Auburn graduation Countdown

From East Alabama Male College to War Eagle

Chartered in 1856 as East Alabama Male College, Auburn became one of the South's first land-grant institutions in 1872 and grew into a university known today for engineering, agriculture, architecture, pharmacy and veterinary medicine — its vet school, founded in 1892, is the oldest in the South. The 'War Eagle' battle cry has its own legend: at the 1892 Auburn–Georgia football game, a Civil War veteran's eagle supposedly soared over the field as Auburn drove to victory, and the crowd's cry stuck forever.

Commencement weekend at Neville Arena

Auburn graduates cross the stage at Neville Arena, where spring commencement runs as a marathon weekend — eight ceremonies in spring 2026, when the university awarded a record 5,500-plus degrees to its largest class ever. Doors open 90 minutes early, names are read one by one, and scattered 'War Eagle!' shouts punctuate the applause. Afterward, families drift to Toomer's Corner for photos and fresh-squeezed lemonade from Toomer's Drugs, and more than a few graduates send a roll of toilet paper arcing into the famous oaks.

Graduates, class by class

The Class of 1958 launched Ken Mattingly, who orbited the moon on Apollo 16; the Class of 1959 gave the engineering college its benefactor and namesake, Samuel Ginn. Astronaut Kathryn Thornton, Class of 1974, flew four shuttle missions; Tim Cook, Class of 1982, went from industrial engineering to CEO of Apple. Jimmy Wales, Class of 1986, co-founded Wikipedia; Octavia Spencer, Class of 1994, won an Academy Award; and Bo Jackson returned mid-career to finish his degree with the Class of 1995.

Planning your trip — and sharing the moment

Auburn-Opelika hotels command graduation-weekend minimums and sell out months ahead, so book as soon as your graduate's ceremony is posted — Columbus, Georgia, is a workable 40-minute backup. Check the commencement site for your ceremony's exact day and time, since colleges are spread across the weekend, and arrive early: doors open 90 minutes before each ceremony. Graduating in 2027? Share this countdown with your class group chat and let the whole Auburn family count it down with you.

Quick facts

• Chartered in 1856 as East Alabama Male College
• Became one of the South's first land-grant institutions in 1872
• Fall 2025 enrollment: just over 35,000 students
• Spring commencement venue: Neville Arena, about 9,100 seats
• Spring 2026 set a record with more than 5,500 degrees awarded across eight ceremonies
• College of Veterinary Medicine, founded in 1892, is the oldest in the South