City Colleges of Chicago Class of 2026 is Bound for Greatness

Graduates from all seven colleges are vital drivers of inclusive economic growth and innovation in Chicago

On May 2 at Wintrust Arena, the City Colleges of Chicago Class of 2026 became part of a distinguished group - graduates of the seven City Colleges. This year, a total of 4,275 students earned their associate degree. Many will go on to four-year colleges and universities while others will embark upon their careers, contributing to a dynamic Chicago economy.

"Stepping back into the classroom after 17 years was one of the biggest challenges of my life, but it's where I found my purpose. I had to learn again to be resilient, but every moment was worth it to discover my passion for social work and advocacy. As valedictorian, I hope my journey shows that it's never too late to grow or pursue your goals. I'm ready to take everything I've learned at Kennedy-King College and move on to a four-year university with the goal of becoming a therapist to help others heal," said Tamara Thomas, Kennedy-King College Class of 2026 Valedictorian.

The City Colleges of Chicago 2026 Commencement for associate degree earners took place in two ceremonies in the following order.

Morning Ceremony Afternoon Ceremony

Kennedy-King College Olive-Harvey College

Harry S Truman College Malcolm X College

Richard J. Daley College Harold Washington College

Wilbur Wright College

Watch the morning ceremony here or paste this into your url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xon4c5yNDY

Watch the afternoon ceremony here or paste this into your url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ugdSSsdAa8

City Colleges of Chicago Class of 2026 by the Numbers:

• 4,275 total associate degree earners (from Summer 2025, Fall 2025, and Spring 2026)
• 1,868 are first-generation college students or 44% of the graduates
• 1,051 are Star Scholars who earned their associate degree at no-cost (last dollar scholarship covering tuition and books)
• 150 are Early College students (students earning an associate degree while still in high school)
• The average age of graduates is 27 years old; the youngest graduate is 16 years old, and the oldest graduate is 77 years old

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