Graduation & Commencement
Spring 2025 Starkville Campus Commencement Information
(Educational Specialists, Masters, & Bachelors)
You can also download the new Mississippi State University TV app (MSTV) in the Apple and Google Play App Stores!
The spring 2025 Starkville Campus commencement ceremonies will be held on Thursday, May 15, 2025, and Friday, May 16, 2025, in the Humphrey Coliseum. Graduates must arrive no later than 30 minutes prior to their ceremony start time.
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 refrain from sitting behind the stage if seating is available elsewhere in the Coliseum.
- 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 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 roughly 1.5-1.75 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 2025 Ceremony Divisions are as Follows:
THURSDAY, May 15, 2025
9:30 a.m. (Doors open at 8am)
College of Arts & Sciences
3:30 p.m. (Doors open at 2pm)
ACCESS
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
College of Education
FRIDAY, May 16, 2025
9:30 a.m. (Doors open at 8am)
College of Architecture, Art & Design
College of Business
3:30 p.m. (Doors open at 2pm)
Academic Affairs
Bagley College of Engineering
College of Forest Resources
College of Professional and Continuing Studies
College of Veterinary Medicine
SPRING 2025 COMMENCEMENT PARKING
Please check back in the spring for the spring 2025 commencement parking map.
HUMPHREY COLISEUM COMMENCEMENT DIAGRAM
Please check back in the spring for the spring 2025 commencement 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.
**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 2025 Guest Ticket Information
Guest tickets for the spring 2025 commencement ceremonies will be available roughly three weeks prior to the ceremonies. Each graduate may invite up to 8 guests and instructions for claiming tickets online will be emailed to graduates and updated online here. There is no cost for tickets.
ALL GUESTS MUST HAVE TICKETS TO ENTER THE COLISEUM!
Regalia Orders (Cap & Gown)
If you are planning to participate in the spring 2025 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 20-21, 2025 (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 available starting Saturday, March 22, 2025, 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.
**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 ordering your regalia can be found here: gradsupply.com/MSU
- All graduates may keep their entire regalia package!
Latin Honors Cords are now 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. Eligible graduates from the Meridian Campus may purchase their cords at the Bulldog Shop. The cost for Latin Honors cords is $13.98 each (pre-tax) and 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
All faculty rental regalia may be returned at Barnes & Noble at MSU following the ceremony.
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
Fall 2024 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.
[Fall 2024 GradCaps will be available soon.]
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
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 during the Grad Fair, and the day of our Starkville 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! 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
Graduation Products
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:
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 2025
Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 9:30 a.m. (Humphrey Coliseum)
College of Arts & Sciences
Thursday, May 15, 2025 - 3:30 p.m. (Humphrey Coliseum)
ACCESS
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
College of Education
Friday, May 16, 2025 - 9:30 a.m. (Humphrey Coliseum)
College of Architecture, Art & Design
College of Business
Friday, May 16, 2025 - 3:30 p.m. (Humphrey Coliseum)
Academic Affairs
Bagley College of Engineering
College of Forest Resources
College of Professional and Continuing Studies
College of Veterinary Medicine
FALL 2025
Friday, December 12, 2025 - 9:30 a.m. (Humphrey Coliseum)
Academic Affairs
College of Architecture, Art & Design
College of Arts & Sciences
College of Education
College of Professional & Continuing Studies
Friday, December 12, 2025 - 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 2025 Doctoral Graduation and Hooding Ceremony for Ph.D. and Ed.D. graduates will be held on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, 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 is held at the conclusion of each spring semester. The Spring 2025 DVM Commencement will be held Tuesday, May 13, 2025, 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 2025: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 @ 11:00 a.m.
Fall 2025: Thursday, December 11, 2025 @ 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.
This process follows the submission of final grades and the graduation ceremony. Students should allow approximately one week after grades are due before anticipating a change in their graduation status viewed in myState. Transcripts will be available ONLY after degree audit is completed. Diplomas will be mailed approximately one month after the graduation date.
All transfer work must be received in the Office of the Registrar at the time that MSU grades are due. Failure to follow these deadlines will result in at least a semester’s delay in graduation. Any transfer courses completed within the last 32 hours of a degree must receive prior approval from the student’s dean.
University Degree Audit (CAPP)
All MSU students have access to the degree audit system CAPP (curriculum, advising, and program planning) in myState. CAPP helps students and advisors track progress toward graduation. It outlines all courses required for the chosen major and which courses have been completed or remain to be taken, as well as hours earned, GPAs, and transfer hours.
To view CAPP, students should choose CAPP compliance under Academic Records in myState and view a previously run evaluation or generate a new evaluation. To investigate a possible change in major or the addition of a double major, students should choose a What-If evaluation.
These audits will utilize courses completed and those scheduled to inform students of their status at any point in their university career. Questions concerning articulation or substitution of courses should be directed to students’ advisors or Dean’s offices.
Have additional questions about the University Degree Audit System? Send an email to degreeaudit@registrar.msstate.edu.
Degree Works
Beginning January 2023, MSU will begin transitioning to a degree audit system called Degree Works. Students who enrolled at MSU from Fall 2020 until now will use Degree Works to help them track their progress toward graduation. Students whose catalog term is a term prior to Fall 2020 should continue using CAPP to track their degree requirements and graduation progress.
Like CAPP, Degree Works will show students and advisors the course and policy requirements for any program of study. The tool will be used during advising to help students plan course selections and to be aware of prerequisite courses, minimum grade needed, and other requirements. Also available is the option to select a "what-if" analysis for students interested in exploring other programs.
The documents linked below will help users become familiar with Degree Works:
Additional Contacts
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES, CONTACT:
Nathan Griffey
Commencement Coordinator
Office of the Registrar
Mississippi State University
(662) 325-4729
ngriffey@registrar.msstate.edu
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT GRADUATION & DEGREE AUDIT, CONTACT:
Office of the University Registrar
P.O. Box 5268
Mississippi State, MS 39762-5268
(662) 325-4123 or (662) 325-9407
Office Hours: M-F 8:00-5:00
graduation@registrar.msstate.edu