Missouri State University will confer 1,399 degrees to students at its fall 2023 commencement. Two ceremonies will take place at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at Great Southern Bank Arena. 

First ceremony

The first ceremony will recognize students graduating from: 

• College of Education. 
• McQueary College of Health and Human Services. 
• Judith Enyeart Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities. 

Alumnus and actor John Goodman will serve as the commencement speaker at this ceremony. Goodman will receive the Bronze Bear Award from Missouri State. 

Second ceremony

The second ceremony will recognize students graduating from: 

• College of Business. 
• College of Natural and Applied Sciences. 
• Darr College of Agriculture. 
• Interdisciplinary Academic Programs. 

Alumnus and St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore will be the keynote speaker at this ceremony. Gore will receive the Government Excellence Award from Missouri State. 

About the graduates

Missouri State will confer 943 bachelor’s degrees, 443 master’s degrees, 10 doctorate degrees and three specialist degrees. 

Past the standard expectations, the university will recognize 25 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: 

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

Learn more about fall 2023 commencement