Purdue Fort Wayne to celebrate nearly 1,300 graduates during commencement week

Purdue University Fort Wayne will celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2026 during two commencement ceremonies this week, recognizing nearly 1,300 graduates who are prepared to make an impact across northeast Indiana, the state, and beyond.

For the first time in university history, Purdue Fort Wayne will host two separate commencement ceremonies to recognize both graduate and undergraduate students. Graduate students will be honored Tuesday, May 12, at 4 p.m. in the Embassy Theatre, while undergraduate students will cross the stage Wednesday, May 13, at 4 p.m. at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

Together, the ceremonies will celebrate 1,278 graduates receiving a remarkable 1,444 degrees and certificates, including 990 undergraduate students and 288 graduate students. The Class of 2026 reflects the growing strength, reach, and academic excellence of Purdue Fort Wayne, with graduates representing 23 states and 28 countries.

This year’s graduating class includes future engineers, educators, scientists, entrepreneurs, artists, technologists, counselors, business leaders, and public servants who are entering the workforce highly educated, highly trained, and ready to lead in a rapidly evolving global economy.

“These graduates represent the future of our communities, industries, and workforce,” said Ron Elsenbaumer, chancellor of Purdue Fort Wayne. “At Purdue Fort Wayne, our students are challenged academically, inspired creatively, and prepared professionally. The Class of 2026 leaves this university ready to innovate, solve complex problems, strengthen their communities, and lead with purpose. We are incredibly proud of all they have accomplished and excited to see the extraordinary impact they will make throughout northeast Indiana, across our state, and beyond.”

The Class of 2026 showcases extraordinary academic achievement and determination. Nearly 400 graduates earned honors distinctions, while 114 students achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA. The graduating class also includes 72 student-athletes who balanced the demands of Division I athletics and academics while competing on behalf of Purdue Fort Wayne.

Among this year’s graduates are students who pushed themselves even further by earning multiple degrees and certificates simultaneously, including one student earning four separate awards and 20 students completing three awards. Additionally, nine students completed accelerated 4+1 programs, allowing them to earn both undergraduate and graduate credentials in an accelerated timeframe.

As graduates prepare to walk across the commencement stage, they join a growing network of Mastodon alumni who are driving innovation, advancing education, strengthening businesses and communities, and contributing to the economic vitality of Indiana and the nation.

Commencement at Purdue Fort Wayne is more than a celebration of academic achievement—it is a celebration of perseverance, ambition, discovery, and the transformational power of higher education. This week, the university proudly celebrates a graduating class ready to shape the future and make its mark on the world.