Arkansas State, UAM, SAU & UAPB Commencements: 2026 Ceremony Schedules and Livestreams

By the Arkansas Delta Informer

May 6, 2026– The region’s top colleges and universities in south Arkansas and the state’s Delta region, which saw record or near-record enrollment in 2025, will hold commencement ceremonies this weekend to celebrate their undergraduate and graduate classes.

At Arkansas State University’s flagship campus in Jonesboro, a new class of alumni will be welcomed during the Spring Commencement ceremonies, which will take place at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, at First National Bank Arena, 217 Olympic Drive.

As the state’s second-largest university by total enrollment, behind the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, A-State continued its strong upward momentum with a record spring 2026 enrollment of 16,145 students. That total is a 6.4% increase over last spring and marks the fifth consecutive record-breaking fall or spring semester for the university.

Earlier in the fall, A-State also celebrated a record-breaking student body with 11th-day enrollment surging to 17,926, fueled by the largest freshman class ever and record credit hours.

At Saturday’s ceremony, approximately 2,565 candidates will have their degrees conferred. The morning ceremony will feature graduates of the Colleges of Education and Behavioral Science, Engineering and Computer Science, Liberal Arts and Communication, and Beck College of Sciences and Mathematics. The speaker will be Kalayna King of Conway, R.E. Lee Wilson Award winner, who will receive her degree in biological sciences.

The afternoon ceremony will include graduates from the Colleges of Agriculture, Neil Griffin College of Business, Nursing and Health Professions, and University College. The afternoon ceremony’s commencement speaker is Julia Renee Pye of Sheridan, a Distinguished Service Award winner who will graduate with a degree in biological sciences.

Those seeking more information about commencement can click here.

Farther south in Monticello, UAM will hold its spring commencement exercises on Friday, May 8, in the Steelman Field House.

Like A-State, UAM’s commencement will be split into two ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The earlier ceremony will include the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources (undergraduate and graduate), the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, the School of Nursing (undergraduate and graduate), the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Division of General Studies. 

The 2 p.m. ceremony will include the School of Arts and Humanities (undergraduate and graduate), the School of Business, the School of Computer Information Systems and the School of Education (undergraduate and graduate). The university will present academic credentials ranging from master’s degrees to associate degrees during the ceremonies.

Scheduled speakers include Dr. Peggy Doss, chancellor of UAM, and Dr. Michael Moore, vice president for Academic Affairs at the University of Arkansas System. Special recognitions during the ceremonies will include the presentation of the Hornaday Outstanding Faculty Award and the Distinguished Alumna Award.

UAM spokeswoman Kailley White told the Arkansas Delta Informer that the university in Drew County has seen an increase in the number of graduates in May 2026 compared to the previous year. “Currently, we estimate that approximately 567 students will graduate this week,” said White, not that the figure does not include students from the UAM’s satellite technology campuses in Crossett and McGehee. Those campuses will hold their commencement ceremonies in June, she said.

UAM’s commencement will be livestreamed on YouTube. The link is also accessible from the university’s homepage. 

In Magnolia, Southern Arkansas University will come together to honor over 500 spring 2026 graduates during three undergraduate ceremonies on Friday, May 8, and a graduate ceremony on Saturday, May 9. The ceremonies will be held in the W.T. Watson Athletic Center.

Each SAU ceremony is expected to last approximately 60–90 minutes. All commencement ceremonies will be streamed live on the SAU Facebook page for those who wish to attend virtually.

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) recently announced that Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr., will serve as speaker at its 173rd Commencement Exercises on Saturday at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. The academic procession will begin at 9:45 a.m. followed by the ceremony at 10:00 a.m. The ceremony will be livestreamed on UAPB’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/@UAPBTV. 

Additional Commencement details can be found at uapbcommencement.com.