The University of South Carolina Upstate is set to hold its Spring 2026 Undergraduate Commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 7, marking the completion of another graduating class at the Spartanburg campus — a class the university describes as resilient students who found personal and professional growth through mentorship, campus involvement, and community engagement.
The graduate hooding and degree conferral ceremony for master’s students is scheduled for Tuesday, May 5 at 5 p.m., with undergraduate commencement following on Thursday, May 7 at 6 p.m. The university, which serves more than 5,000 students and has an estimated economic impact of $625 million across the Upstate region, highlighted a range of student experiences from the Class of 2026. Among the graduating seniors is nursing student Damien Richardson of Fountain Inn, who came to USC Upstate from a military background and plans to work as a registered nurse in the Upstate region after passing the NCLEX. Communications major Avery Beaton of Boiling Springs served as editor of The Carolinian, the student-run newspaper, and is pursuing a career in local journalism. Braylen Covington of Spartanburg, a computer science major, noted that stepping outside his comfort zone — including a spontaneous theater audition — shaped his four years as much as his technical coursework.
USC Upstate was founded in 1967 and has grown into a comprehensive institution with 18 varsity athletics programs, including the recently announced addition of women’s flag football as an NCAA Emerging Sport. The spring class includes graduates from programs across nursing, criminal justice, business analytics, psychology, communications, information technology, and interdisciplinary studies, with many completing clinical rotations at Spartanburg Regional Hospital and other regional healthcare facilities. Students completing Re:Degree re-enrollment programs are also part of the 2026 spring class, a reflection of the university’s growing reach among adult learners in the Upstate.
USC Upstate Chancellor Bennie Harris has emphasized the university’s role in regional workforce development, and the spring graduation adds to what the institution projects as a steady pipeline of qualified graduates entering Spartanburg County’s labor force. For students unable to attend in person, the university typically broadcasts commencement proceedings through its online channels. Degree recipients and ceremony details are available through the Office of the University Registrar at uscupstate.edu.
What’s Happening
Q: When and where are the spring 2026 commencement ceremonies?
A: The graduate hooding ceremony is May 5 at 5 p.m., and undergraduate commencement is May 7 at 6 p.m., both at USC Upstate in Spartanburg.
Q: What is USC Upstate’s broader regional impact?
A: The university serves more than 5,000 students and the institution’s economic impact is estimated at $625 million annually across the Upstate region, according to USC Upstate leadership.
Q: What are some examples of graduating students’ career paths?
A: Nursing graduate Damien Richardson plans to work at an Upstate healthcare system after completing the NCLEX. Avery Beaton of Boiling Springs is pursuing local journalism after editing USC Upstate’s student newspaper, The Carolinian.
