From cap-and-gown purchases to graduation application fees, the cost of participating in commencement can quickly add up. For many students, these expenses come at the end of the semester when finances are already stretched thin.
While graduation is meant to mark a major achievement, for many students, it is also the beginning of new financial obligations that come with life after graduation.
“I do feel like graduating means taking on new financial responsibilities like rent and bills. I only have a few months before I have to start paying loans, and now I’m a full adult,” said Sobeana Woodley-Sobers, a graduating senior TV and film major from New York.
She said it feels like her graduation expenses hit her all at once. Balancing rent and other college related expenses made it harder to budget in advance for graduation. This timing can leave students feeling like they have to make quick financial decisions during an already demanding period.
“It still feels unreal. I don’t really know how to feel yet,” said Alicia McCawney Robinson, a graduating senior ceramics major from Boston, Massachusetts.
For some students, the cost of graduation raises questions about access to higher education. While the ceremony is meant to celebrate every graduate equally, the ability to fully participate in related events, such as photoshoots, dinners and celebrations, can depend heavily on financial resources. These differences can create visible differences in how students experience the same milestone.
Beyond the required costs, students also point to the social expectations surrounding graduation. From coordinated outfits to professional photos and celebrations, there can be pressure to present the moment in a certain way, especially on social media.
In the weeks leading up to commencement, Howard’s campus becomes a backdrop for photoshoots, with students gathering in The Yard and outside Founders Library to capture the moment. Professional photographers, styled outfits and curated shoots have become a visible part of graduation season, shaping how students experience and document the milestone. This is no small feat, especially considering that some of the popular Howard photographers charge between $100-$800 for graduation photoshoots.
Students say this visibility can create a sense of comparison, where graduation is not only about participation but also presentation.
“Graduation feels like the Met Gala at Howard,” Woodley-Sobers said.
For some seniors, the total cost of graduation-related expenses has become an added source of stress. Josiah Washington, a graduating senior political science major from Louisville, Kentucky, estimated he would spend around $400 total.
“But if I had paid for photos, it would be closer to $600,” he said. “I don’t have that just lying around, so I had to change my financial plans.”
These costs include photography packages, graduation announcements and formalwear. In some cases, students are also considering travel and accommodations for family members attending the ceremony.
While some students say they expected graduation to be expensive, others say they did not fully realize how much they would need to spend until their final semester.
Despite these challenges, students are finding different ways to manage the financial burden, whether through personal savings, family support or making adjustments to their plans.
“I had to change a lot and cut back on a lot because of the cost. My grad party went out the window, and even my plans for a trip had to change,” Woodley-Sobers said. “If I had to estimate, my graduation could cost around $1,000, and if I did everything I wanted, like a trip or party, it could go up to $4,000 or more.”
“I’m paying for this myself. I didn’t have help, so I used my [paid time off] to cover my cap and gown and graduation fee,” Washington said.
For some Howard University students, that also meant turning to crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe to offset graduation expenses. By sharing their stories and financial needs, students are seeking support from their communities to help cover the costs of graduation.
Even with these challenges, many students say graduating remains a meaningful accomplishment.
“Graduation to me means completing one milestone and entering another… a transition into a phase where I’m excited to live and learn and explore,” Washington said.
Copy edited by D’Nyah Jefferson – Philmore
