Editor’s note: Do you want answers to questions about the Golden Triangle? Each week, Dispatch reporters set out to explain or update a timely, practical issue. Email your question to [email protected].

With graduation right around the corner for high school and college seniors, families are preparing to celebrate a milestone moment.
But as ceremonies near, some may be wondering what to expect.

How much does it actually cost a student to graduate?

Graduation costs can vary widely and climb fast once families move beyond the basics, said Columbus High School counselor LaToria Johnson. While regalia is often the first expense, senior portraits, apparel and celebration packages can push totals into the hundreds of dollars.

“The main thing that I have to deal with are the cap and gowns,” Johnson told The Dispatch on Monday. “… All the extra things, if they want the senior shirts and senior hoodies, those things can get a little expensive. … Based on some of the grad packages that are available, I would say the highest I’ve seen them go is about $450, and then the lowest is maybe around $150.”

Those packages, typically offered through school-approved third-party vendors, still don’t include senior portraits, she said, which can cost $50 or more per session.

Base regalia costs differ by school, with Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science seniors paying about $64 for a cap and gown, while Starkville High School seniors pay about $73 and Columbus High School seniors pay up to $88.

At the college level, costs increase with degree level. At Mississippi State University, regalia packages start at about $80 for bachelor’s students and include a cap, gown and tassel. Master’s packages, which add a hood, cost about $150, while doctoral regalia, including a tam, gown, hood and tassel reach about $245.

Mississippi University for Women students pay roughly $63 for bachelor’s regalia, $110 for master’s and $121 for doctoral.

What should families know before attending:

Beyond budgeting, Johnson said families need to keep a close eye on the calendar.

“The biggest thing is being on time,” she said. “… We have graduation practice … and the students have to be a part of their graduation practice in order to be in the ceremony. … It’s a very time-sensitive program with practice and things like that.”

Families should also familiarize themselves with ceremony protocol and venue rules.

Many high school ceremonies will take place at MSU’s Humphrey Coliseum, where clear bags and small clutches are permitted. Balloons, noisemakers, confetti and any other distracting items will be prohibited during the ceremonies.

While ceremonies at the Humphrey Coliseum won’t require tickets, MSMS students will receive 10 tickets for guests.

High school ceremonies include:

■ New Hope High School, 6 p.m. May 19, MSU Humphrey Coliseum;
■ Caledonia High School, 6 p.m. May 21, MSU Humphrey Coliseum;
■ West Lowndes High School, 6 p.m. May 22, WLHS;
■ Starkville High School, 6 p.m. May 22, MSU Humphrey Coliseum;
■ Columbus High School graduation, 10 a.m. May 23, MSU Humphrey Coliseum;
■ MSMS, 11 a.m. May 23, Rent Auditorium; and
■ West Point High School graduation, 6 p.m. May 28, MSU Humphrey Coliseum.

University, college ceremonies include:

■ East Mississippi Community College, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. May 8, Lyceum Auditorium
■ MUW, 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. May 8, Rent Auditorium; and
■ MSU, 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. May 14; 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. May 15, Humphrey Coliseum.

What’s the best advice for seniors?

Matthew Miles, dean of students at The W, said most students during this time are faced with mounting anxiety about “what’s next.” To counter that, he often tells seniors to “prepare for the unexpected.”

“Sometimes our own expectations can cause us to create more anxiety about ourselves,” he told The Dispatch on Tuesday. “So I have those extra Plan B’s and C’s ready for when something doesn’t happen the way that it was originally planned … then you have a way … to pivot.

“… Tomorrow is going to come,” he added. “It’s going to come with its own challenges. But what can we do today to prepare for tomorrow?”

Johnson shares similar advice with her high school graduates.

“Leading up to graduation … try to make a plan,” Johnson said. “What are some things that I need to get taken care of? … Have I sent off for my final transcript? Have I reached out to the college that I want to attend and … given them my decision? If I’m going to the military, have I reached out to a recruiter? … Making a plan with the students and their parents … is really critical right now.”

But whether students go on to earn another degree or jump right into work, Miles advises all students to continue learning.

“There’s always opportunities to learn, whether that’s continuing to go to conferences, continuing to read books, … if it’s post secondary, stay a person of the craft,” he said. “Always be a life learner.”