Graduation & Commencement

Spring 2024 Starkville Campus Commencement Information
(Educational Specialists, Masters, & Bachelors)

WATCH THE CEREMONY LIVESTREAM ONLINE HERE
You can also download the new Mississippi State University TV app (MSTV) in the Apple and Google Play App Stores!

The spring 2024 Starkville Campus commencement ceremonies will be held on Thursday, May 9, 2024, and Friday, May 10, 2024, in the Humphrey Coliseum. Graduates must arrive no later than 30 minutes prior to their ceremony start time. Please arrive already dressed in your regalia when you check-in. Graduates and faculty will enter in the rear of the Coliseum close to the SE entrance to Dudy Noble Field. This is also where graduates will exit the Coliseum after walking across the stage.

Please read through these important notes about the ceremonies:

Security screening will take place upon entry and all bags are subject to search.
Please DO NOT bring personal items into the coliseum. There will not be any storage areas available and anything left in seats will be thrown away.
Guest attendance is limited to 8 guests per graduate and all guests must have tickets to enter. Ticket information can be found in the section below.
Guest seating will be general admission. Please DO NOT sit in the roped off sections behind the stage.
Graduates will be seated after check-in and an entrance processional will not be included in the ceremonies. Graduates will walk across the stage as they are announced and congratulated.
Once graduates are recognized by walking across the stage, they will not return to their seats. Instead, they will be guided to the photography area to take a professional photo before exiting the coliseum.
Guests are expected to begin leaving the coliseum once their graduate exits the stage. Please do this quietly with respect to other graduates and guests.
Each ceremony is expected to last roughly 1.5 hours total.
Limited concessions will be available and guests are welcome to bring their own water bottles.
Please plan to remove all vehicles from the parking areas following the morning ceremony to make space for guests attending the afternoon ceremony.
Any guests who are unable to attend may view a livestream of the ceremonies online (links can be found above/below).
All adornments (cords, stoles, pins, etc.) that are worn with graduation regalia come from the individual organizations that the graduates may be involved with. Graduates can reach out to the MSU-affiliated groups that they are part of to see if they offer any graduation adornments. These items must be approved by the Office of the Registrar in order to distribute them to graduates. MSU-affiliated organizations may contact graduation@registrar.msstate.edu for information regarding graduation adornment approvals.

Spring 2024 Ceremony Divisions are as Follows:

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2024

3:30 p.m. (Doors open at 2pm)
ACCESS
College of Business
College of Education

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024

9:30 a.m. (Doors open at 8am)
College of Architecture, Art & Design
College of Arts & Sciences
College of Professional & Continuing Studies

3:30 p.m. (Doors open at 2pm)
Academic Affairs
Bagley College of Engineering
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
College of Forest Resources
College of Veterinary Medicine

SPRING 2024 COMMENCEMENT PARKING

Please click the link below to view the Spring 2024 Commencement Parking Map. Please note that the parking garage SE of the Coliseum will be open and free of charge for the ceremonies. If you require any assistance viewing the map, please contact the Registrar's Office.

Spring 2024 Commencement Parking Map

HUMPHREY COLISEUM COMMENCEMENT DIAGRAM

Please check back in the spring for the spring 2024 commencement coliseum diagram.

Guest Accommodations: Reserved parking will be available for any guests with an ADA tag on their vehicle (parking map above). Carts will be running through these reserved lots to assist guests from their vehicles to the coliseum sidewalk. Once inside the coliseum, there will be reserved sections for any guests needing to avoid the stairs. These areas are wheelchair accessible and can be found on the Humphrey Coliseum diagram above. Staff will be available throughout the coliseum to assist guests as needed.

There is no need to make reservations, but we do recommend arriving close to when the doors open to ensure you may sit in your preferred section. Please remember that guest seating is general admission, but we should have plenty of room for everyone in attendance.

Service and Assistance Animals: MSU will fully comply with applicable laws governing service and assistance animals. It is important to understand the distinction between the two types of animals. Service animals are trained to perform a specific action to help a person with a disability. A service animal must be a dog or, under certain circumstances, a miniature horse and is permitted to accompany their handler in any area where the handler is permitted to be. Assistance animals, including Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are not trained to perform disability-related tasks, but instead provide comfort or other assistance solely by their presence. Assistance animals are generally not permitted inside university buildings other than on-campus residences.

Additional information relating to service and assistance animals can be found HERE.

**GRADUATES MUST APPLY FOR THEIR DEGREE THROUGH BANNER IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMENCEMENT AND RECEIVE THEIR DIPLOMA. THE DEADLINES TO APPLY CAN BE FOUND ON OUR ACADEMIC CALENDAR HERE. (Diplomas are mailed 4-6 weeks after the ceremonies)**

(Please note that all plans are subject to change.)

Spring 2024 Guest Ticket Information

Guest tickets for the spring 2024 commencement ceremonies will be available a few weeks prior to the ceremonies. Each graduate may invite up to 8 guests and instructions for claiming tickets will be emailed to graduates and updated online here. There is no cost for tickets.

Regalia Orders (Cap & Gown)

If you are planning to participate in the spring 2024 commencement ceremonies, please be sure to order your cap & gown! Online ordering is currently available and the deadline to order is April 10, 2024. Your regalia will be ready for you to pickup the week of the ceremonies. There is also a ship-to-home option for an additional shipping charge.

**If you do not order your regalia before the online deadline, you must visit Barnes & Noble at MSU the week of the ceremonies to be fitted from a limited supply of extras. A $20 late fee will be added for any orders placed after the deadline.

Additional information about ordering your regalia can be found here: www.gradsupply.com/MSU

- All graduates may keep their entire regalia package!

View our new, custom regalia here: MSU Custom Regalia

FACULTY REGALIA

MSU faculty members may order rental commencement regalia using this link: www.gradsupply.com/msu-faculty

MSU is proud to offer custom regalia to our graduates. All regalia must be purchased through the Graduate Supply House website, or through Barnes & Noble at MSU.

Commencement Photography

Professional photography, Pro Pics, will be available at the commencement ceremonies to take portraits of graduates. Photos of the graduates on-stage with the President, as well as individual portraits, will be available for purchase from Pro Pics following the ceremonies. In order to identify your photos and receive proofs, please visit www.MSUphotos.com to submit your information. There is no cost to have your photo taken and no obligation to purchase.

The MSU Alumni Association has also worked with Pro Pics to offer professional photography at the Bully Statue in The Junction on May 9-10, 2024! Professional photographers will be stationed at the statue for roughly one hour following each of the Starkville Campus ceremonies (weather permitting). Check out an example photoshoot below for more information. There is no need to make an appointment and walk-ups are welcome!

Example Photoshoot at the bulldog statue in the Junction.

CLASS OF SPRING 2024 GRADUATION MOSAIC

Spring 2024 graduates are also encouraged to submit their photos to be in the Class of Spring 2024 Graduation Mosaic! Your photo will be displayed in the mosaic on the jumbotron at commencement. Just click the button below to submit your photo! The deadline to submit photos for the mosaic is Sunday, May 5, 2024. Any tasteful photo of a graduate is welcome!

SPRING 2024 MOSAIC PHOTO SUBMISSION

SPRING 2024 GRADUATE NAME PRONUNCIATION

Spring 2024 graduates may record their correct name pronunciation to help our announcers better prepare for the ceremonies! If you have a unique name or spelling, please use the link below to submit your student information and record your name!

This is not required for the ceremonies and we only encourage graduates with unique names or spelllings to submit their information. Please note that this does not guarantee correct pronunciation, but will assist our announcers in preparing for the ceremonies.

Graduates will also be able to write a phonetic spelling of their name on their name card when they check-in at the ceremonies. The deadline to submit name pronunciations is Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

RECORD YOUR NAME HERE

Questions about these opportunities can be emailed to: info@propicsusa.com

Spring 2024 Senior Celebration

Senior Celebration graphic with Bully wearing grad cap.

The MSU Alumni Association welcomes all spring 2024 graduates to the Senior Celebration on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 from 5:30-7:00pm at The Mill! Food, drink, and a special gift from your MSU Alumni Association will be provided at the event (while supplies last).

Please be sure to reserve your tickets online here: Spring 2024 Senior Celebration

Also, don't forget to download the MSU Alumni Association app (MState Alumni Association) to check-in at the event and be eligible for door prizes!

For questions relating to the Senior Celebration, please contact info@alumni.msstate.edu

Graduation Products

DIPLOMA FRAMES CLASS RINGS

MSU LICENSE PLATES KYLE CAVAN MSU JEWELRY

ANNOUNCEMENTS (BALFOUR) ANNOUNCEMENTS (HERFF JONES)

Traveling Bulldogs

Still trying to find the perfect graduation trip? The MSU Alumni Association is offering travel opportunities exclusively for young alumni! This experience will enable participants to engage in social, cultural, and recreational activities with fellow Bulldogs and alumni of peer institutions, ages 22 - 35. We have three exciting trips scheduled for 2024 traveling to Europe, Egypt, and Ireland! Visit www.aesu.com/msstate for more information. If you have questions, please contact The Alumni Association at info@alumni.msstate.edu

Livestreams of Ceremonies

If you wish to watch the Starkville Campus Commencement Ceremonies but are unable to attend, you can still watch the live ceremonies online! The following links may be used to access the livestream that will broadcast the live ceremonies:

Mississippi State University Television LIVE

Please also be sure to download the new Mississippi State University TV app in the Apple and Google Play App Stores!

The livestream will also be available on the official Mississippi State University Facebook page (@msstate).

Commencement Videos

Starkville Campus Commencement Ceremonies

Mississippi State University holds multiple main campus commencement ceremonies at the end of the fall and spring semesters. We do not hold ceremonies immediately following the summer semesters. Students who graduate at the end of the summer semesters are invited to attend the December ceremonies.

**NOTE: Students should refer to the Academic Calendar for graduation application deadlines and ceremony dates.

Students who plan to graduate in May, August, or December must apply for graduation by the dates published in the MSU Academic Calendar. If a student fails to graduate in the term for which they have applied, they must reapply during the term in which all degree requirements are met. Degree applicants must also pay their MSU account balances in full, prior to the graduation ceremony.

SPRING 2024

Thursday, May 9, 2024 - 3:30 p.m. (Humphrey Coliseum)
ACCESS
College of Business
College of Education

Friday, May 10, 2024 - 9:30 a.m. (Humphrey Coliseum)
College of Architecture, Art & Design
College of Arts & Sciences
College of Professional & Continuing Studies

Friday, May 10, 2024 - 3:30 p.m. (Humphrey Coliseum)
Academic Affairs
Bagley College of Engineering
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
College of Forest Resources
College of Veterinary Medicine

FALL 2024

Friday, December 13, 2024 - 9:30 a.m. (Humphrey Coliseum)
Academic Affairs
College of Architecture, Art & Design
College of Arts & Sciences
College of Education
College of Professional and Continuing Studies

Friday, December 13, 2024 - 3:30 p.m. (Humphrey Coliseum)
Bagley College of Engineering
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
College of Business
College of Forest Resources
College of Veterinary Medicine

Doctoral Graduation and Hooding Ceremony (Ph.D. & Ed.D.)

The Spring 2024 Doctoral Graduation and Hooding Ceremony for Ph.D. and Ed.D. graduates will be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. in the Bettersworth Auditorium in Lee Hall. This event is invitation-only, and is exclusive to Ph.D. and Ed.D. graduates and their guests. Please contact The Graduate School for information regarding this ceremony at (662) 325-7400.

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Commencement Ceremony

The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Commencement will be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at 11:30am in the Humphrey Coliseum on our Starkville Campus. An awards ceremony will take place prior to the commencement from 10-11am. Please contact the Vet School for information regarding the DVM Ceremony at (662) 325-1078.

Meridian Campus Commencement Ceremonies

The Mississippi State University Meridian Campus (MSU-Meridian) commencement ceremonies are held at the MSU Riley Center in Meridian, MS. The ceremony times are as follows:

Spring 2024: Thursday, May 9, 2024 @ 11:00 a.m.

Fall 2024: Thursday, December 12, 2024 @ 11:00 a.m.

For additional questions regarding the MSU-Meridian Commencement Ceremonies, please contact Lynda Gist: lgist@meridian.msstate.edu

Degree Audit

Degrees are awarded after the appropriate representatives from the colleges and schools have reviewed the student records and notified the Office of the Registrar that students are cleared to graduate.

Learn More

University Degree Audit (CAPP)

All MSU students have access to the degree audit system CAPP (curriculum, advising, and program planning) in myState.