Caps and Gowns
Caps and Gowns
Undergraduate Students Late Pick Up | Graduate Students | Wearing Your Academic Attire
Ordering Your Cap and Gown
Caps and gowns are now available for ordering through Herff Jones. If you place an order before the deadline (February 23 for Law students; March 8 for undergraduate and graduate students), your cap and gown will be available at the events listed below, but only at the campus selected while ordering. Be sure to bring your email confirmation along with your student ID card.
Please keep in mind that your student account must be paid in full or appropriate arrangements made before picking up your cap and gown. Also, you must have applied online to graduate through fordham.edu or have the permission of your dean.
If you did not preorder your gown online, you may still attend the pick-up events and receive a cap and gown on a first-come, first-served basis. (Extras will not be available at the Westchester distributions.)
Bachelor’s and master’s candidates (except for the School of Law) are given keeper gowns and therefore do not return academic attire. All doctoral rental gowns must be returned following the ceremonies.
Undergraduate Students | Graduate Salutes (Cap and Gown Pick-up)
Lincoln Center Graduate Salutes
140 West, G-76
Wednesday, April 17 | 5 – 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 18 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Rose Hill Graduate Salutes
McShane Campus Center, 1st Floor Multipurpose Room
Monday, April 29 | 2 – 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 30 | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Westchester Distributions
Room 147
Tuesday, April 23 | 4 – 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 27 | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Undergraduate Students | Late Pick Up
If caps and gowns are not picked up at the Graduate Salutes at Rose Hill and Lincoln Center or at Westchester, they must be picked up at the Rose Hill campus on the following dates and times. A $10 late fee (cash only) will be charged to all who pick up their caps and gowns at the following late distributions:
Rose Hill Campus
McShane Campus Center, 1st Floor Multipurpose Room
Thursday, May 16 | 4 – 7 p.m.
Friday, May 17 | 12 – 3 p.m.
Saturday, May 18 | 8 – 10 a.m.
Graduate Students | Cap and Gown Pick-up
Graduate students have an option to pick up their cap and gown order from campus free of charge or have it shipped home for an additional fee. Please be sure to pick up your cap and gown order from the campus you selected when ordering.
The pick-up times are below:
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Graduate School of Education
Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education
Lincoln Center Campus
140 West, Room G-76
Friday, April 19 | 3 – 6 p.m.
Saturday, April 20 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Rose Hill Campus
McShane Campus Center, 1st Floor Multipurpose Room
Thursday, May 16 | 4 – 7 p.m.
Friday, May 17 | 12 – 3 p.m.
Saturday, May 18 | 8 – 10 a.m.
School of Professional and Continuing Studies (master's candidates)
Lincoln Center Campus
140 West, Room G-76
Friday, April 19 | 3 – 6 p.m.
Saturday, April 20 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Westchester Campus
Room 147
Tuesday, April 23 | 3 – 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 27 | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Rose Hill Campus
McShane Campus Center, 1st Floor Multipurpose Room
Thursday, May 16 | 4 – 7 p.m.
Friday, May 17 | 12 – 3 p.m.
Saturday, May 18 | 8 – 10 a.m.
Graduate School of Social Service
Lincoln Center Campus
Room G-76, 140 West 62nd Street Building
Friday, April 19 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Saturday, April 20 | 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Westchester Campus
Room 147
Tuesday, April 23 | 3 – 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 27 | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Rose Hill Campus
McShane Campus Center, 1st Floor Multipurpose Room
Thursday, May 16 | 4 – 7 p.m.
Friday, May 17 | 12 – 3 p.m.
Saturday, May 18 | 8 – 10 a.m.
GSS Caps and Gowns not picked up in advance will be available between 8 a.m. and the start of the ceremony on Tuesday, May 21 in the McShane Campus Center, 1st Floor Multipurpose Room at the Rose Hill campus.
School of Law
Lincoln Center Campus
Quinn X, Lowenstein building
Tuesday, April 2 | 12 – 4 p.m.
Lincoln Center Campus
140 West, Room G-76
Friday, April 19 | 1 – 3 p.m.
Saturday, April 20 | 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Rose Hill Late Distribution:
Room 112 McShane Campus Center
Thursday, May 16 | 4 - 7 p.m.
Friday, May 17 | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Saturday, May 18 | 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.
LAW Caps and Gowns not picked up in advance will be available between 8 a.m. and the start of the ceremony on Monday, May 20 in the McShane Campus Center, 1st Floor Multipurpose Room at the Rose Hill campus.
Gabelli School of Business (master’s and doctoral candidates)
Lincoln Center Campus
140 West, Room G-76
Friday, April 19 | 3 – 6 p.m.
Saturday, April 20 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Westchester Distribution:
Room 204
Tuesday, April 23 | 3 – 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 27 | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Rose Hill Late Distribution:
Room 112 McShane Campus Center
Thursday, May 16 | 4 - 7 p.m.
Friday, May 17 | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Saturday, May 18 | 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Gabelli Caps and Gowns not picked up in advance will be available between 8 a.m. and the start of the ceremony on Tuesday, May 21 in the McShane Campus Center, 1st Floor Multipurpose Room at the Rose Hill campus.
Wearing Your Academic Attire
The gowns and colors of academic dress indicate the graduate’s level of academic accomplishment, discipline, and school/university affiliation. We ask for graduates’ cooperation in not modifying academic attire with personal items that may distract from the academic ritual.
The cut of the gown identifies the degree. The bachelor’s gown has pointed sleeves, while the master’s gown has oblong-cut sleeves. The doctoral gown has bell-shaped sleeves typically crossed with bands of velvet.
The length of the hood indicates the level of the degree. The color of the velvet border indicates the field of learning in which the degree was earned and includes white for arts, gold for science, brown for fine arts, dark blue for philosophy, light blue for education, purple for law, citron for social service, and drab for business. The inner lining of Fordham hoods is maroon, the University’s official color.
For the academic procession at the University Commencement, graduates carry the hood draped over the left arm with the color that represents the degree clearly visible. Candidates don their hoods after the president has conferred all degrees. The hood should be placed around your neck and shoulders so that the major portion hangs down the back and the velvet is up. The cord on the front of the hood should be fastened to your clothing. The bachelor’s and master's cap is worn with the long point of the shell to the rear and the tassel you will receive to the left. Doctoral candidates wear a tam which has an attached tassel.
Undergraduate students in Fordham College at Rose Hill, Fordham College at Lincoln Center, and the Gabelli School of Business should also wear their cap and gown (but not hood) to their respective college awards ceremonies on Friday, May 17.