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 and diploma cover.

    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 Agreement, 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 Agreement
    by September 1, 2026.

    If you do not complete the agreement by this deadline, you will not be eligible to participate in Commencement. Only students who complete the agreement by this deadline will receive an email from diploma@diploma.kennesaw.edu with instructions on how to RSVP “Yes” for Commencement, which is also required to participate.

  • Commencement Attendance (Tassel) will open for students who applied to graduate and complete the commencement agreement by August 31, 2026, allowing them to confirm their attendance and select their complimentary guest tickets. A maximum of four (4) tickets may be selected. Additional tickets may be available for purchase at a later date.

    Students will receive an email fromdiploma@kennesaw.edu on Tuesday, September 8 when the portal is open and ready to accept reservations. 

    *Doctoral candidates will not be entered into Tassel and will coordinate with the Graduate College for their attendance and ticketing.

    Students must RSVP to walk in the ceremony and to receive their guest tickets. 

  • Commencement Attendance (Tassel) Portal closes for students to RSVP their attendance and to receive guest tickets at a later date. Students who do not RSVP by the deadline will not be eligible to go across the stage in the December commencement ceremonies.
  • Commencement Ceremonies dates and times will be posted to the commencement website. Ticketing dates will be posted on the commencement website at this time. 
  • Tassel Phase II opens for name pronunciation for all students who submitted a Tassel RSVP before September 28. Assigned ceremony dates and times will be posted in Tassel at this time.
  • Emails and text messages will be sent to students via the KSU student’s email address regarding the information related to commencement and tickets from June 1 through December 14, 2026. It is each student's responsibility to review their KSU student email and follow the instructions related to submitting the application to graduate, completing the commencement participation agreement, RSVP their commitment to participate in the assigned commencement ceremony and receiving their guest tickets.

Visit Commencement Ceremonies for more information.