Commencement: A Celebration

There is no doubt that a student’s graduation marks a tremendous achievement. You have tackled difficult exams, participated in extracurricular activities, and possibly completed an internship or research project — all while making life-long friends and memories.

Rather than an ending, commencement (both the word and the ceremony) represents a beginning. It is appropriate that an occasion that marks the beginning of a new phase of life should be conducted with pomp and circumstance, stateliness, and tradition.

Watch the Ceremony Live!

A live stream of each commencement ceremony is available 15 minutes prior to each ceremony.

Important Dates and Deadlines

  • If you intend to graduate in Fall 2026, you must Apply to Graduate by August 31, 2026, to be eligible to participate in Commencement. Participation includes walking across the stage at the KSU Convocation Center in your cap and gown to receive your personal recognition. 

    If you apply to graduate after this date, you will not be eligible to participate in Commencement. Only students who apply to graduate by this deadline will receive an email from decisions@kennesaw.edu with instructions to complete the Commencement Participation Acknowledgment, which is also required to participate. 

  • If you applied to graduate by August 31, 2026, and would like to celebrate your graduation with us by participating in your college’s commencement ceremony, you must complete the Commencement Participation Acknowledgment by September 1, 2026.

    If you do not complete the acknowledgment by this deadline, you will not be eligible to participate in Commencement. Only students who complete the acknowledgment by this deadline will receive an email from diploma@diploma.kennesaw.edu on Sept. 8, 2026, when Tassel, the commencement reservation portal, is open to begin accepting reservations. This email will contain instructions on how to RSVP “Yes” for Commencement, which is also required to participate.

  • If you completed the Commencement Participation Acknowledgment by September 1, 2026, you will receive an email from diploma@kennesaw.edu on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, with instructions on how to RSVP “Yes” for Commencement by the Monday, September 28, 2026, deadline.

    Selecting “Yes” will allow you to reserve up to four (4) guest tickets. Additional guest tickets for your college’s commencement ceremony may become available for purchase at a later date. If so, you will receive an email from diploma@kennesaw.edu with more details.

    If you do not RSVP by this deadline, you will not be eligible to participate in Commencement.

    Doctoral candidates will not receive these emails and must coordinate with the Graduate College regarding their attendance and guest tickets instead. 

  • Each college’s designated commencement ceremony date and time will be posted to the Commencement Ceremonies webpage by October 5, 2026.  

  • October 28, 2026, is the deadline to order regalia through Jostens for delivery to your home address via USPS by December 11, 2026. After this deadline, you may also order through the KSU Bookstore for in-store pickup.  

    Official KSU regalia is required for all graduates participating in Commencement. Graduates who do not wear official KSU regalia will not be permitted to participate in the ceremony. 

  • On Wednesday, October 7, 2026, you will receive an email from diploma@kennesaw.edu prompting you to log into Tassel, the commencement reservation portal, to review your assigned ceremony date and time. You may also submit the phonetic spelling of your name, so it will be pronounced correctly during the ceremony. This step is not required to participate in Commencement. The deadline to submit the phonetic spelling of your name is Tuesday, November 17, 2026. 

*Required to be eligible to participate in Commencement

Visit Commencement Ceremonies for more information.

Stay Informed

As you approach the completion of your degree, you will receive important information about applying to graduate, requirements to participate in commencement, how to receive your guest tickets, and more. Check your KSU email regularly to stay informed.

Make sure you’re opted into Registrar communications.

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