Congratulations Class of 2023!
St. Edward’s is excited to honor our Undergraduate and Graduate degree recipients with special in-person festivities occurring on campus.
Spring 2023 commencement will take place on May 6 at 2 p.m. on the Lewis-Chen Family Field.
We invite you to campus for a day of celebration:
- Mass: 10:00 a.m. (RAC)
- Student Arrival: 1:00 p.m. (location TBD)
- Ceremony: 2:00 p.m. (Lewis-Chen Family Soccer Field)
- Legacy Walk & Red Door Revelry: Immediately following ceremony

May 2023 Commencement Speaker
We are excited to announce the 2023 commencement speaker will be newly elected mayor, Kirk Watson. For three decades, Watson has been immersed in public policy, spanning local and state government in Texas. He served in the Texas Senate for over 13 years, leading on a wide range of issues and serving as a member and vice-chair of multiple standing and special committees.
FAQs
Commencement Hotel Booking Details
St. Edward's has worked with a hotel near campus to offer discounted hotel rates for our commencement guests. These rates are guaranteed for commencement weekend, May 5-7, 2023.
*It’s important to confirm the dates are correct when using the booking links, as they might not default to commencement weekend dates when the link is opened.
Austin Southpark Hotel
Book your corporate rate for St. Edward's University.
Discount applied to any size room available.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Austin South
Reserve rooms under the discounted room block (must book by 5/5/23):
- Call 877-834-3613 or 512-851-1000 and mention block code STE
- Book online St Edwards Univ. Graduation
Commencement Details
Where is commencement located?
St. Edward's University, Lewis-Chen Family Soccer Field
3001 South Congress
Austin, Texas 78704-6489
What time is the ceremony?
Ceremony will begin at 2:00 p.m.
What time will gates open?
Gates will open at 1:00 p.m.
How long is commencement?
The ceremony will last approximately 2.5-3 hours.
Do I need guest tickets for Bacc Mass? If so, how many tickets will I be given?
No ticket for Bacc Mass is necessary.
Will a photographer be available? Am I able to purchase photos of myself walking across the stage?
Every student will be photographed twice during their commencement ceremony. Flash Photography will email students 1-2 weeks before the event to provide pricing details.
Free proofs will be mailed and emailed within a week of the ceremony. If you have any questions, please contact Flash Photography
Can guests purchase celebratory gifts (flowers, etc.) for graduates on-campus?
Be sure to visit The Commencement Group to pre-order flowers and a commemorative class t-shirt for pick-up on the day of graduation. Bouquets and shirts will also be available for purchase onsite!
How do I order graduation announcements?
Graduation announcements can be purchased through Balfour. Balfour will be in attendance at GradFest (March 22nd) if you prefer to order in-person).
What date should be listed on my graduation announcements?
Although the decision is ultimately up to the graduate, the university recommends that graduates list the official commencement date on announcements. This date is Saturday, May 6, 2023.
For questions, please reach out to commencement@stedwards.edu.