Commencement: Regalia
Academic Regalia
Cap and Gown Information
Academic regalia is required for degree candidates at Commencement and Convocation ceremonies. All candidates who do not possess regalia must obtain their regalia from the B&N UD Bookstore.
If you are financially limited, the Office of Sustainability has a limited number of donated and cleaned gowns from previous years available to borrow for free. For additional information, please visit their website.
Associate, Bachelor, and Master Candidates
The B&N UD Bookstore is the only approved vendor for the University of Delaware Commencement items, including official University regalia (caps, gowns, hoods, and tassel) from Oak Hall. This exclusively ensures that regalia worn at graduation will be uniform and is required.
If you have ordered regalia online, you can come into the B&N UD Bookstore during normal business hours to pick up, starting Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
If you missed the deadline (April 7, 2025) for ordering regalia, you need to physically come into the B&N UD Bookstore during normal business hours to purchase regalia if you are local, starting April 9, 2025.
If you are not local, starting Monday, April 14 through Wednesday, May 7, 2025 you can place an order for your regalia to be shipped to your residence by calling the B&N UD Bookstore at 302-831-2424. The fee for shipping is $8.99.
If you are looking to buy separate pieces (just a tassel, just a hood, just a gown, just a cap), you can do so by physically coming into the B&N UD Bookstore starting Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
Renting associate, bachelor, or master regalia is not an option. All regalia for associate, bachelor, and master candidates is keeper regalia.
The University does not use cords to distinguish Latin Honors.
Doctoral Candidates
To participate in the Hooding Ceremony, doctoral candidates must rent their cap, gown, and hood. The deadline for ordering PhD rental regalia was April 7, 2025 to ensure delivery by the Hooding Ceremony. If you have missed this deadline, please email Lindsey Collings at lkillmey@udel.edu ASAP.
Diploma Frames
Diploma frames can be ordered by using this link: All Diploma Frames - All Diploma Frames - Gifts & Accessories | University of Delaware Official Bookstore (bncollege.com)
Graduation Announcements and Rings
Balfour is the University of Delaware’s official graduation retailer for announcements and rings. You can order custom announcements and rings using this link: https://www.balfour.com/udel Please allow 3 weeks for delivery of announcements and 8 weeks for delivery of rings.
Faculty Rentals
Faculty rental orders were due April 7, 2025. If you need a faculty rental, please email Lindsey Collings at lkillmey@udel.edu ASAP.
How to Wear Your Graduation Hood and Cap
The Graduation hood depends on your major and degree. The pictures below are for a Bachelor of Arts in the College of Arts and Sciences. Your regalia may be a different color or style, but the instructions for wearing the hood are the same.
- Place the hood around your neck and shoulders so that the major portion hangs down your back and the velvet border is up.
- If possible, fasten the cord on the front of the hood to your shirt or dress to help keep the hood away from your neck.
- Looking from the front, the velvet border should be on the top.
- Looking from the back, the satin lining of the hood should be exposed by rolling the velvet border back. The tip (or tail) should be pointing away from you.
- Caps are to be worn squarely on top of the head with tassel:
- Right side for bachelors’ and associates’ degree candidates, after degrees are conferred, move the tassel to the left side.
- Left side for doctoral and masters’ degree candidates.
