By the numbers: Columbus State to celebrate 975-plus graduates during spring commencement

May 7, 2026

Six graduation-related ceremonies on Thursday, May 14 and Friday, May 15 will celebrate the 978* Columbus State University students comprising its Spring 2026 graduating class. The festivities will include three college-specific ceremonies throughout the day on Friday, marking the university’s 131st commencement exercises. Those events include:

Thursday, May 14

• 10:30 a.m., School of Nursing Pinning Ceremony, Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center [map]
• 1 p.m., ROTC Commissioning Ceremony, University Hall [map]
• 6 p.m., Graduate Hooding Ceremony, Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center [map]

Friday, May 15

• 9 a.m., College of the Arts and D. Abbott Turner College of Business & Technology Commencement Ceremony, Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center [map]
• 12:30 p.m., College of Letters & Sciences Commencement Ceremony, Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center [map]
• 4 p.m., College of Education & Health Professions Commencement Ceremony, Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center [map]

Each of the May 15 commencement ceremonies will feature Georgia State Senator Ed Harbison as the keynote speaker. First elected in 1992 and currently the longest-serving member of the state senate, Harbison will deliver his insights on civic leadership and service.

Columbus State conducts commencement exercises and related events at the end of each fall and spring semester. Since its founding as Columbus College in 1958, the university has bestowed degrees and certificates on more than 44,000 students. As alumni, they become automatic members of the CSU Alumni Association upon graduation.

The graduation website provides additional information for graduates and guests attending these events. The website will also provide links to the livestreams of the May 14 Graduate Hooding Ceremony and each of the three May 15 commencement ceremonies. The recorded live streams will be archived on the site for future viewing. The website also provides parking information, Lumpkin Center admission policies and security procedures.

Commencement Facts & Figures*

Distribution of Graduates by College: This spring’s 978 graduates include 135 students representing the College of the Arts, 225 from the D. Abbott Turner College of Business & Technology, 350 from the College of Education & Health Professions, and 268 from the College of Letters & Sciences.

Distribution of Graduates by Degree: The spring’s 978 graduates will receive a total of 997 degrees and certificates, including 13 doctoral degrees, 35 education specialist degrees, 321 master’s degrees, 20 graduate certificates, 531 bachelor’s degrees, 14 associate degrees, 12 nexus degrees and 51 undergraduate certificates.

Most Popular Areas of Study: When grouping all undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates by program, the top five are family nurse practitioner, nursing, public safety administration, elementary education and psychology.

Academic Honors: Honors status is awarded to baccalaureate degree recipients based on their final grade point average. Among this spring’s graduates, more than 89 will graduate summa cum laude with GPAs ranging between 3.8 and 4.0; 67, magna cum laude with GPAs between 3.6 and 3.79; and 83, cum laude with GPAs ranging between 3.4 and 3.59. Baccalaureate honors graduates will be denoted by wearing gold, silver or bronze medallions, depending on their level of academic honor, as part of their regalia. In addition, one associate degree graduate will graduate with high honors (3.8 to 4.0 GPA), and three will graduate with honors (3.5 to 3.79 GPA).

Athletics: This spring’s graduates include 38 student-athletes representing Columbus State’s 13 NCAA Division II sports teams. During the ceremony, they will be indicated by wearing student-athlete stoles as part of their regalia.

First-Generation College Student Representation: As many as 93% of this spring’s graduating class self-identify as first-generation college students.

Graduates’ Age Range: The average age of the Spring 2026 class is 29.8 years. Its “most senior” graduate is 71-year-old Glasenia Johnson, graduating with a master of teaching in special education.

Geographic Representation: More than 85% of the spring class hail from Georgia—representing 98 of Georgia’s 159 counties. After Muscogee County, the top five Georgia counties with the greatest number of graduates are, in order of total graduates, Muscogee, Harris, Gwinnett, Cobb and DeKalb counties. The remaining graduates represent 20 other U.S. states and territories, with Alabama topping the list by the total number of graduates from those states.

Honors College: Fourteen students who completed the Honors College curriculum are among this spring’s graduates. During the ceremony, they will be indicated by wearing shoulder cords with the Honors College seal as part of their regalia.

International Student Representation: More than 2.5% of this spring’s graduating class hail from outside the United States.

Marshals: Faculty marshals serving during their respective May 15 commencement ceremonies will include:

• Dr. Basil Conway, an associate professor in the Department of Teacher Education, Leadership & Counseling (4 p.m., College of Education & Health Professions ceremony)
• Dr. Rajeev Dabke, a professor in the Department of Chemistry (12:30 p.m., College of Letters & Sciences)
• Dr. Esther Park, an associate professor in the Joyce & Henry Schwob School of Music (9 a.m., College of the Arts and Turner College of Business & Technology ceremony)

Military-connected Graduates: More than 17% of all graduates have a military connection as an active-duty soldier, reservist, retiree, veteran, or spouse or dependent of a current or former servicemember.

ROTC: Columbus State’s ROTC Cougar Battalion will commission 11 of its cadets as second lieutenants at a Commissioning Ceremony at 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 14.

Scholarship Beneficiaries: More than 60% of this spring’s class of graduates benefited from institutional scholarships.

Servant Leadership Program: Thirteen students who participated in the William B. Turner Center for Servant Leadership program are among this spring’s graduates. During the ceremony, they will be indicated by wearing blue and white cords as part of their regalia.

Tower Traditions: Eight “Tradition Keepers” are among this spring’s class and recognized for tracking their campus involvement in traditions that represent their student pride, spirit and engagement. Upon completing 45 of the 58 available Tower Traditions—ranging from taking photos with their orientation leader, Cody the Cougar and the university president, to attending specific activities and events—students receive a special “Tradition Keepers” medal they wear with their cap and gown at commencement.

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*Note: data reported here is preliminary and reflects students applying for spring graduation, pending final grades and clearance to graduate.

Media contact: Michael Tullier, APR