Gather because about graduates (5)
I believe the answer is:
amass
'gather' is the definition.
(amass can mean to collect or gather)
'because about graduates' is the wordplay.
'because' becomes 'as' (I've seen this in other clues).
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'graduates' becomes 'MAs' (people with Master of Arts degrees).
'as' placed around 'mas' is 'AMASS'.
(Other definitions for amass that I've seen before include "Gathers" , "Put together" , "Be a compiler" , "Get together" , "Sodium chloride" .)