UNT hosts North Central Texas College and a couple dozen local high schools in May every year as these institutions celebrate their graduating students. Below is a schedule of graduations held at UNT, information for graduates and guests and parking and travel information.

Graduation is one of the biggest and most important events in the lives of high school graduates. It is the event they have been working toward for many years, and UNT wants to make the experience as special and pleasant for the graduates and guests as possible.

Ongoing street construction projects in Denton and around UNT may impact guests' travel to, from and on campus. Please plan accordingly and give yourself plenty of time to arrive on campus, park and walk to the Coliseum.

Schedule

May
Saturday, May 2 2 p.m. North Central Texas College Commencement
Sunday, May 17 2 p.m. Krum
Monday, May 18 5 p.m. Ponder
  8 p.m. Gainesville
Tuesday, May 19 8 p.m. Sanger
Wednesday, May 20 5 p.m. Lake Dallas
  8 p.m. Decatur
Thursday, May 21 All Day Denton ISD
  3 p.m. Ryan
  7 p.m. Guyer
Friday, May 22 All Day Denton ISD
  11 a.m. LaGrone Academy
  3 p.m. Braswell
  7 p.m. Denton
Saturday, May 23 All Day Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD
  8 a.m. Ranchview
  11 a.m. Creekview
  3 p.m. Newman Smith
  7 p.m. R.L. Turner
Sunday, May 24 10 a.m. Little Elm
  2 p.m. Pilot Point
  6 p.m. Aubrey
Tuesday, May 26 All Day Northwest ISD
  10 a.m. Byron Nelson
  2 p.m. Eaton
  6 p.m. Northwest
Wednesday, May 27 5 p.m. Bridgeport

Parking and travel instructions and tips

  • See UNT's commencement parking map and directions page.
  • Guests carpooling as much as possible is strongly encouraged.
  • Allow for extra time to park and walk some distance from your car to your ceremony. About half of graduation parking spaces require about a 10-minute walk to reach the Coliseum.
  • Don't rely on your GPS to direct you to graduation parking at UNT. Instead, follow these directions:
    • Drivers who are north of UNT and traveling south on I-35 should take the West Oak Street exit and continue east on West Hickory Street after it splits from Oak Street. Turn right to travel south on North Texas Boulevard and follow directional signs and police officers’ instructions.
    • Drivers who are south of UNT traveling north on I-35W should take the new Bonnie Brae Street/Airport Road (FM 1515) exit. Continue right to stay eastbound on Airport Rd, then turn left at the Bonnie Brae Street intersection to travel north on Bonnie Brae. At the I-35E intersection, turn right to travel south on the service road, then turn left on North Texas Boulevard and follow directional signs and police officers’ instructions.
  • Follow signage and the instructions of the officers you encounter when you arrive on campus.
  • Parking on campus will not require a permit during the high school/NCTC graduations but handicapped parking and no parking in fire lanes will be enforced.
  • Graduates and guests will park in Lot 20 across North Texas Boulevard from the Coliseum until it is full and then will be directed to other nearby lots.
  • Attendees with mobility issues, or who would have problems walking up to 10 minutes on a hot day, should park in our Accessible parking just north of the Coliseum.

Accessible Parking

Graduates and guests with any accessibility concerns may park in Lots 26 and 27. If anyone in your party has mobility issues, or would have problems walking up to 10 minutes, we recommend that you park in our Accessible parking.

Graduation information

Ticketing

Based on expected class size, tickets may be required for entrance. The Coliseum will work closely with each high school to determine if tickets are necessary. Check with your high school to determine whether guest tickets are required for your ceremony.

Entering the Coliseum

Graduates The West Tunnel will open 1 hour prior to ceremony start time.

Guests Doors will open 1 hour prior to ceremony start time. Only Gates A & E will be available for entrance.

Exiting the Coliseum

Graduates will participate in a recessional and exit the Coliseum through the South Tunnel.

Guests will be asked to meet their graduate outside of the Coliseum at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Concessions and flower sales

  • Outside food and drinks are prohibited.
  • Limited concessions will be available for all ceremonies.
  • Flowers will be available for purchase at all ceremonies.

UNT Coliseum policies

  • Guests are not allowed to save seats.
  • There are no reserved seats, except for the graduates and special commencement guests invited by the school districts.
  • The Coliseum will be enforcing it's clear bag policy.
  • Metal detectors will be positioned at Coliseum entrances used by graduates, guests and platform party members. Anyone entering the Coliseum  must pass through a metal detector before proceeding to the seating or staging areas.
  • Accessible seating is available along the top rows of the lower seating area. These areas are designated as such.
  • To allow viewing by all guests, please refrain from leaving your seat to take pictures or video.
  • As soon as a ceremony has concluded, event staff will begin sweeping the Coliseum to escort remaining guests outside before the next ceremony begins.
  • These items are not allowed inside the Coliseum:
  • Balloons
  • Beach balls
  • Silly string
  • Bubbles
  • Gift bags
  • Glitter
  • Frisbees
  • Confetti and confetti cannons
  • Laser pointers
  • Weapons of any kind, including pocketknives
  • Signs or banners
  • Tripods, monopods and selfie sticks
  • Artificial noise makers, such as air horns, whistles and bullhorns
  • Any tobacco products or devices for smoking or vaping inside or outside the Coliseum. UNT is a smoke-free campus.
  • Non-service animals
  • Strollers inside the seating area; strollers can be used to bring young children into the Coliseum.