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Commencement

Saturday, May 9, 2026 // 1:00–3:00 PM

Attending Spring Commencement

Students who have graduated in Fall 2025 and those who will be graduating in Spring 2026 and Summer 2026 are welcome to participate and are required to fill out the form listed below.

If you would like to participate in the in-person Naropa Spring Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 9, 2026, please share your interest on our interest form here.

Graduation Rehearsal for those living locally: Time to pick up your SASH, PROCESSION CARD AND TICKETS
Please note, you are required to attend only one of the rehearsals listed below.

• TBD, from 12:00–1:30 pm in Nalanda Events Center
• TBD, from 12:00–1:30 pm in PAC (Performing Arts Center)

Online and Hybrid students who plan to attend commencement in person, please make arrangements to meet Tashi the week of May 4 to pick up your tickets, sash and procession card.

Time & Location

Naropa University’s Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremony will be held in Macky Auditorium (on the University of Colorado at Boulder campus) on Saturday, May 9 at 1:00–3:00 pm.

Graduates are required to be at Macky Auditorium (inside) an hour before starting time. Doors will open 45 minutes before starting time for guests. The ceremony usually lasts between 2.5 – 3.0 hours.
No food or drinks are allowed inside the auditorium, with the exception of water. You may bring your own water bottle and water fountains are available in the Macky lobby.

The auditorium is a short walk from Naropa University’s Arapahoe Campus, and many people prefer to walk up the hill to the auditorium. Free parking is available at Naropa and paid parking is available outside Macky. Get more information on directions and parking.

Live Stream

Naropa University will offer a real-time live video stream of its commencement ceremony.

Each graduating student can apply for a maximum of 6 tickets
No one (other than graduating students) is allowed inside Macky Auditorium without a ticket. Tickets may be obtained through the Office of Student Success; please watch your Naropa email for information.

Reception

A reception will be held at the Nalanda Events Center immediately following the ceremony at Macky Auditorium. If you have any questions concerning commencement, please don’t hesitate to contact tashi@naropa.edu.

Watch the Livestream from the 2025 Graduation

Additional Resources

Tickets

Each graduating student can apply for a maximum of 6 tickets.

No one (other than graduating students) is allowed inside Macky Auditorium without a ticket. Tickets may be obtained through the Office of Student Success; please watch your Naropa email for information.

Reception

A reception will be held at the Nalanda Events Center immediately following the ceremony at Macky Auditorium.

If you have any questions concerning commencement, please don’t hesitate to contact tashi@naropa.edu.

We are pleased to share that our StageClip site has been published and the clips from our Spring 2024 Commencement have started to go out to graduates. You can search by graduate name on our microsite, and graduates will also be sent a direct link to their individual clip.

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If you’re seeking an education that resonates with both personal fulfillment and global impact, Naropa could be your top choice. At Naropa, you will experience a comprehensive curriculum that integrates the best of Eastern and Western educational approaches. Explore how Naropa can fuel your journey of intellectual and spiritual development.

Life at Naropa

Through its incredibly vibrant and welcoming community, “Naropa offers a home for those who aren’t willing to conform to convention—the mystic, the healer, the prophet, the rebel, the artist, the revolutionary, the oddball—those who are incredible contributors to the evolution of society and of our planet.”—Core Associate Professor Zvi Ish-Shalom

The Naropa Difference

How is Naropa different from other universities? At Naropa, a liberal arts education balances rigorous academics with powerful interpersonal skills and self-awareness to educate the whole person. Naropa’s contemplative approach is inspired by Buddhist philosophy and the conviction that we can build a diverse, contemplative, enlightened society when we have transformed education to affirm the basic goodness of every person.

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At a time when the value of higher education is being questioned, Naropa University stands firmly rooted in its mission to create a more just and regenerative world by nurturing insight, awareness, courage, and compassion in its students. By making a gift to Naropa, you play a pivotal role in helping to create the authentic, effective & mindful leaders that the world desperately needs.

Naropa University campuses are closed on 12/17/2025.

Due to adverse weather conditions of high winds and planned power outages, all Naropa campuses will be closed today.

Spring and Summer Start Dates for the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentrations

In support of students and in response to federal legislation impacting financial aid for graduate students, Naropa University will be accepting applications for MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling for spring starts through January 10.

Graduate School of Counseling concentrations listed below will be offering online and low-residency courses to start their programs in January 2026 as well as our Summer 2026 terms.

Beginning a graduate program in Spring 2026 or Summer 2026 means that you will have access to apply for Graduate Plus loans as these loans will be eliminated at the federal level starting in Fall 2026.

Contact Admissions (admissions@naropa.edu) today to learn how you can begin the next step in your graduate education journey.