Columbian doctoral graduates throwing their mortarboards in the air in celebration at University Commencement.

Regalia

Regalia is mandatory for University Commencement. However, individual schools may have different requirements for their class day and graduation ceremonies. All academic attire, including the cap and gown, is ordered through the Columbia University Bookstore. For more information on academic attire, graduation announcements, class rings, and diploma frames, please contact the bookstore at [email protected] or 212-854-9724.

Check with your individual school on regalia requirements and any unique instructions prior to placing your order.

Graduating Students

Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees

Recipients wear a cap and gown, with no hood. Orders can be placed in-store beginning March 7. Online orders, to be shipped to the student, can be placed beginning on March 13 and ended on April 12. The Columbia bookstores, both at the Morningside and CUIMC campuses, have regalia available and can facilitate in-store orders up until May 17, 2023. 

Doctoral Degrees

Recipients wear a gown, hood, and velvet tam. Regalia may be reserved in stores up until April 11 without incurring a late fee. Online orders can be placed beginning March 13 and ending on April 7 by visiting columbia.shopoakhalli.com. Doctoral rental regalia will be available for pickup in-store beginning May 5. A ship-to-home option is not available for doctoral rental regalia.

2023 Grad Fair

  • From March 7 to March 9 at the Morningside University Bookstore (11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.). Distribution begins for the bachelor and master souvenir packs.
  • On March 10 at the Medical Center Bookstore (11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.).

For more information on academic attire, graduation announcements, class rings, and diploma frames, please call the Bookstore directly at 212-854-4132.

Faculty & Staff

All Columbia University faculty and officers of administration are invited to march in the academic procession at the University Commencement ceremony.

Faculty and staff participating in the academic procession should coordinate regalia orders with their school or department. The last day to place orders, including honor cords and aiguillettes, without a late fee is March 17. The last day to request delivery in wardrobe boxes is March 24.

If you are a Columbia degree holder, you will receive a Columbia blue gown, hood and blue mortarboard (bachelor's/master's) or black velvet tam (doctoral). Those that hold degrees from other institutions may wear their own regalia or will receive black caps and gowns with a hood that includes colors of that institution.

Guidelines for Commencement Stoles

Any school, program, department, recognized student group or school-authorized cohort that plans to create commencement stoles should follow the below guidelines.

  • The left side should identify the school in one consistent look across all groups, per the guidelines and examples below.
  • The right side is where individual groups can feature their own designs, which should include the name of the group or cohort and may include a secondary "tag line" and any design.
  • The text on either side of a stole should have clear space around it, to separate it from any patterns or designs, without overlap.
  • The recommended colors are text in white if the stole has a dark background and text in PMS280 if the background is light.

For additional resources and a list of approved vendors, read the Guidelines for Use of Columbia Marks. For questions, email [email protected].

Click the images below to increase their size.

An illustration of the 2023 commencement stole guidelines. Please refer to webpage content for detailed instructions.
An example of the 2023 commencement stole guidelines in dark blue with white text. Please refer to webpage content for detailed instructions.
An example of the 2023 commencement stole guidelines in PMS280 and dark blue text. Please refer to webpage content for detailed instructions.