Celebrating the Class of 2026
More than 5,780 degrees and certificates — at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate levels — were conferred during UNC Charlotte’s 2026 Spring Commencement ceremonies held in Dale F. Halton Arena May 7-9.
Here are just a few of the many great moments from the five ceremonies.
Jennifer M. L. Adelhardt addresses the Class of 2026 during the doctoral hooding ceremony on Thursday. She completed a doctorate in business administration from the Belk College of Business.
A graduate is hooded during Thursday morning’s doctoral hooding ceremony, where 143 doctoral degrees were conferred.
Graduates take a selfie before Friday morning’s ceremony.
Braden Kneeshaw is revealed as “Norm” during Friday morning’s ceremony.
Susana Cisneros, senior lecturer of Spanish in the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences, is Charlotte’s 2026 recipient of the UNC Board of Governor’s Excellence in Teaching Award.
Pickaxe up for the Class of 2026 during Friday afternoon’s ceremony.
Luke Reinke, associate professor of reading and elementary education in the Cato College of Education, was University marshal for Saturday morning’s ceremony.
Graduates turn their tassels, officially becoming Charlotte alumni during Saturday morning’s ceremony.
Confetti rains down to celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2026 during Saturday morning’s ceremony.
Shailesh Kumar serves as bell ringer for Saturday afternoon’s Graduate School ceremony. He completed a master’s degree in computer science from the College of Computing and Informatics. The Victory Bell is rung nine times, once for each of the eight academic colleges and once for the Graduate School.
These graduate students pose for the camera before their ceremony Saturday afternoon. More than 1,500 individuals earned master’s degrees and graduate certificates during the Graduate School commencement.
One of many graduates who decorated their caps for commencement.
View more photos from Spring Commencement 2026.
Degrees conferred by colleges
- 1,015 bachelor’s degrees from the Belk College of Business
- 90 bachelor’s degrees from the Cato College of Education
- 167 bachelor’s degrees from the College of Arts + Architecture
- 572 bachelor’s degrees from the College of Computing and Informatics
- 506 bachelor’s degrees from the College of Health and Human Services
- 1,081 bachelor’s degrees from the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences
- 286 bachelor’s degrees from the Klein College of Science
- 405 bachelor’s degrees from the William States Lee College of Engineering
The Graduate School
- 143 doctoral degrees
- 1,225 master’s degrees
- 291 graduate certificates