Ticketing FAQs

Answers questions pertaining to Penn State Smeal Commencement.
Based on the number of students in our college who have now filed their intent to graduate in May, we have determined that each graduate will be able to receive up to six tickets for their guests to attend commencement due to capacity limits in the Bryce Jordan Center. This will provide each graduating student with the same opportunity to invite their friends, family and loved ones. We ask that you please reserve only the tickets you need, so we can accommodate as many people as possible.
The ticket window will open on Monday, February 13 at 10 a.m. and will close on Friday, March 17 at 5 p.m. On February 10, graduating students received an initial email from our college commencement team on how to secure free tickets for your guests. Additional reminder emails will be shared throughout February and March with those who do not reserve tickets.
Graduating students can reserve up to six tickets for their guests during the ticket window from February 13 through March 17.

To reserve tickets, graduates can log in to the BJC Account Manager using their Penn State email and Ticketmaster password. If you haven’t logged on before or are unsure of your password, use the “Forgot Password?” link to reset or create a password. Once reserved, mobile tickets will be available for you to transfer to your guests via email. Guests will receive an email with instructions on accepting their mobile ticket. For more information, follow these instructions for transferring and accepting tickets.
Students can visit the ticket portal up to two times while the ticket window is open from February 13 and March 17 to reserve up to six tickets total. For example, students can reserve two tickets in the first order and four tickets in the second order.
When the ticket request window ends on March 17, our college will review the allotment of tickets reserved by graduates and if additional tickets remain, we will make them available during the week of March 27 on a first come, first served basis. Students will receive an email with information about a potential second ticket window.
Graduates can attend commencement no matter if they reserved tickets or not, and graduates do not need a ticket to attend. If there is a possibility that you think that might attend your graduation, students are highly encouraged to secure the tickets for your guests during the ticket window between February 13 and March 17.
Graduating students will use their Penn State email address and personal Ticketmaster password to reserve tickets for their guests.
Within the BJC Account Manager, students can transfer mobile tickets to guests via email. Guests will receive an email with instructions on accepting their mobile ticket. For more information, follow these instructions for transferring and accepting tickets.
Yes. Students can transfer tickets for multiple guests in their party to one guest (for example, tickets for children or extended family members can be shared with one person to keep track of). In this case, all guests (up to six people) will need to meet and enter the Bryce Jordan Center at the same time.
Yes. Tickets can be transferred as many times as needed. Once a ticket has been accepted by a guest, that guest can transfer their ticket back to the graduating student, who can then share with another guest via the BJC Account Manager portal. For more information, follow these instructions for transferring and accepting tickets.
No. Once tickets are reserved, they cannot be returned to the Bryce Jordan Center. We ask that you please reserve only the tickets you need, so we can accommodate as many people as possible. However, you may transfer tickets to another graduating student that they can use for their guests.
Yes. Tickets can be transferred via the BJC Account Manager portal as many times as needed, including to friends and other graduating students to transfer to their guests.
Prior to commencement, only mobile tickets are available to reserve and transfer. Tickets cannot be printed in advance. However, on the day of the commencement ceremony, guests with mobile tickets can visit the box office at the Bryce Jordan Center for assistance if they are having an issue accessing their ticket.
Seating will be general admission (not assigned) and doors will open 90 minutes prior to each ceremony. ADA seating and accommodations are available and can be requested during the ticket request process.
Yes. Up to four ADA tickets may be reserved and count toward the six-ticket allotment for each graduating student.
Only students who are officially set to graduate in the spring 2023 semester will be permitted to participate in the ceremony. We do, however, allow students who are within six credits of completing their degree requirements to participate in the summer and fall ceremonies.
Please note that our college cannot accommodate past graduates from a previous semester.