the full day of ceremonies and celebrations in the archives.

Explore past commencements in our archives.