Graduation & Commencement
Spring 2026 Starkville Campus Commencement Information
(Educational Specialists, Masters, Certificates, & Bachelors)
You can also download the Mississippi State University TV app (MSTV) in the Apple and Google Play App Stores, or watch the ceremonies on our official Mississippi State University Facebook page (@msstate).
Ceremony Schedule
Mississippi State University holds multiple main campus commencement ceremonies at the end of the fall and spring semesters in the Humphrey Coliseum. We do not hold ceremonies immediately following the summer semesters. Students who graduate at the end of the summer semester are invited to attend the December ceremonies.
THURSDAY, May 14, 2026
Humphrey Coliseum
9:30 a.m. (Doors open at 8 am)
College of Arts & Sciences
College of Integrative Studies
2:30 p.m. (Doors open at 1 pm)
ACCESS
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
College of Education
FRIDAY, May 15, 2026
Humphrey Coliseum
9:30 a.m. (Doors open at 8 am)
College of Architecture, Art & Design
College of Business
2:30 p.m. (Doors open at 1 pm)
Academic Affairs
Bagley College of Engineering
College of Forest Resources
College of Professional & Continuing Studies
College of Veterinary Medicine
Important Ceremony Details
- Graduates must arrive no later than 30 minutes prior to their ceremony start time in business casual attire with their regalia unzipped and caps off for security screening.
- Graduates will need to bring their MSU ID card for check-in. A driver's license or government ID is acceptable if your MSU ID is not available.
- Security screening will take place upon entry and all bags are subject to search. Cowbells and other artificial noisemakers are not permitted inside of the coliseum.
- 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. Please be sure you have transferred your digital tickets to your guests prior to arriving to the coliseum.
- Guest seating will be general admission. Please refrain from sitting behind the stage if seating is available elsewhere in the Coliseum.
- A graduate processional to the arena floor will start the ceremony and graduates will be seated with their respective academic college and degree level. Graduates will walk across the stage as they are announced and congratulated.
- Only graduates may access the arena floor and cross the stage during the ceremony. Children and other guests are not permitted in the graduate seating/check-in areas, nor on the stage.
- 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 through the NE rear ground-level of the building close to the SE entrance to Dudy Noble Field.
- 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 between 1.5-2 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 ceremonies to make space for guests attending the afternoon ceremonies.
- 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.
**GRADUATES MUST APPLY FOR THEIR DEGREE THROUGH BANNER IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMENCEMENT AND RECEIVE THEIR DIPLOMA. IF A STUDENT DOES NOT GRADUATE DURING THE SEMESTER THEY APPLIED, THEY MUST REAPPLY DURING THE SEMESTER THAT ALL DEGREE REQUIREMENTS ARE MET. MSU ACCOUNT BALANCES MUST BE PAID IN FULL PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY. 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.)
Parking & Coliseum Entry
Please check back in the spring for the spring 2026 commencement parking map and coliseum diagram.
Guest Accommodations
Reserved parking will be available for any guests with an ADA tag or placard 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 just inside the arena portal entrances around the coliseum concourse. 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.
Spring 2026 Graduation Fair
The spring 2026 Grad Fair will be the first opportunity for graduates to purchase and pickup their cap & gown, take professional graduation photos, and get more information about spring 2026 commencement! This event is only open to spring 2026 graduates. It will take place Thursday, March 26, and Friday, March 27, from 8am-5pm both days on the second floor of Barnes & Noble Bookstore at MSU.
*Please be sure to bring your MSU Student ID Card* MSU Student IDs will be scanned upon entry and your attendance will be used for numerous prize drawings throughout both days! Possible prizes include MSU diploma frames, free ceremony regalia, and waived graduation application fees!
All graduates can order and pickup their cap & gown during the fair. Any graduates unable to attend the fair may still order regalia online starting March 28, 2026 (details in section below). MSU honors cords will also be available for eligible students to purchase during the fair! Please see the eligibility requirements for undergraduate Latin honors distinctions found in our academic catalog HERE.
Professional photography, Pro Pics, will also be available during the Grad Fair. All graduates are invited to have photos taken inside on a studio backdrop. They will also be offering FREE professional headshots, so be sure to bring your business attire! Please be sure to submit your contact information online at www.msuphotos.com and feel free to stop by at any point during the grad fair (walk-ins welcome). There is no cost to have your photo taken and no obligation to purchase. Additional information about commencement photography can be found in the section below.
We will also have representatives from the Office of the Registrar to assist with graduation and ceremony information, the MSU Alumni Association to share details about Alumni opportunities and events, the Career Center for any assistance you may need transitioning into your professional career, the Office of Financial Aid to help with financial planning and student loans, and the Office of Bulldog Experience to share information about Bulldog Recognition opportunities!
Starkville Guest Ticket Information
Instructions for claiming spring 2026 Starkville commencement guest tickets will be shared here once available. These tickets are only for educational specialist, master's, certificate, and bachelor's graduates attending the Starkville Campus ceremonies in the Humphrey Coliseum. Guest tickets will be released a few weeks prior to the ceremonies.
Doctoral graduates are recognized in separate ceremonies. Our MSU-Meridian campus also holds a separate ceremony for their graduates. These graduates will receive direct communication regarding their ceremonies.
Regalia Orders (Cap & Gown)
If you are planning to participate in the spring 2026 commencement ceremonies, please be sure to order your cap & gown! The first opportunity to purchase will be at the Grad Fair at Barnes & Noble on March 26-27, 2026 (details above). You can pay for and pickup your regalia the same day during the Grad Fair. If you are unable to attend the fair, we will have an online ordering opportunity starting Saturday, March 28, 2026, and 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. Meridian graduates may contact the Bulldog Shop for additional information regarding commencement regalia.
The deadline to order your regalia online is Friday, April 17, 2026.
**If you do not order your regalia before the online deadline, you must visit Barnes & Noble at MSU 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 regalia and ordering can be found here: gradsupply.com/MSU
- All graduates may keep their entire regalia package!
To view our custom MSU regalia, please click HERE.
Latin Honors Cords are available for eligible undergraduate students who meet the GPA and hours requirements found in the MSU Academic Catalog. These cords are available for purchase at Barnes & Noble at MSU for $20.48 (pre-tax) during the Grad Fair and leading up to the ceremonies. Eligible graduates from the Meridian Campus may purchase their cords at the Bulldog Shop. A photo ID must be shown prior to purchase to confirm eligibility.
Faculty Regalia
MSU faculty members may order rental commencement regalia using this link: www.gradsupply.com/msu-faculty The deadline to order faculty regalia is Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
All faculty rental regalia may be returned at Barnes & Noble at MSU following the ceremonies.
Faculty interested in purchasing a keeper set of regalia may contact Graduate Supply House HERE.
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 Grad Fair and 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. 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 14-15 (weather permitting)! Check out an example photoshoot below for more information. There is no need to make an appointment and walk-ups are welcome! Additional information regarding commencement photography will be emailed to graduates and updated online here.
Questions about these opportunities can be emailed to: info@propicsusa.com
Virtual Backgrounds
Did you miss out on taking graduation photos? You can use the following link to virtually place yourself on campus by uploading a photo and choosing from a selection of MSU backgrounds! There is no cost for this service and photos can easily be saved and shared. Just be sure to tag them on social media with #MSSTATEGRAD
Click here for virtual backgrounds
Fall 2025 GradCaps
Graduates can now re-live their ceremony and the moment they crossed the stage with GradCaps! These free clips are personalized for each graduate who attended the ceremonies and can be downloaded and shared online! To access your custom GradCap, click the link below and search for your clip using your last name.
Graduation Products
Commencement Video Archive
Doctoral Graduation and Hooding Ceremony (Ph.D. & Ed.D.)
The spring 2026 Doctoral Graduation and Hooding Ceremony for Ph.D. and Ed.D. graduates will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 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 Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 11:30am in the Humphrey Coliseum. A reception will take place prior to the ceremony. 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 2026: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 @ 11:00 a.m.
For additional questions regarding the MSU-Meridian Commencement Ceremonies, please contact Zoe Null at znull@meridian.msstate.edu
Additional Contacts
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT GRADUATION & DEGREE AUDIT, CONTACT:
Office of the University Registrar
P.O. Box 5268
Mississippi State, MS 39762-5268
(662) 325-8204
Office Hours: M-F 8:00-5:00
graduation@registrar.msstate.edu