Frequently Asked Questions

This year, graduates have a few options for obtaining Commencement regalia:

Option 1: Sample Sale of Gently Used Doctoral Regalia

This year, doctoral graduates have a one-time opportunity to purchase gently used regalia – gown, hood, and tam – for between $350 and $420, based on the condition, at our first-ever “sample sale.” (This is a significant discount off the price of new doctoral regalia.)

Sample sale items are available first come, first serve, and once the supply is depleted it will not be replenished. All sales are final, and sizing is limited. All items have been dry cleaned and are in wearable condition.

The sale will take place on Monday, March 20 through Wednesday, March 22, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., in the Kelly Skylight Room, 9^th floor, Room 9100.

Payment in person by check or credit card only. Unfortunately, cash cannot be accepted.

Option 2: Rent Regalia

Master’s and doctoral graduates can also rent their regalia from Herff Jones.

The costs are $78 for master’s regalia and $98 for doctoral regalia. Standard shipping is available until April 19. Expedited shipping is available until May 1.

The regalia is dark blue and generic (no CUNY insignia). Graduates can keep their headwear (caps for master’s grads, tams for doctoral grads) and tassels and will receive a pre-paid return shipping label to return their gowns and hoods.

Rentals can be ordered at https://herff.ly/cunygc

Option 3: Buy New Regalia

Doctoral graduates can buy new regalia sets directly from Herff Jones. These are priced by the company and are a considerable investment, at about $1,100 each, but will last a lifetime. Manufacture time is six weeks. The last day to purchase a new gown and receive it in time for Commencement is April 7. Detailed information is available here.

There is a $75 off promotion on the price of the gown only running through March 14. Purchasers can apply the promo code CUNY75 during check out.

This regalia is the remaining inventory from regalia that we have owned over the years and used to rent directly to graduates. The costs of maintaining regalia have become unsustainable. Therefore, we are selling our current inventory. This year and for the future, we will follow the model of other schools and arrange for graduates to rent regalia directly from the supplier, Herff Jones.

The rental regalia is dark blue. It differs from regalia that is available for purchase in that it doesn’t have the custom CUNY insignia. It looks excellent in photos, and graduates can keep their headwear (caps for master’s students, tams for doctoral students) and tassels.

This pricing is set by the supplier, Herff Jones. Because we know the price is high, we offer the option to rent regalia, which is more affordable. 

The $25 commencement fee includes one ticket for the graduate only. Graduates may purchase up to four additional tickets at $25 each.

On May 17, any remaining additional tickets will go on sale and can be purchased by the graduate for $25 each, with a limit of four tickets. Additional ticket supply, if any, will be limited and sold on a first-come, first-served basis.