University Registrar's Office

Commencement Central

Caps & Gowns, Diploma Frames,
Announcements, and Rings

Regalia for Undergraduates and Graduates

The first day to purchase or order academic regalia was during Graduation Celebration on October 7. Regalia purchases or orders may be made at the Bookstore through November 6. If you have questions, contact the Bookstore at 336/334-5563.

The cost of regalia, not including tax, is as follows:

  • Undergraduate (cap, gown, tassel): $50.98
  • Masters (cap, gown, tassel, hood): $86.98
  • Doctoral gown rental: $72.98
  • Doctoral gown purchase: $700.00
  • Doctoral tam purchase: $74.00
  • Doctoral hood purchase: $142.00

Students often ask why the Bookstore sells regalia instead of offering rentals. Rentals require cleaning and storage, which would increase the cost of the gown beyond the current purchase price. Other considerations include the need for twice as much labor to maintain, which in turn leaves a larger plant carbon footprint; not only is the dry cleaning after each use expensive, the chemicals are unfriendly to the environment; and once rental gowns reach their life expectancy they have a greater chance, than purchased gowns, of ending up in a landfill.

Honor Cords

Students with cumulative GPAs of 3.50 to 4.0 at the beginning of the fall 2009 semester are eligible to wear a gold honor cord at commencement (undergraduate students must complete 45 semester hours in residence at UNCG by the end of their senior year to be eligible for graduation with honors). Determination of honors for wearing the honor cord and honors designation in the commencement program are based on the previous term GPA. Diplomas provided to students in January 2010 will reflect honors determined by final fall 2009 grades. Students may begin purchasing honor cords on December 1, 2009, from the Bookstore.

Announcements, Invitations, & Rings

The Bookstore carries non-personalized, graduation announcement and invitation supplies, and diploma frames. Note that the undergraduate diploma is 8.5 x 11, and the graduate diploma is 11 x 14.

If you would like to order personalized invitations or announcements or class rings, contact Balfour at 1-866-Balfour (1-866-225-3687).