Commencement 2025

May 19, 2025

The University of Pennsylvania’s 269th Commencement ceremony was held on Franklin Field. As is tradition, faculty, staff, families and friends joined to watch and cheer the graduates. The ceremony featured the conferral of degrees, the awarding of honorary degrees, greetings by University officials, including Penn President J. Larry Jameson, and remarks by the 2025 Commencement Speaker, Elizabeth Banks, actor, director, producer, and Penn alumna. Banks received an Honorary Doctor of Arts. In addition to the University’s Commencement ceremony Penn’s 12 schools each host a ceremony, at which graduating students are individually recognized as their names are called, and they walk across a stage. Additional information is available at the School Ceremonies page of the University Commencement website.

Read President Jameson’s Commencement Speech.

Penn Today news story.