More than half of U.S. institutions fail to get 70% of graduates to attend, according to new report from Tassel

For centuries, graduation ceremonies have barely changed — robes, speeches, and roll calls. Student expectations, however, have shifted dramatically, and new data shows that higher education’s most symbolic event is not keeping up.

Tassel, a commencement management platform used by more than 600 institutions, has released the 2025 Tassel Trends Commencement Report, the most comprehensive study of its kind on graduation attendance and experience. The report analyzed more than 1,400 U.S. ceremonies and over 100 graduation coordinator surveys, finding that 52 percent of schools have basic engagement levels, with 70 percent or fewer of their graduates attending. Tassel’s research shows this is more than an attendance problem. Students who attend graduation are more likely to remain active alumni, participate in future campus events, and become donors. The ceremony is often the final and most visible opportunity for an institution to build a lasting relationship with its students.

Key findings

• Only 15 percent of institutions achieve 90 percent or higher graduate participation.
  
  
  
  
• 52 percent have 70 percent or fewer of graduates attending.
  
  
  
  
• Pre-recorded name announcements increase participation from 21% to 51% (+32 points)
  
  
  
  
• 65.4% of institutions run two-hour ceremonies, but reducing length is the top coordinator priority.
  
  
  
  
• Digital programs now surpass print-only programs for the first time, offered by 72 percent of schools.
  
  
  
  
• Hybrid ceremonies account for 49 percent of all events, reflecting a lasting shift from the pandemic era.

“Graduation is the big game for colleges and universities, yet the way ceremonies are planned and delivered has not kept up with what today’s graduates expect,” said Chase Rigby, CEO of Tassel. “When students skip commencement, it is not only empty seats that day. It is a missed opportunity to strengthen their connection to the institution for years to come. Schools that make the ceremony inclusive, engaging, and accessible are also investing in stronger alumni relationships and donor pipelines.”

Tech-enabled solutions driving results

The report identifies several low-cost changes that can dramatically improve attendance:

• Sending three to five targeted emails to graduates can raise attendance from an average of 29 percent to 54 percent — a 25 percentage point increase.
  
  
  
  
• Adding text message reminders increases turnout by 5 percentage points compared to email only.
  
  
  
  
• Pre-recorded name announcements, which ensure correct pronunciation, raise average participation from 20 percent to 51 percent — a 30 percentage point increase — particularly benefiting students from diverse cultural backgrounds.

The most common format, hybrid ceremonies, has transformed how institutions celebrate their graduates. Virtual elements, initially adopted as a pandemic workaround, are now viewed as essential for inclusivity, accessibility, and family engagement. Institutions that fail to provide virtual access risk falling behind evolving expectations from both students and their families.

"Graduation should be the moment when every student feels seen, celebrated, and connected to their school, not an afterthought," said Chase Rigby, CEO of Tassel. "Our data shows that small, thoughtful changes can significantly increase attendance and turn the ceremony into a lifelong memory. Institutions that focus on inclusivity, accessibility, and modern formats are not just filling more seats; they are building stronger alumni communities that will support them for decades to come."

The full 2025 Tassel Trends Commencement Report is available at https://tassel.com/blog/introducing-our-inaugural-tassel-trends-2025-report.

About Tassel

Tassel is a commencement management platform that helps higher education institutions streamline ceremony operations, increase graduate participation, and create more inclusive, engaging celebrations. Its all-in-one tools cover registration, communications, ticketing, name pronunciation, programs, livestreaming, and more, giving schools the ability to deliver seamless, memorable events that turn accomplished students into proud alumni. For more information visit tassel.com

Methodology

The 2025 Tassel Trends Commencement Report is based on operational data from 1,414 U.S. graduation ceremonies held between January and May 2025 and more than 100 survey responses from graduation coordinators at institutions of all sizes. Data was collected from schools using Tassel’s platform and includes a mix of public and private institutions across the country.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250828325441/en/