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Ashtabula Commencement Homepage

Graduation & Commencement

Ashtabula Campus Commencement

Kent State Ashtabula will celebrate their Spring 2026 graduates on Thursday, May 7, 2026.

82nd Commencement Ceremony
Thursday, May 7, 2026 / Ceremony to begin at 6 p.m.
Susan J. Stocker Hall Gymnasium
Kent State University at Ashtabula

Helpful Links:

Kent State Ashtabula Commencement information details will be emailed to your kent.edu account in early March. Please email Kathy Barbato at kbarbat3@kent.edu with questions or if you need more information

  • Students must RSVP by Thursday, April 9, 2026 to attend the Ashtabula Campus ceremony.
  • You will not receive paper tickets, however, you will need to fill in your guests' information on the RSVP survey.  The ceremony will also be live-streamed into the Auditorium across the hall from the gymnasium. Reservations are not needed to watch Commencement from the Auditorium
  • Theater doors open 30 minutes prior to ceremony.
 

Cap, Gown & Tassel

Kent State graduates wear a black cap and gown. Your tassel color is determined by the university college that offers your degree. You can purchase a gown or borrow one from a friend. The only requirement is that your cap and gown must be black.

Caps, gowns and tassels can be purchased from the Regional Campus Bookstore located at the Stark Campus. April orders should be placed before April 2. Orders placed after April 2 may incur a late fee and sizes may be limited.

Direct questions to the Regional Campus Bookstore at 330-244-5112 or email sm8153@bncollege.com.

Grad Fairs

The university will hold four Grad Fairs at various campuses. If you plan to pick up your regalia from one of the Regional Campus Grad Fairs, you must pre-order your regalia package using the RSVP link. Payment will be taken at pickup.

You may visit the Kent Campus bookstore in person at any time during normal business hours to purchase your regalia. Orders do not need to be placed ahead of time for this option. Store hours and address are available at https://kent.bncollege.com/. If you have questions about regalia, you can email the bookstore directly at SM8152@bncollege.com.

Kent Campus Bookstore Grad Fair (RSVP and pre-order not required)
Saturday, February 28, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 
Monday, March 2, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 3, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Stark Campus Grad Fair (RSVP and pre-order here)
Wednesday, March 4, 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 5, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Trumbull Campus Grad Fair (RSVP and pre-order here)
Thursday, April 9, 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Twinsburg Academic Center Grad Fair (RSVP and pre-order here)
Tuesday, April 14, 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Spring 2026 Grad Fair Package Prices
Flash Scholar Bundle at Grad Fairs only
Associate & Bachelor Bundles include Gown, Cap, Tassel, 
Zipper Pull & Scholar Frame - $197.12
Gold Scholar Bundle at Grad Fairs only
Associate & Bachelors Bundles include Gown, Cap, Tassel, 
Zipper Pull, Scholar Frame & Class of 2026 Stole - $223.10
Associate & Bachelor Cap & Gown Package
Gown, Cap, Tassel & Zipper Pull - $ 85.92 
Individual Items
Class of 2026 Stole - $ 25.98
Gown - $ 44.98
Cap - $ 13.98
Tassel - $ 16.98
Zipper Pull  - $   9.98
Scholar Frame - $139.00                                                                                                                                                                  
 

 

 

DIPLOMAS

The Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center has partnered with Parchment Inc. to improve the diploma fulfillment process for graduates of Kent State University. Upon final degree approval, diplomas will be fulfilled by Parchment.

  • Your digital diploma will arrive approximately 4-5 weeks after commencement. Watch for an email notification.
    • Notification will be sent to your Kent State email.
    • Follow the link to set up your Parchment Digital credentials account.
    • Share and Download your digital diploma as many times as you like.
  • Paper diplomas will be mailed separately to your permanent address on file 7-10 days after you receive your digital diploma.

To verify a diploma or permanent address:

  1. Visit Flashline
  2. Select the Student category
  3. Select Dashboard
  4. Select My Personal Information located under Profile

Contact the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center directly at gradsvc@kent.edu with any diploma questions.

 

APPLY FOR GRADUATION & DEADLINES

 

Permission to Publish

When you graduate from Kent State at Ashtabula, there are many places that your name could be published. This includes, but is not limited to: the Commencement Program; releases to the media, which will include, name, city and degree; and the kent.edu website. Please check to make sure the proper restrictions are either in place or lifted depending on what you want the public to know about your upcoming graduation.

To make any changes to your information restrictions, please follow these steps:

  • Login to FlashLine > Student > Resources > Requests > and >Authorizations
  • From Requests and Authorizations channel > Maintain the Disclosure of Your Directory Information
  • Cancel you restriction of disclosure of directory information

Honor Cords

Students graduating with institutional honors will need to pick up your cords in the Academic Affairs Office in Stocker Hall. An email will be sent to you before commencement on when to pick them up. Please wear the cords to commencement. If you are a Veteran, you will receive your cords prior to commencement, please wear them to commencement.

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