When colleges pick their graduation speakers, many strive to put a celebrity behind the podium. It can bring prestige. It can bring publicity. And it can bring a steep bill. This year, for instance, the University of Houston paid $35,000 to book astronaut Scott Kelly as the commencement speaker. Rutgers University paid $35,000 for journalist Bill Moyers, who spoke after the keynote speech from the unpaid President Barack Obama. Kean University in New Jersey paid $40,000 to each of its two speakers. Their costs were detailed in documents obtained by The Associated Press through records requests. The AP asked 20 public universities with notable speakers to provide costs for their graduation speakers since last year, including speaking fees and travel expenses.

May 20, 2016 ・ From Associated Press