Missouri State University will confer 2,901 degrees to students at its spring 2023 commencement. Ceremonies will be held at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. May 19 at Great Southern Bank Arena. 

First ceremony 

The first ceremony will recognize students graduating from:  

• College of Humanities and Public Affairs. 
• McQueary College of Health and Human Services. 

Katie Towns, Springfield/Greene County health department director, will serve as the commencement speaker at the 9 a.m. ceremony.   

Second ceremony 

The second ceremony will recognize students graduating from:  

• Judith Enyeart Reynolds College of Arts and Letters. 
• College of Education. 
• College of Natural and Applied Sciences. 

Rodney Dillard, The Dillards lead singer, will speak at the 1 p.m. ceremony.  

Third ceremony 

The third ceremony will recognize students graduating from:  

• Darr College of Agriculture. 
• College of Business. 
• Interdisciplinary Academic Programs. 

Garrett Hawkins, Missouri Farm Bureau president, will address graduates at the 5 p.m. ceremony. 

About the graduates 

Missouri State will confer 1,986 bachelor’s degrees, 769 master’s degrees, 116 doctorate degrees and 30 specialist degrees. 

Past the standard expectations, the university will recognize 61 students for their work with a more rigorous curriculum in Missouri State’s Honors College. 

The university will also recognize students who will graduate with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher: 

• 221 students will graduate summa cum laude (with GPAs between 3.9-4.0 on a 4.0 scale). 
• 252 students will graduate magna cum laude (with GPAs between 3.75-3.89). 
• 380 students will graduate cum laude (with GPAs between 3.5-3.74). 

In addition, this commencement will recognize the first graduating class of mechanical engineering students taking courses in Springfield. Fifteen students will graduate from Missouri Science and Technology’s cooperative engineering program with Missouri State. 

Learn more about commencement