Commencement

Information related to Regalia (Cap & Gown) pricing and ordering, Diploma Frames, Class Rings, and the Countdown to Commencement event are located on this page.

Please see the official RPI Commencement Page for information related to the 2025 Commencement Ceremony.

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Regalia (Cap and Gown) Information

Planning for the 2025 Commencement Ceremony is ongoing.  This page provides information related to the purchasing of Regalia (cap & gowns).  Please see below, including our 2025 Commencement FAQ section.

Bachelor and Master Degree Regalia

Bachelor and Master graduates are required to purchase their regalia from the Collegiate Store no later than Friday, March 7, 2025.  

Bachelor and Master graduates should purchase their regalia through our website.

Prices for Commencement 2025

  •      Bachelor’s Package (cap, gown, hood, and tassel) -- $74.60 + New York state tax
  •      Master’s Package (cap, gown, hood, and tassel) -- $83.25 + New York state tax
Doctoral Degree Regalia

The Doctor regalia set is specially designed for Rensselaer doctoral graduates and is available for rent or purchase.

RPI Doctor candidates are requested to place their rental orders no later than Friday, March 14, 2025.

 

Regalia Purchase

Rensselaer Doctor Regalia is available for purchase from the Collegiate store. The price for 2025 is $1244.00 and requires 8 weeks to manufacture. 

Orders for purchase must be made by Friday, March 7, 2025 in order to be ready in time for the RPI Commencement ceremony.

For more information, please contact the store by calling (518) 276-8604 or via e-mail.

 

Regalia Rental

The Rensselaer Doctor Regalia set is available for rent from the Collegiate Store website. The rental price for 2025 is $122.00 and will be available for pickup the week of the ceremony.

We ask that Doctoral graduates place their rental orders through our retail site.

For more information, please contact the store by calling (518) 276-8604 or via e-mail.

For Rensselaer @ Hartford Graduates

For the 2025 Commencement Ceremony, please refer to the official RPI Commencement FAQ page for information about participation eligibility.

Regardless of participation eligibility, graduates may still obtain their Regalia by placing an order through our retail site.

For Non-Local Graduates

For the 2025 Commencement Ceremony, please refer to the official RPI Commencement FAQ page for information about participation eligibility.

Regardless of participation eligibility, graduates may still obtain their Regalia by placing an order through our retail site.

Refunds

Please refer to our General Merchandise refund section for more information on returns and refunds.

Bachelor and Master Regalia purchases and RPI Doctor regalia rentals can be returned UNUSED and UNOPENED with original receipt or web order packing slip until close of business on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Refunds will not be issued after that time.

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2025 Commencement FAQ

Planning for the 2025 Commencement Ceremony is ongoing. 

This section addresses questions related to Regalia from the Rensselaer Collegiate Store.

For questions related to the 2025 Commencement Ceremony, please refer to the official RPI Commencement FAQ page.

If any of your questions or concerns are not addressed below, please email us at: RPI@bkstr.com and we will respond as quickly as we can.

I am a Bachelor’s/Master’s graduate. How do I obtain my Regalia?

Bachelor and Master graduates must place their orders on the graduation page of our retail website.

Choose the appropriate Regalia package and select your height and weight ranges. In the last field, enter your major (ex. Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, etc.).

To ensure an adequate supply of correct sizes, Bachelor and Master graduates are requested to purchase their regalia from the Collegiate Store no later than Friday, March 7, 2025.

Pricing for the Commencement 2025 ceremony:

Individual components may be ordered separately. Please contact the store via the phone (518)-276-6555 or by email to request those components.

I will be awarded multiple degrees. How do I place an order for my Regalia?

Students graduating with multiple majors will need to order their regalia under the primary major listed with the Registrar’s office.

I am a co-terminal student. How do I place an order for my Regalia?

Awarding of Master and Bachelor Degree Simultaneously

If you are a co-terminal student obtaining both your Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees simultaneously, you will need to order the Master’s Regalia Package for participation in the Commencement Ceremony.

Awarding of Master and Bachelor Degree in Separate Years

If you are a co-terminal student and are obtaining your Bachelor’s degree this year and your Master’s in a subsequent year, you will need to obtain the Bachelor’s Regalia Package for participation in the Commencement Ceremony celebrating your undergraduate achievement.

The Bachelor and Master Regalia packages are different.  Upon completion of your Master’s degree, a Master’s Regalia Package will be required for participation in the Commencement Ceremony celebrating your graduate achievement.

What is the difference between a Bachelor’s and Master’s Regalia Package?

Bachelor and Master Regalia packages each include a Cap, Gown, Tassel, and Hood.  There are, however, differences in the construction of the Gown and Hood for each package.

Gown

The sleeve of the Master’s gown has an extended, oblong section of fabric that extends beyond the opening for the wrist.

Hood

There are two differences between a Master’s hood and a Bachelor’s hood.  A Master’s hood, when worn, extends further down the graduate’s back than a Bachelor hood.  The band of flock (colored fabric which denotes major) is wider on a Master’s hood.

I am a Doctoral graduate. How do I obtain my Regalia?

Doctoral Regalia is specially designed for Rensselaer doctoral graduates and is available for rent and purchase.

Doctoral candidates are requested to place their rental order no later than Friday, March 21, 2025.

Regalia Rental

Doctoral graduates are invited to rent their Regalia through our retail website.

Select your height and weight ranges.  In the last field, enter your major (ex. Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, etc.).

Note: The Doctoral Regalia incorporates a Beefeater style cap which is sized.  Please refer to the size chart and instructions on the product screen to estimate your cap size.  Include that information in the special instructions field during checkout.

The rental price for Commencement 2025 is $122.00.

Regalia Purchase

Rensselaer Doctoral Regalia is available for purchase from the Collegiate store. The cost is $1244.00 for 2025 and requires 8 weeks to manufacture. Purchase orders will need to be made by Friday, March 7, 2025 in order to be ready for the RPI Commencement ceremony.

For more information, please contact the store by calling (518) 276-8604 or via e-mail.

I am a Doctoral graduate. How do I return my Regalia to the store after the ceremony?

We are still finalizing the process for this. 

Doctoral graduates will be provided this information when picking up their Regalia from the store.

Once the plans are finalized, this section will be updated.

I placed my order for Regalia but have not yet received it. When will it be available?

Bachelor and Master Graduates

This regalia has arrived in the store and is ready for pickup. Orders for regalia may be placed on our retail site at any time.

Doctoral Graduates

The Collegiate Store anticipates our shipment of Regalia to arrive by the first week of May 2025.

Doctoral candidates will be contacted via email to pick-up their Regalia sets from the store once we have fulfilled the order.  Instructions on how, when, and where to return your rental Regalia after the ceremony will be provided at the time of pick-up.

I am not participating in the 2022 Commencement Ceremony. How can I still obtain graduation Regalia?

The Collegiate Store fully understands the desire to fulfill the graduation experience with family and friends.  Graduates that are not participating in the 2025 Commencement Ceremony are still able to obtain their Regalia.

Graduates are invited to place their orders on the graduation page of our retail website.

For more information, please contact the store by calling (518) 276-8604 or via e-mail.

Will the Collegiate Store be open on the day of the Commencement Ceremony?

The details for the 2025 Commencement Ceremony are still being finalized.  Once we have notification of the plans for the ceremony, we will update this section.

Please check back often for updates.

In the meantime, graduates are invited to shop online from the Collegiate Store.

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Diploma Frames

The Rensselaer Collegiate Store stocks several diploma frame styles for sale on our website.

Some custom style frames (indicated as ONLINE ONLY) may take several weeks for manufacture prior to shipping.

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Class Rings

Class rings are sold directly through Jostens.

Dates for upcoming ring events will be posted on the Jostens website.

Class Ring questions can be directed to the store at: RPI@bkstr.com.