As college students across the state gear up to graduate, they’re met with unexpected costs that come with this milestone. At Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, in addition to the $120 commencement fee for each degree or credential program, students also have to shell out for regalia. Meanwhile, California State University, Dominguez Hills charges a $90 graduation application fee, San Diego State University asks for $112, and California State University, Fullerton sets the fee at $115.
The graduation fee at each Cal State campus covers the evaluation process to determine if students have met the requirements to earn their degree. It also includes costs related to printing and mailing diplomas, according to CSU spokesperson Amy Bentley-Smith. She clarified that while some of the fees might support commencement ceremonies, that isn’t their primary purpose.
For students who want to participate in the ceremony, wearing the campus-approved regalia is a must. At San Jose State University, where there’s no graduation application fee, a basic regalia pack including a cap, gown, degree-colored tassel, stole, and souvenir tassel goes for $131.50. This one-time expense for graduation attire has led to grassroots solutions popping up across Cal State campuses.
