UW graduation Countdown

Older than the state itself

The University of Washington opened in 1861 as the Territorial University, on a downtown hill long since swallowed by the Seattle skyline. Today it is one of the West Coast's great public research universities, known especially for computer science at the Paul G. Allen School, UW Medicine, and public health. A nice touch of continuity: the four Ionic columns that frame the commencement stage are replicas of the columns that stood at the entrance of that original 1861 building.

A stadium full of purple and gold

Commencement day sends more than 7,400 graduates onto the field at Husky Stadium while roughly 50,000 family members cheer from the stands, with Lake Washington glittering beyond the east end. Each of the university's schools and colleges processes behind its own gonfalon — a Renaissance-style banner — and being named gonfaloniere, the student chosen by a dean to carry it, is one of UW's quieter graduation honors. Purple gowns and gold tassels complete the picture.

Graduates, class by class

The Class of 1931 produced Nobel economist George Stigler; the Class of 1939 sent Beverly Cleary from the library school to Ramona Quimby. Bruce Lee studied drama here in the early 1960s and met his wife Linda on campus before leaving in 1964. The Class of 1975 included Linda Buck, later a Nobel laureate in medicine, while the Classes of 1986, 1995, and 1999 gave Hollywood Rainn Wilson, Joel McHale, and Anna Faris.

Planning your graduation weekend

Mid-June is peak season in Seattle, so U-District and downtown hotels around graduation Saturday book up months ahead. The easiest arrival is by Link light rail — there is a station directly beside Husky Stadium — because Montlake parking and traffic get heavy fast. Watch the official commencement site in spring for the guest and ticket details for your year. Graduating Huskies: share this countdown with your class and count down to the stadium walk together.

Quick facts

• Founded November 4, 1861 — 28 years before Washington achieved statehood
• About 52,300 students in Seattle and 63,700 across its three campuses (2025-26)
• 588,246 living alumni as of late 2024
• Commencement fills Husky Stadium with 7,400+ graduates and about 50,000 guests
• The 2022 ceremony was the university's 147th commencement, making 2027's the 152nd
• The commencement stage columns are replicas from the original 1861 Territorial University building