Cap & Gown Information
Graduates must wear caps and gowns to the following:
- The main commencement ceremony
- Diploma ceremonies
- The Doctor’s Hooding ceremony
- Phi Beta Kappa initiation ceremony
Orders are no longer being accepted, but you may still review your order details.
If you have trouble logging-on to the cap and gown order site, please contact The University Store directly at 412-268-3004 to order your regalia.
Degree candidates who did not place their order by the deadline will need to arrive as early as possible on the first day of distribution to obtain a cap and gown. See below for more information on distribution dates and times. Distribution is first-come, first-served and appropriate sizes cannot be guaranteed for those who did not order by April 1.
Deposits are due at the time of cap and gown pick-up. Only Visa or MasterCard are accepted.
| Cap, Gown and Tassel Cost |
Hood Cost | Items to be Returned | |
| Bachelor’s | $27 | N/A | N/A; graduates may keep all items |
| Master’s | $29 | $44 | N/A; graduates may keep all items |
| Doctor’s | $29 rental fee (due when ordering) and $210 deposit (due at pick-up) | $29 rental fee (due when ordering) and $170 deposit (due at pick-up) | Graduates must return their gowns and hoods; otherwise, the deposits will be forfeited. Caps and tassels do not need to be returned. |
Additional Cap and Gown Information
- Study abroad students may purchase and wear sashes. These can be purchased via the cap and gown order website and prices begin at $48.
- Doctor's candidates who do not attend the hooding ceremony on Saturday, but would like to wear their hoods at the main commencement ceremony on Sunday, can pick them up at the cap and gown distribution area on Sunday only.
- Doctor's candidates can purchase custom-made regalia at The University Store. Prices start at $807 and production time is 4 - 7 weeks. Please call 412-268-3004.
Cap & Gown Adornments
The following guidelines were approved by the Associate Deans' Council and implemented in 2006. They were reviewed and updated in February 2009.
- Medallions and/or cords are restricted to the use of designating university honors, college honors or university honor societies that admit students across all disciplines.
- Medallions typically represent university honors and cords typically represent college honors.
- Medallions and/or cords should not be used to designate other honors/clubs.
- Medallions and honors cords may be worn in conjunction with stoles and pins.
- It is recommended that graduating students wear only 1 stole with their academic regalia.
- Students are certainly permitted to receive/purchase more than 1 stole if they are a member of multiple organizations. They may then choose to wear a particular stole to the main commencement ceremony and another to their diploma ceremony.
- Graduates that are members of a club/organization that issues pins to designate affiliation are permitted to wear more than 1 pin with their academic regalia along with a stole, medallion and/or cords (as applicable)
Distribution:
Bachelor’s Student Grad Fair-April 25 & 26, 2012
- 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- The University Store
- NOTE: Bachelor’s students who did not place their orders by April 1, master's students, Ph.D. students, faculty and staff may not pick up orders at this time.
Master’s Student Grad Fair-May 2 & 3, 2012
- 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- The University Store
- NOTE: Master’s students who did not place their orders by April 1, bachelor’s students, Ph.D. students, faculty and staff may not pick up orders at this time.
Commencement Weekend Distribution
McKenna, Peter, Wright Rooms, second floor, University Center
Thursday, May 17, 2012 – FACULTY AND STAFF ONLY- 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- NOTE: Students may not pick up orders at this time.
- 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- NOTE: To avoid the long line, faculty and staff should refrain from picking up orders at this time.
- 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. and 6 – 8 p.m.
- 7:30 – 11 a.m.
Returns:
McKenna, Peter, Wright Rooms, second floor, University Center
Sunday, May 20, 2012- Noon – 5 p.m.
- 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Monday – Friday
- Closed Saturday and Sunday
No returns will be accepted after June 1.
FAQ Earning Multiple Degrees
- Only one degree will be shown on the cap and gown order website
- Only the highest degree being earned will be displayed. For example, if you are receiving both a bachelor's and a master's, only the master's degree will be displayed.
- All caps and gowns are the same, regardless of major(s).
- If you are earning two bachelor's degrees or are a double-major, it doesn't matter what degree is displayed on the order website. Regalia is identical for all bachelor's students, regardless of major.
FAQ Wearing Your Regalia
If there is a difference, the larger side of the hat base should be placed on the back of the head. The inside of the mortarboard, also known as the cap, has the front of the cap marked. If the front of the hat base comes to a point, place the point directly in the middle of your forehead. Place the hat so that the board is level and parallel to the ground, not sitting at an angle. Female candidates may want to secure their hats in place with bobby pins. When wearing tams, make sure the seam goes in the back.
How do I wear my hood?
Your hood should be worn draped around your neck with the largest portion of the hood hanging down your back. The velvet border, which indicates your specific field of study, should be showing on the outside. The velvet should fold under on the lower back to allow the colors of your degree to show. To keep your hood from being too tight against your neck, there is a cord on the front to help secure it to a shirt button or to pin to a blouse or dress. The hood also has a cord and button in the back to prevent it from slipping off your shoulders.
Additional Guidelines for Wearing Academic Regalia
- Faculty and graduate degree candidates wear the tassel on the left.
- Bachelor’s degree candidates wear the tassel on the right and move it over to the left after the degree has been conferred.
- Male candidates and faculty should remove their caps during the national anthem.
FAQ Measurements
How do I determine my head measurement? What is my cap size?
To find your cap size, wrap a measuring tape around your head approximately 1" above your eyebrows. In the order form, select the size that most closely matches that measurement.
What if I don't have a tape measure to determine my cap size?
To take the measurement, wrap string or yarn around your head approximately 1" above your eyebrows. Compare the length of string needed to wrap around your head to a ruler. In the order form, select the size that most closely matches that measurement.
The University Store associates can assist you with a measurement during regular store hours.
What is a typical measurement?
Measurements are typically around 22 to 24 inches. A measurement far outside the norm of 22 to 24 inches may be off.
I don't know my weight in pounds. What should I do?
Convert your weight from kilograms to pounds using the following formula:
(k=kilograms, p=pounds)
k(2.2) = p
FAQ Deadlines/Ordering
What is the deadline for reserving a cap and gown?
April 1, 2012.
What can I do if I didn't order my cap and gown by the April 1 deadline?
Plan to show up early during distribution hours at the McKenna/Peter/Wright Room in the University Center and every effort will be made to accommodate you. However, it is first-come, first-served and we cannot guarantee appropriate sizes for those who do not order by April 1.
Should I expect to receive a confirmation email?
Yes. If you have not received a confirmation email, first check your portal page, which should list your reservation. If you see your reservation but have not received an email, please see the following FAQ.
Why did I not receive a confirmation email?
There are two possible reasons for this. If you didn't enter the full version of your email address on the web reservation form, there may have been an error. Be sure that you enter the complete address. Ex: studentname (incorrect) vs. andrewuserid@andrew.cmu.edu or andrewuserid@cmu.edu (correct)
The second reason may be that you are over quota in your email data storage. Consider deleting a number of items or increasing your quota by going to: https://www.cmu.edu/myandrew. On the left menu bar, click "Increase My Quota."
FAQ Hood Information
What is a hood and why do I need one?
A hood is a garment worn around the neck and down the back. You need one if you are receiving a Master's degree or a Doctorate. On each hood is a band of colored velvet, most visible at the neck. The width of the velvet band denotes the level of the degree conferred while the color implies the field of study.
On Master's hoods, the color of the velvet denotes the discipline in which your degree is being awarded.
Doctoral hoods typically feature a broader velvet band. At Carnegie Mellon, we only issue two kinds of Doctoral degrees. This is because Doctoral degrees at Carnegie Mellon are a Ph.D., which stands for "Doctor of Philosophy." This Ph.D. could have a concentration in any field. Because the color which denotes Philosophy is blue, most Doctoral hoods at Carnegie Mellon will feature a blue velvet band. The rare exception will feature a white velvet band.
All hoods display the university colors down the back on a portion of the hood referred to as the "lining." At Carnegie Mellon, we use the Tartan. The fabric holding the whole hood together and promoting proper drape is referred to as the "backing" and it is usually black.
How do I order a hood?
Hoods require a deposit (see additional cap and gown information for prices). You must pay your deposit using a Visa or MasterCard at the time you pick up your cap and gown. For your security, we cannot accept cash or checks, American Express or Discover, or payment over the web.
FAQ Distribution/Returns
Where do I pick up my cap and gown (and hood, if applicable)?
The McKenna/Peter/Wright Room on the second floor of the University Center, during the distribution times. See additional cap and gown information for times and locations.
Do I need to bring anything with me to pick up my cap and gown (and hood, if applicable)?
Yes, please bring your student ID. If you are a master's student or doctor's candidate, be sure to bring a Visa or MasterCard.
Do I need to return my cap and gown? Where?
Bachelor's and master's students can keep their caps, gowns, and tassels. Master's students can also keep their hoods. Doctor's candidates may keep their caps and tassels. If doctor's candidates wish to keep their gown or hood, the deposit(s) will cover the cost. If they do not wish to keep them, they should return the item(s) during return hours as listed under additional cap and gown information. The deposit(s) will be refunded upon return of the item(s).
What if I have to leave town right after the ceremony and don't have time to return my cap, gown (and hood, if applicable)?
You may have a friend or parent return it for you. When returning a hood, the credit card/debit card you place the deposit on will be the card that is refunded. There are tracking numbers on the hoods, so we will know whose hood is returned.
Please be sure to KEEP YOUR RECEIPT! It will be needed for a refunded deposit.