St. Paul – September 19, 2026 -- Rasmussen University, part of American Public University System, will confer credentials on nearly 6,200 graduates during its 2026 Minnesota Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 19, at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul, marking the institution's third and final commencement of the year.
Graduates span 32 states and eight academic disciplines
Attendees registered for the in-person ceremony represent 32 states and Washington, D.C., underscoring the university's national student base despite operating 20 physical campuses. The Class of 2025-2026 completed programs across nursing, health sciences, business, education, human services, justice studies, design and technology. Nearly 20% of graduates are earning a second or additional degree from Rasmussen, pointing to sustained demand for repeat credentialing among working adults.
Healthcare executive Cyrus Batheja delivers keynote address
Dr. Cyrus Batheja, president and CEO of nonprofit senior-care provider Ecumen, will headline the ceremony. Batheja previously served as national vice president of nursing at OptumRx, overseeing more than 1,500 nurses delivering therapies nationwide, and was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in 2022.
Graduate and alumni speakers highlight healthcare workforce pipeline
Tykeishah Todd, a Master of Healthcare Administration graduate and returning Rasmussen alumna, will address the class after earning two career promotions during her program while working as a family medicine supervisor. Alumni speaker Kimberley Wilde, a 2022 Rasmussen graduate now serving as a senior business analyst at Mayo Clinic, will help lead the university's Alumni Pinning Ceremony, which formally transitions graduates into the alumni network.
Ceremony closes out year of commencements following Illinois and Florida events
The St. Paul event follows Rasmussen commencement ceremonies held in Illinois in April and Florida in June, completing the university's three 2026 graduation events. Rasmussen was founded in St. Paul more than 125 years ago and now operates under American Public University System, a subsidiary of Nasdaq-listed American Public Education, Inc.